The Butler weekly times., 1885-01-14
An Independenc Democrat.

cblet ma2istracv 50 entirely tree
from personal unJ party Obligations
as Governor Cleveland will be when
lie has taken the oath Of office. The
democratic national convention nom
mated him because Of .:> strength
with .he people The politicians
were obliged u take him IN order to
win. Then virtue va, the v!rt0c Of
necessity. The democratic party
alone could not have elected Il pres
Idcnt. Itneedcd the help Of the in
dependent and disaffected republi-
can voters. The Irish detection TO
Blaine would have been nearly, II
not quite, a, great with any other
candidate VI hom the democrats could
have nominated, while none other,
not even Nr. Bayard, would have
received 50 n1any votes lron: outside
the party.
No boss Of clique o.: faction ot the
democratic party cun say to Cover
nor Cleveland, I'VE made you pres
ideu,.' Not even the whole party
can truthfu!ly say it. Hls obligation
IS therefore first 10 his countst-to
atl the peop!c-and afterward 10 his
own party, as furnishing the bulk OF
his support, and then to the indie
pendent voters who made tins sup
port successful. The president-elec
recognized this tact very PLAINLY III
his recent letter He reminded his
party friends that though the conliE1,
administration Is to be democratic,
"a due regard for the peoples inter
ests does not permit faithful party
work 10 be ai>gays rewarded by ap-
pointment to office Tki, remind
cr distinctly places country before
party in the management of the pub
nc business. Mr.. Cleveland like
wise says that, ''WhiIe democrats
may expect all proper consideration.
selections for offices not embraced
within the civil service rules VIII be
based on sufficient inquiry As to fit
ness, instigated by those charged
with that duty, rather than upon per
>istent importantly or self-sollcltcd
recommendations on behalf of candi,
dates tor appointments" IL other
words, no one has "clalm' on any
office, or a right to demand it tor
another. The offices are agencies
for transacting the peoples business,
and appointments are to be determ-
ned by fitness tor the work to be
j. one, and the tenure regulated by
y ,ieiitv to duty. No one but man
ware of the entire independence of
his position, and conscious OF strength
10 MAINTAIN it, would make sucn a
declaration in advance of his inaugu-
ration. 1t makes 4 great difference
whether 4 president feels bound to
order changes because his party
friends demand them, or appoint
aents because thev ale asked by
those who "made his nomination
possible" or whether he teels per-
feet freedom in consulting first the
public good, leaving the political
consequences 10 himself to take care
OF themselves.
This we understand to be MIR.
Cleveland's position. He has found
IN his brief public career, that not
only IS 1t true thar .-he serves his
party best who serves the people |
best bnt that a public servant who
acts conscientiously upon this prin-
ciple need have no fear OF the result |
TO himself, independently in poll |
tics has been to long confined Chief
" to the republican party. or found
just outside of it. 1t will be an |
agreeable and helpful change to |
have an independent democrat serve
rs an example to his party.