Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-16
WHAT THEY SAY.

New York Tribune: Neither the
mistatements of the president himself
nor the false assumptions of his sup
porters in the senate can obscure the
issue in this case. The attorney gene
raj is a statutory officer. He, and not
the president, is given the control OF
the department of justice, and he, and
not the president, is made the custo-
dian of all papers filed or deposited
in the department.
New York Mail and Express: Mr..
Edmunds never seems to have forgot
ten that Mr.. Cleveland's remarkable
displays of ignorance in his message
that assumed 10 lecture the senate on
its rights and duties, were to be
treated with the respectful phrase
ology due to the president of the
United States, but duty compelled
that the errors of the president should
be exposed, and they were disclosed
So clearly that the galleries under
stood every point made.
Cleveland Plaindealer: Senator Ed
munds is unquesiionably the ablcst OF
Republican senators, aud his argument
on the question of the presidential
prerogative NAV be taken as the
srrongesi presentation of the Repubii-
can position on this question that can
be made. Ii we allow the case to be
as the Vermont senator states it We
must admit that the argument he
makes in support of his side OF 1t Is
very conclusive. lie is clear, torcihle
and logical, and his reasoning very
well establishes the propositions he
set out 10 establish.
Philadelphia Press: The embarass-
ment and weakness of the presidents
position is just this: Ifhe admits that
he removed these Off GERS on partisan
grounds. he admits that he removed
these Off GERS on partisan grounds, he
admits thar he trampled on his own
pledge. If he declares that he removed
them for public cause, he is bound by
every code OF fairness and decency to
declare the cause, and on proper call
to furnish the papers on which he act
ed. If he had good cause he wouldn't
hesitate to furnish the papers. LII he
had not good cause, it only shows that
he acted on political grounds. Either
way he condemns himself.
New York Herald: The Alabama
Senator declared that the President is
responsible to the people and not to
the Senate. Precisely SO. But why
does the President deny to the people
the knowledge of their own Affairs!
And why does Mr.. Pugh support him
in this? We have as lively feeling of
contempt for the Senate's claims TO
exclusive and secret information as
Senator Pugh. But he seems to in-
clude i'm his contempt not merely the
Senate of which he is member, but
both houses OF Congress and the peo-
pie of the United States. Tha, is
where he makes q mistake, as he and
the Democrats in general will find be-
fore they are done.
New York Tribune: What Is to he
said of the president! 1t is to be held
that he is comparatively ignorant OF
law. and has had no experience in
public affairs, and neglected to search
for precedents in the conduct of the
government, and go engaged in
grave conflict with the senate, know
ing nothing Of its rights or duties?
No defense could be more damning.
Ii that is true of Mr.. Cleveland he is
less fit TO be president than his worst
foes have ever imagined. Is it TO be said,
on the other hand, that he is head
strong man who cares nothing for
precedents and little for restraints of
law, but intends to administer the
government according to his own
ideas of right? That is to say that he
is usurper, who is liable TO require
impeachment before all is done. These
defences are suicidal. President
Cleveland has been pushed by dishon-
est advisers into fatal and lawless at
titudc. They knew it was lawless.
Hi first duiy is to put them on of
his cabinet, his counsel ID his conf
dence, and then 10 open those glass
doors" aud let the public know how
the government has been conducted.