The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-06-11
PARrLsANs

LNOFFENSIVE PARTLSANS.
New York Tribune: IF Mr.. CIevelan,
will bring his mind 70 bear on the mat
ter, he will see that In one respect hi
course has been mistaken. Alike as
matter Of fairness and Of policy, he i
dong just what he ought not to do. II,
Is engaged in taking the scalps Of ''offen
sive parttsans." These are the men VIII,
haYe some regard for their civic duties
men who really believe in something
men who are not too mean or too COW
ardly to act as citizens, on all proper &C
caslons. as their sincere conviction
prompt. Mr.. Cleveland cannot helT
having respect for these men. There ar,
exceptional cases, no doubt; some mer
have abused their power OF opportuni-
ties. These are not referred to; sucl
men are not offensive psrtisans," bu
persons who have dIsregarded their duty
Mr.. Cleveland may scalp them if be
likes; if he scalps many Of that sort, &C
much the better. But men who have
honestly, fearlessly and zeaIously dis
charged their duties, both as officials
and citizens and partisans. Mr. Cleve-
land knows right well have made them
selves offensive to him and his friends
II he is q man, he respects them for it
But there,is another class whose scalps
he can take If he likes. and no one will
regret il.
There are the inOffensive partisans.
They are the men who think It refined
and decoroCs not to have any earnest be-
liefs. They are the men who, when
asked what their opinions are, conceive
1t 70 be dignified to reply that they '.haye
nothing to do with politics." They are
the men who, when asked to make VOL
untaTy contributions tor the success of
the principles to which they owed their
existence as public servants, rejolced
their pockets and the hearts of Demo
Gratis by virtuousIy refusing. They were
too pure, and respected the law too high
ly. They would not make any speeches;
did not conceive it becoming in pub
lie officer. They would not write q let
ter, or utter a word in behalf of their
principles, If they had any, lest they
should give Offense to somebody on the
other side. They would not even go
home TO vote. They wished to stand
comfortably With either party, no matter
which prevailed. With calculated dec
Drum. and diligent cultivation of private
rather than any public interest, they had
made themselves inoffensive partlsans.
Mr.. Cleveland knows that he profound
ly despises such men In his own party.
If he considers the matter candidly, he
will see that they are quite as despicsbls
in any other. They are the men on the
fence, when no patriotic citizen has any
business to be on the fence. They are
the men who have convictions but are
afraid to show them, or, more frequent
", who profess secretly to agree with
both parties. They are the men who
care more tor their private interests than
or the success of principle which in
1Olves the welfare of the nation. Mr..
Cleveland cannot but be convinced, in
lis private mind, that such men are unfit
or trust, and qualified for service under
10 party.
1t MIR. Cleveland cuts off the heads of
hese men no one will care. The neigh
'ors and friends, even, will warmly COM
mend him. For even to his own towns
nen and his nearest intimates, the exalt-
d being who was too lofty q re-
romer to come home to vote has not |
eemed an ideal patriot. These men |
ave no influence. To cut of their |
leads will do no harm. and will make |
nemies only of q lot of cipheIs. But the
fensive partisans, who are positive men
f character and of brains, always have |
influence, and every blow struck at them |
Vill be resented by many even of the op- |
'osite party. Such men, when assailed,
Eill make vigorous, strong and positive |
oes, unforgetting and unforgiving, and |
Mr.. Cleveland puts them out of pub
lc office, where they are under some re-
traint, they will will strike all the hard |
T and appeal with all the more force to |
heir Democratic neighbors, It Is not
1ise for him to send out as missionaries
gainst the Democratic party these Wig
rous and positive workers. He would /
o infinitely better to turn out the empty
iphers who are merely plugging up
laces better filed by Democrats. The
ooner he removes the inoffens;ve parti-
ans the better tor himself and the coun-