Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-10-28

The dramatic effect of the suspension
by the president of two OF his appointees
because they m.Elia political speeches
Will be lost in contemplation of the
childishness of the act and in the glarlng
inconsistency which singles out these
two victims while other and more noted
offenders are up to their ears in political
work. There is extant a mugwumpian
theory that political perfection is attain
able by those only who let politics alone.
1t is on idea which for term of years
has amused George William Curtis and
his coordinate cranks, but It's utter i'm
practicability has been the safeguard
against its adoption. President Hayes
| once made a feeble move
towards impressing the notion
upon the public mind. He issued an
order on the sub ject and then buried it
out of sight in the yoluminous portfolio
of executive literature. Great minds, it
is remarked, run in the same channel.
Hence Cleveland reiterated the Hayes
order and has advanced one step farther
upon the thin ice OF foolhardy expert.
ment and has enforced it against two
public servants 10y courtesy so-called).
Ee has got his foot in and if he does not
draw back his clumsy bulk will soon be
houndering in the chilly depths of
partisan and non-partisan condemna.
ton. The theory of the case is that q
man cannot do his duty as an officer and
engage actively in politics. Yet our
most successful business men are
our most successful politicians. SO
the theory is not susceptible of practical
application, for the work OF the office
holder calls into use the
same qualities of talent as the work of q
business man. Politics to this class of
laborers is merely recreation.
N. E. Benton, United States district
attorney, for the western district of
Missouri, and M. A. Stone, United
States district attorney for the
western district OF Pennsylvanis,
have been suspended by the president
upon evidence that both appeared be-
fore political gatherings and made
political speeches. Benton is demo
crat and Stone republican. The ab-
solute impartiality of the executive
mind is emphasized in these two cases,
studiously and designedly, SO the world
will say and the world will
be more than half right. The president
is now pausing complacently for the ap-
plause of the public, while the public
under its breath is condeninlng the
stupid foolishness of mediocre mind.
1t recognizes the fact that greater men
than these two United States attorneys,
office holders too, are daily and nightly
engaged in political work, that his cabi-
net officers are conspiring and laboring
for continuation of democratic power
and that he is himself setting up the
pins for denomination. These are acts
of offensive partissnship in official
places, in the mugwumpian acceptation
of the term. The example Of Off
oial decapitation in these two
insignificant instances may be intended
to cover the offences of the greater Of.
tenders, for the president seems to deem
political activity an ofense, but the ef.
feet Is lost in general contempt for dis
play OF administrative weakness. The
statesmen OF the land, democratic or re.
publican, have no sympathy
with such pperils executive
demonstrations; but the statesmen
OF the land have little control over the
stubborn occupant OF the white honse
whose chief recommendation to himsel
! is that when he will, he will, and whel