National Republican., 1886-08-28
"Pernioious Activity"

The Pittsburg Dispatch finds "somothing
rather interesting in the speculation as to
whether Col. Lamont, or Mr.. Cleveland, or
some one else, will not return to Washing
ton and set the guillotine at work on DEM
ocratic heads. The Dispatch believes there
is a general impression that an executive
circular declared very decidedly that office
holders must not attend conventions or
work up the selection of delegates. The
Dispatch recalls the fact that Republican
head or two has come off for the disregard
of that order; and one Of the gubernatorlal
Taylois down In Tennessee was informed
that he had better stay at home. And yet
here is paper up in Michigan asserting
that more than fifty federal ofllceholders,
Including all the leading government OIL
cials Of western Michigan and many from
the eastern part Of the state, were present
and active in and about the convention.' "
Taking all thesethings into serious con
sideration, our Independent Pittsburg con.
temporary wants to know II fifty heads
twill be chopped off in Michigan when the
presidential election Is over, rs a sort Of en-
couragement to the others during the fall
campaignYn
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN has not been
duly authorized TO speak for the admins
tration while its head is absent, "trolling
| with gangn in the pcllucld pools Of the
| Adirondacks; but 1t would seem to be prac-
| ticable to get at certain facts which, prop
erly collated and fairly considered, may
serve as an answer to the question pro
pounded by the Dispatch. Indeed, these
facts are at hand, carefully arranged, in the
Boston journal of the 26th instant. A
short time ago, says the Boston editor,
United States Marshal Gross, Of Louisville,
who wanted to go home and vote at prl.
mary election for congressman, wrote to
Solicitor General jerks to learn whether,
In so doing, he should transgress the Presi-
dents order. Mr.. jerks, in reply, said
that, as he understood 1t, "the official inAu-
ence of the officer should be
entirely divorced from politics." but
added, with proper Delphian mystery:
1t is not possibly within the purview of my
| duties TO determine what in each case, under
all the circumstances OF life, the citizen who
holds an Office should do or what he should re-
frain from doing; but an honest purpose in
good faith to carry out the clear intent of the
circular, according to the best judgment of the
officer, will, as q rule, be the best guide In It's
| observance.
More recently, however, Mr.. jerks has
been interviewed by Philadelphia Time,
reporter, to whom he talked with great
freedom about Pennsylvania politics. In
the course Of this interview he gave this in
depreciation OF the Presidents order
President Cleveland prohibited ofIieeholders
| from interfering with the rights of the people
| whose servants, and not masters, they are. As
understand it, no man is debarred from cx-
| pressing his opinions nor of taking part In cam.
paigns after the tickets are in the field. The
Presidents views, as they become better un-
derstood, will insure universal approval.
The conclusion ut which the journal ar.
rives after an intelligent study of these two
extracts from jerks is that
The nicely with which the practical inter
probation of the order, as made by Office
holders, and the theoretical Interpretation o
1t by Mr.. jerks fit into each other canno
escape attention. According TO the former
anything which is done before nomination.
are made, in the way of running caucuses ant
conventions and managing delegates, Is al
right; according to the latter, anything whicl
is done after nominations are made In tn
way of expressing opinions or taking part IL
campaigns, is all right. There would reall!
seem to be no reason why the order as thu
interpreted, should not, rs 1t becomes bette
understood" receive the universal approval
Of oHiceholders. In n word It is an ordc
which fell into a state of 'innocuous desue
tudo' before the ink with which 1t was writer
was dry.
The prospect that fifty, or any Other
number OF Democratic heads will b.
chopped of for "pernlcious activity woult
seem to be extremely remote