National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-06
nreasrns. Table Letter to the Pre.lten

For with Wat judgment Sc Judge, ye shall
be judged: and with what measure ye mctc, II
shah be measured to you again"
These arc among the last words Of Christ's
Sermon on the Mount--since their utterauce
at no time moro applicable, as a measure Of
Justice, than now.
Your recent message to the Senate, OF about
three thousand words, giving your reasons
why you refused TO grant that body the infor.
nation they desired and required concerning
suspensions Of public officers and nominations
of their successors, will form an important
part Of the history of our country.
II is creditable that you had, as you state,
miBlvings as to the propriety of "oidnssiag The
Senate" upon The subject, lest you mightbe accused
qfBtrtstttg p6irslf uhbfddett tp,oh nc attention
Qfthdt body. especially as you dcdh yourself Qfhc
opportunity 10 inform The representatives. n The
sd'esQf you supreme control otcr ccrtdt pupers
and documents deposited IL DC public departments
Qr6c goreumua. BE-. Fn
II is noticeable that this remarkable message
should be so timed as to practically constitute
u
committee, demonstrating patriotic desire by
the President to take part In legislative pro.
ceedings.
The majority report of the judiciary commit
tee appears to have wounded you; hence your
elaborate message upon the question what con.
stltutes private and what public papers.
The law declares any paper document,
or record filed or deposited in any public
office, or with any judicial or public officer,
without reference TO the value Of the record,
paper, document, or proceeding, to be public
papers, md ereIy person who shall remove
them, to steal or doSirog and the custodian, or
public officer who permits It or connivcs at II,
shall be punished by fine or imprisonment. or
both.
Our President Is person. Not only aperson,
but persoRogei not only parsonage, but an
MusirioUs personage--yet is amenable TO law.
GLOW different is the samo man from him
self rs he sustains the person of magistrate
and that of iriendl" so says southey.
With friends, you hear oral statements and act
upon them. OF course they are not made
part of the public records, yet they may shape
your action. Letters may be written 10 you
and marked personal or confidential, though
addressed to the President. Such statements
or letters you have not been asked to furnish.
AS Chief Magistrate, filling the highest pub.
lie Office, you have secretaries and private
secretaries. One looks after confidential af.
fairs, the others arrange the public papers, and
send them to the respective departments TO
which they belong. They are always ready
for your inspection but never for destruction.
II may be the custom in some departments,
but 1t IS violation Of Flaw. Some departments
OF the government viii Surrender to applicants
for office the papers upon which their appllca.
lions were based, and, If not appointed, take
q receipt for them; other departments will not
deliver the originals but furnish copies. The
latter course Is the correct one, and should be
the universal rule ofthe government, under
the letter of the law All public Offices
are public trusts, for performing the duties OF
which the officers are paid from public
moneys,
associates in the discharge of executive du.
ties, in the making Of treaties with foreign
governments, in the appointments OF public
officers, from chief justice to postmaster, are
supposed by the people to perform important,
delicate, and confidential duties with the
Executive. The people believe that the legis.
lative departments OF the government can be
as safely trusted with public papers as the sub.
ordinates to.whom they give their consent to
act as custodians.
Mr.. President; You were pleased to state a
good many kind things about yourselfin your
message, among them; every pledge which
have made, by which / have placed linlta-
ton upon my exercise OF executive power. has
been faithfully redeemed" Again: "The
pledges have made were made to the people.
and to them am responsible orthe manner
IN which they have been redeemed. am not
responsible 10 the Senate, and am lntrillhlg
10 submit my actions and official conduct TO them
for Judgment"
With such splendid record the people will
think you should not fear the criticism of the
Senate. Consider for moment what will oc.
cur when the people come to pass judgment
upon your administration. First, the new
standard Of offensive partiSanship which You
have introduced, If unearthed, among good
men would destroy all faith in human nature
the best mon are secretly slanderedi when the
papers are called for these are refused an op-
portunity TO explain circumstances or defend
their regulations, as illustrated in the case OF
the Postmaster General. when the Senate
seeks information you judge the papers private
Now what kind of verdict could the people
make If your policy Is enforced?
Whenever there is public contest II will be
alleged, in the congressional elections of this
| year, that every paper which you do pot wish
published is marked private, and when
marked private 1t can be withdrawn and de-
stroyed. And then the field hands viii say
"De President don't tote far.'
Mr.. President; 1t will be said that your mes
sage Is the message OF dictator and not OF Q
statesman. Just such message as your Pan
Electric surroundings would produce, As you
have judged and dehed the senate--a Senate
whose Republican members have exhibited
the highest patriotism by yielding the right o
succession to the presidential office-so, "wltt
what measure 80 mete, It shall be measured L
| you again." THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
| -
The Marine Band at st. Elizabeth's.
Yesterday afternoon a concert was giyeI
| by the Marine band orchestra, directed b,
Mr.. John Philip Sousa, at the opera hous
Of ST. Elizabeth's, The selections iron
several eminent composers, including