Telegram-herald., 1890-04-12

sos tns Clsl-Seryiee lzN . 70 Dc
tested n ths United States S.lprene
C0urt. Tie questions 10 ns submitted
are. uasther person rno = ao< "A TIE
Government employment n4s q right 70
s0llciE from Government employes, b.
lstteE, contributions foE campaign puf-
poses, and, Il not, thea whether the
lAs prohibiting such solicitation . con
s.stsnt with ne Constitution of the
United states
Ihe Fedsrzl Constitution eonteTn-
plates The participation ~ every citizen
Ia the Affairs u government. The only
practicable way u testing the opinions
Ol the people and ASeeEtalalng Their VII
10 oy a dus.on into parties advocating
opposite prnc. pies OF governmental
poAcy. Ihls method OF sscert2lnng
the public slll Is auch oder than the
Federal Constitution, and mat dOca-
ment was framed WITH full knowledge
on the part OF its authors OF party div
son. sucn q separation OF the people
into parties IS certainly lawful, and Il
Inust then follow that the people have
a perfect right 70 work Tor the success
of their parties respectively. II IS also
a self-eyident proposition that no party
campaign can Dc carried on without
expenses incurred, that are in every
sense legitimate. No one can for a
moment deny the legitimacy of hiring
speakers. bands, printing, men and
teams 10 get voters out 10 registration
and election. Bat where IS the money
70 come fronl The Government can
not furnish II. Then the members OF
each party must help pay It's campaign
expenses. II one member may contri-
butte why not another? Is a citizen dis
qualified from performing the duties
OF citizen because he IS employed by
the Government
But, say the civil service cranks, great
abuses arse from the participation IN
party affairs by Government employees.
Then direct the law aud its penalties
/ against the abuses. Do not take away
a citizens nights 70 correct an abuse.
The law m ght a, we'll forbid q man 5
drinking anything, lest ne abuse the
right of drinking. II one citizen has a
right 20 contribute, another has right
| 20 ask him 10 contribute. The law
might just as consistently prohibit the
solicitation 70 marry, although it is
good TO marry, lest one may abuse the
! right to marry and marry too much. If
the civil service law really does reach 50
far, it strikes clear beyond the abuse
and hits private rights.
There can be no question that the
Government has a right and should
prohibit It's employees from doing active
work in a campaign. for that would in.
terfere with the discharge Of duties in
which the public generally Is interested
The Government, also, should protect
its minor employees from being subject
ed to forced contribution by threats OF
discharge, for there Is where the abuse
is most apt 10 come IN. But the Gov
ernment can not consistently-nor law
fully, We think-prohibit the voluntary
contribution by It's employees to cam
paign expenses. Nor do we think tha
the Government has yet done so. Ther
how can the solicitation to do Lawful
thing, by another person, be punished
as unlawful?
There IS one good arising out Of tn,
law, however, If it is as comprehensive
as claimed and also constitutional, anC
that is, that any man of spirit, who doe
not wish to be reduced 10 an officia
nonenity, viii keep out Of Governmen
employment.