St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-02
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.

The special mes sage sent to the senate
yesterday by President CLEVELAND, dedn-
ing his position on the subject of infOrma-
tion regarding suspensions can not be re-
garded otherwise than with the warmest
approval. Concise, courteous, clearly
stated and logical, no more admirable eX-
position of the false position which the
senate has assumed and the justice OF the
presidents determination to resist an UNI
warranted invasion of executive preroga-
tives could be imagined. Mr.. CLEVELAND
prefers to speak for himself, and does so in
a manner unmistakable. He has the cour-
age of his convictions. strenthened by the
CONSCIOUSNESS that he has both law and
reason with him. 1t can hardly be doubted
that he will also range with him all fair
minded people who are interested In giving
the administration an opportunity, I'M
hampered by captious opposition, to fulfill
its promises to give the country a clean,
honest and improved government. The
pretended constitutional rights, which the
senate invoked TO sustain its demand for
the reasons for suspensions, Mr.. CLEvE-
LAND plainly shows do not exist. His
point that the senate, not for moment
arrogating TO itself any constitutional privi-
lege, considered it necessary to formulate a
special law to cover contest of an exactly
similar nature with President JOHNSON, is
incontrovertable. Were this law in opera
ton now the president, as becomes patri-
otto servant of the people, announces that
he would unhesitatingly recognize the au-
thOrity conferred upon the senate and the
consequent necessity for his obedience. The
inconsistency of the senatorial position is
made evident from the fact that hardly had
Gen. GRANT taken his seat before the pro-
visions of the act, which were passed with
a view to restraining the freedom of action
of President JOHNSON, were repealed and
an amendment inserted permitting the pres
ident to make removals and suspen-
sions, during recess of the sem
ate, at his own discretion, without fur
nishing the senate evidence and reason"
If this law permitted certain latitude to
President GRANT unrepealed, it certainly
confers the same privileges upon President
CLEVELAND. The senate's attempt to re-
vive both repealed and unrepealed statutes
in an attempt to throw difficulties in the
way of the president certainly savors very
strongly, as Mr.. CLEVELAND intimates, of
an effort to restrict him in his endeavor to
improve the methods of administration.
The law thus giving the president exclusive
discretion and responsibility in the direction
of suspension. the action of the senate can
be viewed in no other light than that of i'm
pertinent intrusion. Thus Mr.. CLEVELAND
regards it and rightfully refuses to submit
to it. In all matters in which the senate is
lawfully concerned, in the reasons for APP
pointments, the record of appointees. the
right of rejection of nominations, the presi-
dent cheerfully recognized the authority of
the senate and courteously yielded to it.
But when it comes to bare-faced invasion
of executive privilege he does not purpose
yielding q hairs breadth. he does not
deny that the propriety of suspensions
might be more unquestionable should they
be lawfully subject to revision, but so long
as that is not provided for the senate has
no more right than the merest out
slider to inquire into his reasons
for removals. The accuracy of this
view must be conceded by all
except the blindest partisans. The sturdy
determination which has enabled the presi-
dent to persist in his intention to give the
country the much-needed reform in its
government, despite clamorous solicitation
for Office. is shown again in this admirable
document. He is not the man to be inhu-
enced by threats or propitiated by meaning
less concessions, neither will he be turned
aside from the line of his duty by the pro-
tests of party workers. To the people
alone is he responsible. and by them he is
quite ready to be judged. The verdict can
only be of one nature. "Well done, thou
good and faithful servant"