The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-03
a Chapter on Bluffs.


II is interesting in this hilarious pre-
convention time to recall the circular
which President Cleveland issued to
federal officeholaers just eight years
ago. The circular said:
deem this proper time to especially
warn all subordinates IN the several de-
partments and all olliceholders under the
general government against the use OF
their official positions III attempts to con-
troll political movements in their lOCall-
ties. Otficeholdars are the agents of the
people, not their masters Not only is
their time and labor due to the govern
ment, but they should scrupulously avoid
iIf their political action as well 40 in the
discharge Of theE official duty, offending
by display Of ObstrusiYe pgrtisanship
their nelghbOrs who have relations with
them as public officials. They should also
constantly remember that their party
friends from whom they have received
preferfnent, have not invested them with
the power of arbitrarily managing their
political affairs. They have no right rs Of
ffceholjers to dictate the political
action of their party associates, or
TO throttle freedom Of action
within party lines by methods and prac-
tces which pervert every useful and Justl-
fable purpose of party organ nEatiop. The
influence Of federal office holders should
not b. felt in the manipulation of political
primary meetings and nominating cOuYeu-
tions. The use by these officials Of their
positions to compass their selection "a del.
egates TO political conventions is indecent
and unfair; and proper regard for the pro-
prietles and requirements Of official place
n if1rs bn uati
conduct Of political campaigns. Indiyid.
ual interest and activity in political af-
fuirs are By no means condemned Office
holders are neither disfranchised nor for
hidden the exercise Of political privileges ;
but their privileges are not enlarged nor is
their duty to party increased to perniCious
activity by Office holding. A just discrim-
lnatiop In this regard between the things q
citizen may properly do and the purposes
for which public Office should not be used
Is easy IN the light Of Il correct apprecia-
ton OF the relation between the people and
these intrusted with official place and a
consideration of the necessity under our
form OF government OF political action free
from political coercion.
This was brave Jugle blast; none
the loss so because those to whom it
was addressed at once set to work to
disregard it by fixing things SO as to
enable Mr.. Cleveland 70 be renomin-
ated. The executive department at
Washington mas, in the face OF these
unpublished and, so far as any evidence
goes to the contrary, these very accent.
able violations of six years ago. lust
had the temerity to repeat this grandi-
ose order and Postmaster General Bis
sell, like an obedieut echo, has inserted
the following tag:
The regulation forbids tbot ,bo nos,,nos-
ter shall install himself as the manipulation
oi the affairs OF his own party. He is not
ci+irou cnggony ,t TDr,aeeu "L ms Irlyeges as
on those of his fellow -citizens. such n line
OF conduct as is interdicted would expose
MN 10 lle iinputaton OF a conscious fail
schc1oin to rSoimt"g ~. ndvo niH 9v y'9 vi Tt
by other Meaus than excellence in per-
iormance OF duty; tends to excite disaffec-
,aacS ,.ou SSe "a ,ho io ] "TI ]sasy anu Srlngs re-
viii find his just inGependence restrnined i
by the course of manly moderation and
tolerant courtesy which the regulation en-
%be6Ieoee bsJe ( dfcnitv W in '"E Sstsr spriO o.
his conduct accordingly.
Asked il this circular was intended
10 prevent postmasters part;cinatinp
as delegates ia political conventions
Mr. Bissell renlied nrom,tIv. "Tt "a