New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-08
TIE DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
rArrHruLY AND FrTTNGLY PERFORMED BY
MIR. HARRISON.


MR.. HARRISON.
"a the Ed Stor OF rae Trfoane
sir: VIII you kindly accord ue some nttls space In
your valuable columns for few reflections suggested
BY tho article in your issue Of Saturday. entitled
swho is Presidonti"
, Tho writer OF that article has very Just notion
Of the duties of the President and permit me TO say
without intending in any way to impugn the political
integrity or the conscienousness Of Bishop Potter, thai
this notion fs very different from that which the
bishop seems TO have Of those duties In an inter
view lately given to the public the Bishop sasd
sHow much time has Harrison given 70 staesmAnship
Not IN hour not an instant far anybody knows.
He was put whore he IS TO maintain the Nations
dignity, to protect the rights Of the poor and the
Heb 10 rule not TO engage I'm barter and trade
He also SAID In the interview that he the
Bishop Is not Mugwump. and that he had always
been a Republican. This last bit of information 10
very largely to his credit. But though he may not
Be Mngwump Is Il not possible that he Is. In sonle
sisht degree touched with that vagueness Of expres
sion and that obiquity Of reasoning which are tho
characteristic not the standard. qualities OF first
class Mugwumpl
What does he mean by protecting the rights OF the
poor the rieh" by ruling" and by "engaging In
barter and Rade"1 What else he mean but that
no would have the President TO devote al his ume
to the government Of the country; he would have him
10 execute the laws, and perhaps TO write long.
woarisome the art OF government after the
very latest pattern, and not to allow his time
TO bo squandered In selecting this or that
applicant for this or that once.
How can the President execute the lawsf He II
not required to take any oath to execute the laws
One Law REQUIRES certain acts to be performed In the
York PostofHce the President, with all his power
cannot execute this law he has fulfilled his duty
in this regard when no has taken pains 10 canvass and
select and commission competent man as Postmaster
OF New.York One law requires that an offenders in
the Western District Of SewYork against any United
States statute shall be prosecuted 70 conviction How
can the President execute that law. except by care
fully selecting an Efficient lawyer DstrietAttorney
for tho Western District OF New.YOrk and imposing
that duty upon hint
Tho President is required to take oath faith
fully 10 execute the ONCE OF President One duty,
and veTy large and important part OF his duties, Is
to the merits Of the various applicants for
once, and eohscientously to commission the one he
deems best qualified the discharge OF the duties In
question. Why, then. complain II q good deal of his
time Is 90 occupiedf II must necessarily be, II he is
70 execute his Office with careful regard TO public in
terest. 30 other duty has been neglected The
dignity OF the Nation has been maintained The
Samoan question, abruptly sprung upon the Ad-
mnistrstIon, has been promptly met and VIII doubt
less be honorably adjusted. Tho poor and tho rich
have bad equal share in the attentions Of the Presl
dent and the distribution Of favors.
AZ chief denitary In the Diocese Of New York
Bishop Poaer has an Office TO execute. In q less
extended held than that OF the Presidents presume
he called upon TO the fitness OF This or thai
one for certain places and duties In the diocese
Would be deem 10 fair criticism we laymen ignorant
q the eulbarrassments Of his situation should hold
him up TO the public noglectful OF his Duties be-
caasc. forsooth might think he too much OF
his time 10 careful and wise selection OF his AEeptsi
Tho cases are parallel Besides. II anY part
Of his duty a. Bishop Of New York and was no put
ssherc he &, 10 give any Of his valuable time 10 Tie
Centennial ceebrationf Most assuredly. And he did
admirably perform his duty on that occasion. so
with the President How gracefully he acted his
part with what dignity did he boar himself with
what tveedom from ostentaion and with what noble
nsss ofdtterancaj His aluSon IN his short but woll
considered nnAross at The Snb-Treasury building to
the captain Of the Missouri fs worth hundred homi
lies on the, sr Of government for inspiring In the
youth OF our land an aspiration TO noblepeSs Of deed
and love for resolate humanity.
may not DO MUgwumpan maltgnity. but II Ger
tainly &c very like Mugwumpian perverson OF fscts.
TO ssJ that the President Is idling away his time
Syracuse, May &C. 1850. SYRACUSE"