The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-25

AbNlStnE The PlipciPle " HS"l"
Doubtless our Democratic friends in
this State begin now TO realize what sort
ola fix 1t is the President has got them
into. They want ofIics-some oil them
have already been nominated 10 Office and
installed therein. After all this they will
be left in an uncomfortable plight itthe
Senate refuse to confirm them.
The lSrELLleEScgR mas not raised a
"radlcal howl" over the reforming oil tue
Civil Service which has been going on
since Mr.. Cleveland became President
This newspaper has not been cold In us
sympatliy with the braves who have
fought a long light and 1T last came with
in eight Of the fruits Of victory. Tho In
rxLLtd9ScGR has been Willing 10 Eee Co.
uublicans 20 fairly aud tquarely, lls
criticisms upon rem yAls have been based
ON the inles prettuse.. Of reform IN the
Civil Service,
The policy get forth in the elaborate re'
mort Of the Senate Judiciary Committee is
brought Lcme 10 West Virginia Demo
crats in Tie majority report againOt the
confirmation Of Mr.. McGraw, to be ColleC'
tor Of Internal RevenuC for West Virginia
The INrELLioRSCrR was not unwilling TO
zee Slr. Mccormick removed aud Br. Nc
Grsw or any other Democrat put in bis
place. Yet We pgtv with the Senate that
Mr.. McGJaw, and other nominees who
stand In like rase, ought not to be con-
llrned, The con mitee does not say that
MIR. McGnw 10 not suitable person for
the place. II says that certain charges
against MIR. Mccormick not having been
sent to the Senate upon demand made TO
tue Secretary Of the Treasury, the COM
nlttee assumes that the charges hays
been withdrawn. The charges upon
which removal was made having bten
withdrawn, no reason for removal sp'
para; wherefore the Senate reiusts 10 nd.
wise and consent to the removal. This
cold, logical way Of looking at the matter
Is Just what the President has invited,
and his nominees have him to blame, not
the Senate, for their failure to be con-
frmed.
In the particular case Il the Wet Vir'
ginia Collector the President resolted 10
methods beneath the dignity Of bis Office,
and beneath q asltrespeCting man. lie
had determined to remove Mr.. MCCol-
miCk--thAt was one Of the first things he
resolved to do after going into office. But
before he did the thing he took fright,
and Ii was then that he demanded
charges-not charges on which TO try
man, but charges 10 justify a sentence
which he had already determined To pass
and 10 execute. When the Senate asks
TO see these charges, they are not forth.
coming, though MIR. Cleveland himself
has made them an essential part Of the
else.
How can the Senate, with due regard to
itsoWn responsibility aud obligations, take
any other stand with regard to appoint.
ments than II has takan7 Can II be ex-
pscted that ali intelligent, reputable body
Of men will advise and consent in the
darkP Appointment Is tho joint act Of
the Executive and the senate-the one
nominates, the other confirms or refuses 10
confirm. Yet The Executive has the oti'
cial Information in every case, and refuses
to let the Senate share It. The officer re-
moved or suspended may have been Justly
treated; the person nominated to be bis
successor may be in every way lit for the
place; but the Senate cannot act. fayoruby
on the nomination because the President
treats the Senate with naughty disdain by
refusing It the necessary information.
The precents are against the President.
rs has had some illuStrlous predecessors
who not only gave such information to the
Senate, but did II Observation-Disclosures
volunteered it. The reason Of the thing
i,aS strong as the precedenLs. The Preh.
d,nt has dragged his friends into slough,
which lie might easily have avoided for
himself and for them.