Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-11-06
AN IMPERIAL EDICT.


President Cleveland has issued an official
edct to the effect that iron and after No
ven,ber LIST he will not grant an interview
10 any person seeking office for himself or
any one else. We suppose this proclama-
ton has gone into effect, and the doors have
been slammed against the admission Of the
sovereign Democracy Of the land.
II is entirely a new departure in politics,
and considered from any stand point vic
lent outrage upon the privileges Of every
American citizen. The edict, proclama.
ton, or whatever II may he called, says that
he "has already devoted eight months u the
otfice-seekers, and that much time has been
thrown away in useless interviews, and
much OF il has been unjustifiably wasted"
What a shame. More than this, what pity
that the valuable time Of this servant of the
public should be wasted in hearing the re
quests of honest Democrats relative 10 the
distribution Of official patronage We rather
think il would have been better Il the Pres.
ident had considered all this annoyance and
appreciated the waste of time when he was
clamoring so loudly for the support Of the
Democratic party.
We hold that the Democracy of the coun-
try are entitled to every particle OF official
patronage which the President has at his
disposal. and they will not be driven OF
silenced by any such imperial manifesto
Indeed the fight may be said 10 have already
begun. Representative Cox, of North Car
olina. said the other day "If the President
thinks an edict will keep the office.seekers
away he is very innocent, they won't mind
the edict. He will have the question of the
offices before him oil through the term. He
can't avoid it, they will lay for him, they
won't let him draw out"
There can be no question that Represent
alive Cox is right For quarter OF u cen.
tury the Democratic party has been strug-
ling for the control Of tie general govern.
ment, and now that 1t has accomplished
this end II is entitled to enjoy whatever pat
ronage il can bestow. and President Cleve.
land would I've more of man aud show
more gratitude IL he would net up TO this
standard OF party obligation.
The Democratic party Of the country will
In our opinion, demand 10 know by what
right Mr. Cleveland assumes the absolute
prerogative II shutting out the people from
the White House and INDUCES in this caprice
of royal etiquette, issuing orders who shall
and who shall not have admission u his
presence. Those who have a right 10 be
heard as TO the distribution OF Office will not
take this edict in any other light than that
Of challenge. II is very generally known
that the Democratic party has not been
over well pleased, anyway, ut the manner
In which the President has disposed of the
Offices, and now 10 bc told that no further
interview can he had with reference Ia The
further distribution Of the same, will la q
little ton much for il 10 stand II is an as
sumption 81 power never bsiore resorie,i d
in the most irghtful days this Republic
ever Witnessed aud 10 this liberal and en-
lightened hour il will, a. il deserves, he
frowned down by the sovereign voice of IL,
people.
Shutting the doors In the face of the SOW
ereigns OF the land Where ia the progress.
Of our political institutions can we find such
another aulocratic precedents The Presi
dent al "A Republic and the representative I'll
dominant party, in the lace of Custom AS
old ~ the government, and one never de.
parted from before undertaking to assume
prerogatiyc which is the outgrowth OF
the most despite governments, will hardly
Meet with much favor or sympathy in this
the day Of our political progress under a
republican form Of government