The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-11
THE PRESIDENTS STAND.
He Will Hand Down His Office to His Sue
cessor Untrammeled-He Will Not b.
Driven by the Senate.

lie Will Hand Down His Office to His Sue
cessor Untrammeled-He Will Not Be
Driven by the Senate.
1t is evident from the report and res
olutions laid before the Senate BY Mr..
Edmunds that the Republican majority
is determined on a factious opposition
to the Administration. 1t is equally
plain that no public interest is to be
served by this opposition, for the Presi-
dent has more than intimated that he
is perfectly willing that the Senate
shall have any papers relating to re-
movalS which it asks as matter of
courtesy but not of right. He MAN.
tainS that as President certain eXecu-
tive prerogatives are intrusted to him
which he must protect and hand down
unimpaired to his successor. They
are public trust and must
be upheld The constitution
provides that the Senate must
be consulted in the making of certain
appointments, but it is silent as to any
advisory or restrictive relation of the
Senate toward suspensions or remov-
ais from office. This leaves the Presi-
dent free to make suspensions and re-
movals, and it can readily be under
stood how any limit or restraint on the
power of removal would render the
Executive weak, indecisive and ineffect-
i've.
But the chief purpose of the majori-
ty in the Senate is to convict the PreSi-
dent of bad faith in failing to redeem
his Civil-Service reform pledges. Not
that the Republican Senators are so
deeply enamored of this reform for its
own sake, but they hope to use it to
the discredit of the President Fortl,-
nately for Mr. Cleveland they are
barking up the wrong tree. In his let
ter to George William Curtis, president
of the Civil-Service Reform League, he
made no pledge not to make any re-
movals for political reasons. On the
contrary, he expressly indicated that
he would remove a certain class of Of
fice-holders, whom he designated as
offensive partisans."
In spite of the most persistent press
ure from party very hungry and very
thirsty, Mr.. Cleveland has stood by his
ante-election principles with remarka-
BILE steadfastness. At his Inauguration
he found the offices almost wholly in
the possession of Republicans. As the
first year of his Administration draws
near its close two-thirds of these are
still in office, and where Democrats
have taken the places of the remainder
very small percentage indeed are the
successors of suspended Republicans.
Moreover, in these cases it is believed
that the President is entirely willing
that the public shall know the causes
which in his opinion justified their sus-
pension on the ground of offensive
partisanship. This, however, is not
what the Republican Senators want or
they would ''request," not demand"
the papers relating to suspended Of
ticials. They are only intent on forcing
the President to appear as refusing to
give information to the legislative
branch of the Government, when in
fact he is anxious to give it if Only
asked for it in a manner consistent with
the full preservation of his preroga-
tiveS The President is understood 10
be in full accord with the theory that
every paper relating to the appoint
ment, conduct or removal of Federal
officials shall be accessible, not only TO
Congress but to the whole world.
How entirely factious is the aim of
the Edmunds resolutions is proved by
that relating to removals of discharged
soldiers and sailors. This is craftily
worded to convey the impression that
such soldiers and sailors have been re-
moved, and without cause. 1t does not
make the charge boldly, but by way
of innuendo. 1t presents nothing that
can be denied because it fires in the
air. 1t fOrmulates nothing but geu-
eral oratorical statement of recog-
nized principle. 1t hints at great
wrong, but stops short of averment. 1t
is unworthy of the signature of Senator
Edmunds, or of any other Senator who
has signed it, except Mr.. ingalls,, who
has always been one of the kind of nan
willing to wound and yet afraid 10
strike''-one who loves to send arrows
flying in the dark Chicago Netcs.