The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1886-11-26
GROSS IMPRU 1ENCE. .

Cleveland removed from Office Dis.
rict-Attorney M. E. Benton. of
Missouri last week he reinstated
Mr.. Benton, having found out that
he had no good reason for suspend>
ing him. Either the suspension or
the reinstation shows <imprnaence
in the Administrator. The sus-
pension was unjust. The only
charge against Mr., Benton was that
he had violated Cleveland,s ord=r
against undue political activity by
office holders. Mr. Benton had
made many political speeches, often
two in a day. Mr.. Cleveland has
said that no partisan should bold
Office under him. Mr.. Benton is a
strong and influential Democrat,
and in the late campaign did good
canvassing for his party. But Mr..
Cleveland with india>rubber eyes
sees no par tisanship in his conduct
after reconsideration. We believe
that partisans are the only ones
who should hold Office. 50 long as
they fulfill their duties,
! We suppose that if the inside
facts about Hr. Benton's suspen-
sion and relnstation were known
they would show. that Mr.. Cleve.
land, to use slang expression, bit
more than he could chew He is after
the nomination in 1888 and he il
very careful how he deals with
western men and New Workers who
have much influence. He forgets
that the silver Democrats of the
Pest will never support him and
that he cannot carry the great host
OF anti-civiI service Democrats. But
he Is so hopeful that he has begun
to deal in policy, and has found il
advisable to retreat from the foolish
position he took last year in his
"warning to otfice>holders.' We
clip two or three sentences from
Mr.. Cleveland's letter to Mr.. Ben
ton after reinstating' him. The
letter il only a feeble attempt t,
cover up his blunder made las,
year in warning office-holders ant
this year in suspending Mr. Bentor
without good reason.
| III did not intend to condemn tho max
ing of political speeches bya Federal If
ficlal to his neighbors and friends, nor a
any time and placs where it was merel,
, incidental. if the speech itself was deeen
and fair"
Can not a man speak to his fel
iow-citizens anywhere as we'll as tt
his neighbOrs and frlendss To b.
sure Mr.. Cleveland means b,
friends, those Of the same party, a
least he ought to mean that. Wha
= difference does it make whether tn,
time and place be Incidental or .p
pointed and known beforehand
What has the President got to d,
with the dencency and fairness Q
: a speech? How can he tell whethe
a speech is decent and fair? Tn,
fact is man ought to be allowed
to speak whenever and whereve
he pleases just so he does no
neglect his duties: Aud it seem
that Mr.. Cleveland has come to tina
conclusion himself lat least In Re
) garo to Mr.. Benton) and it wouI,
have been manly for him to &C
knowledge it.
a print ed list, taken from a news
T paper submitted to me, contained engage
ments to speak, made by your con
sent. daily for quite long period. an,
not dnfreqnently twice day, in differ.
ent parts of the State OF Missouri. and
was led to believe that on MANY of TIL,
days specified the court at which yor
had duties to perform was in session
But the statement in your let
Ter showing that you did not pc rmlt cam
palgn engagements to interfere with thu
performance of otficia! duty. your salts.
factory discharge Of such duty during