The Washington critic., 1888-04-21
HxECUrIvE REsPoNsIBILIry.

The President is taken severely to
task by Harper's Weekly for the cur
rent week, because of his "substan-
tial disregard of nagrant derelictions
of duty committed by his subordinate
officials.
IL first takes for granted on merely
newspaper rumor that Assistant Sec
Tetary Maynard has been guilty Of
conduct that tends to 20 violation of
the Presidents pledges, a degradation
of the public service and debauchery
of the party in power" and then
charges Mr.. Cleveland with the direct
responsibility for these grave conse-
quences, or, at best, with "a lamenta-
lie want of official vigilance"
One would infer, from the terms
and tenor of this indictment, that
Mr.. Maynard's ofrense was only u
little short of high treason, but we
understand that it really consisted in
lending some slight aid and assistance
10 Democratic campaign committee.
Whatever il may have been, how
ever, ii is the President who must
stand the penalty, for the reason that
Maynard is one of his appointees,
and "the theory of wicked partners
does not avail in gross abuses of the
civil-service.n
II is admitted by the writer that
President Cleveland's convictions on
the subject of reform are probably
unchanged, but, as did General Grant
before him, he "yields to the pres
sure of his party" That would show
linn to lack courage, wouldn't it?
"He submits to be discredited by
the conduct of subordinates, which
assumes that he does not mean what
he says" That shows him to be insin-
Cere, does it not?
Then as if relenting from this
sweeping allegation of cowardice and
neutrality-suspicious. which even
the bitterest opponents of the Presi-
dent do not associate with his charac-
ter-the article goes on TO say:
Undoubtedly he CNIr Cleveland) never said
that his administration would be conformed
strictly 10 the we'll known principles of re-
form. He was very careful to weigh his
words. and he Is not responsible for all the
Interpretation that was placed upon them
nor for the sanguine antioipations of many
earnest reformers. There was, however, gem
sral belief in his interest in the subject, and
general expectation that he would do much
practically 10 advance reform. Disappoint-
mentwith the result has been as general as
The anticipation. The
friends of reform have been neither impatient
nor unreasonable. Neither have they been
blind. Nor have they forgotten, nor will they
forget, that .theh first duty is TO cause, no,
10 man, nor to party, nor TO an adminlstra
tjon.
But Is not all this more in sorrow
than in nanger--sorrow that Mr.. Cleve-
1and,falls so far below an impracti.
cable but captivating ideal, rather
thanianger at his stubborn adherence
TO the principles of the spoils system
Surely, the friends of reforn'
need not despair.
They may never live to see Presi-
dent who will subordinate the inter.
ests Of his administration to a
cause" or being elected on certain
political issues, forthwith proceed to
abandon those issues in = his public
policy and'ignore his party friends in
the distribution Of public patronage,
but the e'blessings Of good government
may nevertheless become their con-
timing heritage.
Nothing is more certain than that
the President who gives the country
a cleaniand honest administration,
executes the laws with fidelity, up.
holds the public credit and stands
patriotically by the old flag, deserves
well of his fellow-citizens and willre-
tain their confidence. Such a Presi.
dent,fills worthily the measure Of his
responsibilities, and however strenu.
Ously he-may insist upon bestowine
the chief Offices in his gift upon men
of his own political faith, is true to
the highest of all causes--the cause OF
the people.