The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-02-23

credulous enough to believe he was
elected President by the Mugwumps,
and, therefore, permitted them to
malign his real friends and flatter him
into policy which led to defeat that,
as a result of not permitting his real
friends to admonlsh hlm with freedom
and confidence, he suffered for want of
friends, and the Presidents wrecked
and wretcned greatness, he says, has
discovered that there is no true success
in life without the power and blessing
OF friendship. He taunts him with his
defeat by telling him "if you can find as
many reasons for removing me as the
Democratic party, through an lnditter-
ence which was simply retaliatory, had
for removing you, l shall be quite will
ing to remain with you in the gloom of
defeat"
Now we are not by any means to be
classed among Presidents Cleveland's
admirers, either personally, or in his ad
ministrative acts, and we are aware that
many OF his political opponents endorse
very heartily this caustlc attack upon
him. But called upon to pass an opinion
upon Judge Edgerton's letter, we un-
hesltatingly pronounce it an act IN
wretched taste, and as such very well
| calculated to benefit, rather than to in
lure the re-tiring President.
| We believe there is no surer wav to
create sympathy in behalf of and make
friends for political opponent, than to
BLACKBOARD HIM roundly. Whatever may
be the merit of your issue with him, you
have nothing to gain and everything to
lose, by bitter personal abuse of him.
1t is true that unreasoning partizans OF
both parties read with qualification and
pleasure, all matter that is personal in
character. But the great mass of these
readers belong to the groundlings, and
their aggregate approval is not worth
the good opinion OF one intelligent and
reflective man.
This view is in our opinion strength
ened, when the subject of attack is the
President of the United States, the dig
nifty of whose office ought in reason
able measure at least, to shield him
from bitter personal attack. But if the
office does not protect the man, i,
doesn't necessarily follow that those
who differ with President Cleveland in
politics generally, and who especially
do not approve his administration O.
the Civil Service Law, will admire judge
Edgerton's letter, or applaud him tol
writing it, simply on account OF Judge
Edgerton's own political antecedents
He is himself a recognized spoislman
with no sympathy for an honest Civil
Service reform, and cherishing at hear
no respect for the Law. Yet he &C.
cepted the position of Commissions
at the hands of the President, and wher
removed by his chief, writes him ar
abusive letter. 1t matters not whether
the President has done Judge Edger
ton injustice or not. MIR. Cleveland
may have made just as big mistake ir
summary removing him as he did ii
appointing him on the Civil Service
Board. The deposed commissioner car
reap no laurels by Safeguarding the
President, whose short comings as de.
tailed by the angry sportsman, would
never have reached the world but fol
his unexpected removal. There may be
little credit due Mr.. Cleveland for his
in our opinion-partizan adminlstra-
ton of the Civil Service Law, but Ger,
tainly less is due Judge Edgerton fol
mis- angry and undignifed letter.