St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-15
PRESIDENT CI.EVELAND'S
OHIlEyo

President Cleveland has sent from
Buzzard's Bay to the heads of the de-
partments AT Washington notes calling
their attention to his order Of SO. in
which public officers were notified that
they should not participate in cain-
paigns either Oh the stump ur in party
conventions. This attitude OF the pres
ident is variOusly commented upon. de-
pending entirely upon the view the
commentator takes OF public office and
Its relations to the people.
One class is represented by the Chi.
cago Herald. which regards the public
officer as the representative OF the policy
of his party, and fails to SEQ why the
men who lave won position because of
their prominence as advocatts of the
principles of their party should be muZ-
lied Into silence as soon as they take
office. The Herald thinks that it is not
only their right. but it is their duty to
themselves. 10 their party and to the
country. to continue their advocacy be-
fore the people of the principles and
policies which. as officers OF the coun-
try, they are supposed TO represent.
Ii it was their duty as citizens to at
vocate those policies. it Is still their
DUTY. the Herald urges. to defend them
when they become Il part of the govern
ment which is putting those policies
into operation. 1t insists that a man
does not l0Se his rights OF citizenship,
;snfong which is that Of public speech,
by taking Office, and that The president
is NOT justified in attempting 10 restrain
his officers i'll the exercise Of that right.
The Herald tersely and fairly states the
case as seen from the point of view OF
the party politician.
The view taken by the president and
those who agree with him is that, while
the citizen has the unQueStioned right.
and 1t is his duty, 10 support in every
possible way The principles and policy
Of the party to which he belongs, still.
when he accepts flee he becomes not
the officer of his party. but the servant
of the entire people, regardless of party.
From them he receives his salary.
derived from taxes paid by the people
without regard TO their politica! atfilia.
tons. and III return he owes to them Ills
entire time and service. If lie takes
from his time to devote to political
activities, he is receiving pay drawn i'll
part from the party he opposes, for time
devoted TO the securing OF the defeat of
that party.
Ii this question is to be considered
solely from the point of political prac-
tees. and all ethical considerations are to
be eliminated from it, the position taken
by The Herald is undoubtedly correct.
But, if ethics are to be considered in
politics, if questions of abstract right
as we'll as political expectancy are to he
| considered, the verdict must be that the
president is right. When we consider
the ScOrn which the attendance 1T the
conventions or any activity III political
management by 0fficehOlders is de-
nouneed by the Democrats. when the
Republicans are i'll power. and by tie
| Republicans When the Democrats are in
| power, as something wrong, it must be
| admitted that the politicians are appeal
| ing to what they recognize is Il sense in
| the people that suca interference i
wrong per Sc.