Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-11-26
BOOMERANG LEGISLATION.

BOOMERANG LEGISLATION.
Reason and revelation confirm the
truth that, "a kingdom divided against
itself cannot stand" President Cleve-
land. in his efforts to ride the Democratic
steed and the mugwump donkey, has,
like Paul in his voyage to Italy, come to
where 1.-TWO seas meet" And any party
that will attempt the impossible, which
is to carry out its distinctive principles
and policy by employing its political OPP
ponents as subordinate executive officers.
will be placed in the same dilemma.
"To the victors belong the spoils," is
very roughly worded but well understood
statement of political gospel truth.
Impracticabes, goody-goodies, trifers
and cumberers OF political ground, may
talk OF a millennium, the outcome OF
bogus civil service reform. But the time
when the lions OF the day, whether they
be OF Democratic or Republican breed,
will lie down with opposition lambs in
office-holding pastures, without detrl-
ment to either, has not yet ar
rived. Give full and fair scope to
the party which the people elevate
to power. Let them officer their working
column from corporal to commander-in-
chief from their own ranks, andthen hold
them to strict accountability. But keep
out of sight and hearing the emasculated
word-mongers and spellingbook states
men, who are too dainty to attend pri-
mary meetings, but hang like leeches to
the public crib,
The Associated Press dispatches have
lately groaned beneath Il pressure OF cor
respondence over this reformed circum-
locution Office.
Two o. S. District Attorneys, one M
+. Benton, of the State OF Missouri, a
Democrat; the other, VIM. A. Stone, Of
Pennsylvania, Republican, were both
recently suspended from Office by order
of the President for Offensive partisan.
ship" cropping out in political speeches
for their respective parties. Senator
Vest and other leading Democrats o.
Missouri took up the cudgels for theil
fellow Democrat Benton, and the Presi
no sense neglected his official duties by
improving his citizens privileges-rein
stated him in office.
Civil Service Reform is responsible,
for the injustice of Mr.. Benton's suspen
sion, for without interference with hi
duties as an officer of the government, h'
was but exercising his rights as citizen
and his advocacy OF political principles
was in the line OF direction with the Ad
ministration, part OF which, as n subor
dinate officer, he was.
Mr.. Stone was ostensibly suspended
for precisely the same offense as Mr.
Benton committed. 1t was shown tha
he made two speeches, as Mr.. Bentor
had done, and that in no respect had he
neglected his official duties, only he hat
made his speeches from Republican
standpoint. Mr.. Stone, after the rein
statement of Mr.. Benton, writes to the
Secretary of the Interior, referring to tn,
similarity of the two cases, and asks
that his communication be referred to tn,
President, evidently expecting re
instatement also, but instead he gets
tremendous word-hogging-remains sus
pended, and is probably mad as Marcel
hare.
The President among other sever
things says
Mr. Stone and others of like disposition
are not to suppose that party lines are so ia
obliterated that the administration of tn
Government is to be trusted, in places higl
or low, to those who aggressively and con
stantly endeavor, unfairly, to destroy tn
confidence of the people in the part
responsible for such administration.
And 80 this reform marplot is response
BILE, first, for placing Mr., Stone where h
had no business to be-precluded from
exercising his rights as a citizen by ever,
consideration of good faith toward tn
Administration; and second, obliging TIN
Administration to use a double standard
of varying application, in the treatmen
OF its subordinates.
Already the complications and incon
sistencies growing out of "Gentlemal
Georges" boomerang bill are neither fey
nor small. Like the jaw-bone of an as
in the case OF Sampson, it may yet sla.
its thousands, and still be nothing but al
ass's iaw-bone.