The semi-weekly miner., 1885-10-28
rHE PRESIDENTS POSITION

The Presidents dilemma is much more
predecessors For the first time since the
! passage OF the act Of Congress prescribing
! the tenure of Presidential appointments
! and making the violation of it's provisions
/, a penal offense, representative OF the
Democratic party now occupies the Presi-
| Dental chair. This act was passed, by a
Republican Congress during an era OF polit-
ical excitement of greater virulence than
was ever before witnessed in this country.
Andrew Johnson, elected Vice President as
a Republican, had succeeded Abraham Lin
coin to the Presidency. Mr.. johnson had,
until the Rebellion broke out, always been
an uncompromising Democrat; hence the
principles OF that party had become deeply
rooted in his very existence. At the firing
upon Sumpter, he, being Southerner,
| took decided stand on the side OF the
| Government. and in the United States
| Senate he delivered some OF the most elO-
| quent and forcible orations in favor OF the
| Union and against the insidious doctrine OF
! secession heard within those sacred walls.
| He afterwards served with distinction in
| the military service. and, as the warw was
| rapidly approaching a termination, ne was
nominated and elected Vice President by
the Republicans, on the same ticket with
President Lincoln for a second term.
Johnson's position, for season, surpassed
his party pedictions, and he closely affil-
lated himself with the Republican party.
Soon after his accession to the Presidency
IL wide breach opened between him and the
active leaders among the Republicans.
This was occasioned principally by his
strict adherence to the reconstruction
policy of his predecessor. The Republicans
dared not oppose Mr.. Lincoln, but they
opened their batteries against Mr.. lohuson
and belehe,l fo1 til ID terrific volley OF spleen
and vituperation against him. The Presi-
dent favored Mr.. I.incoln's plan OF recon-
struction because it was the best plan that
had been suggested and one which, had not
congressional partisanship have prevented
it's consummation, would have speedily ad-
mitted the senators and representatives
from all the States, late in rebellion, to
seats in the halls of Congress. The Repub-
licans feared that this policy would restore
the Democrats to power, hence they opposed
it by every means, fair or foul, within their
power.
They openly declared political warfare
against the President, and denounced him
as a traitor. not only to his party, but they
even went so far as to publish him as
traitor to his country as is evidenced by
their futile attempts toimpeach and punish
him on the charge of high treason. The
President finding the leaders OF the party
to whom he was indebted for his election,
arrayed against him, at once commenced
to retaliate by removing their henchmen
from office and appointing Democrats in
their places. This action on his part caused
the disgruntled Republicans in Congress to
enact the tenure OF office law, and passed
the same over the Presidents veto, to con-
tinue their own political followers in office.
The penalties OF this act are SO severe as to
actually prevent the President from max
ing any removals without the consent OF
the Senate, except for mafeasance or gross
incompetency in office. The present Senate
is Republican by a small majority, but
from present appearances the Democrats
will soon be in the ascendancy. This renders
it incumbent upon President Cleveland to
move slowly and cautiously in making the
changes in Federal Offices demanded by the
American people, by their verdict at the
last election. conscientious desire on the
part of the President to make the changes
demanded by the people, is what renders
his position SO perplexing and plunges him
into such an unpleasant dilemma. Den:
Gratis are ill-tempered and are loudly censur-
ing the President for his prudence, while the
Republicans are ciagrined, and threaten
because he has only removed 1.-THE of the
most incompetent and corrupt among them
from office. Keep quiet, gentlemen, your
complaints. or vituperation will not swerve
the President from what he believes to be
his duty to the demands OF the people, and
the constitution and laws OF the land; but
the Republicans may save their thunder for
there is nothing more certain, than the fact
that President Cleveland will remove all
his political adversaries from office and ap-
point in their places honest capable Demo-
Gratis