Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-09-04
WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPT. 4, 1895.

topic of grave consideration TOT tne
most thoughtful men of the republic
for several generations. American
patriots have dreaded the danger of 3
large standing army to our liberties
and of a great central National Bank
with branches ali over the union, but
they have regarded q solid and
increasing force Of political Janissaries
able to dictate the reelection OF the
chief who fed them as far more danger
Gus to free institutions than the bank
or the standing army. 1t is this sentl
ment that has given strength to the
rule against a third term which was In
augurated by George Washington. II
also underlies the protest of Henry
Clay re-echoed by Mr.. Cleveland
against the reelection of any mar to
the Presidential chair. The argument
indeed is strong that an occupant Of
the chair, if he has the idea of re-elec'
ton before his mind. will BIO tempted to
abuse the appointing function and the
immense power of executive patronage
in order to maintain himself in his
ofice. 1t has thus happened that for
thirty years we have had only two
cases of Presidential second terms.
The power of the President is 30 vast,
the temptation to ambitious men to
grasp powers not granted so great, that
q limitation to one term, except in OK
traordinary cases, is evidently, as Mr..
Cleveland suggested, the prudent
course for those who respect the prin
oiples of constitutional liberty.
In July, 1886, MI. Cleveland found it
necessary to warn the federal office
holders against the use of their official
positions in attempts to control "politl-
cal movements" He reminded them
that they were "the agents of the peop'e
NOT their masters; that they had no
right to dictate the political action of
their party associates, and that the in
fuence of federal oficeholders should
not be felt in the manipulation Of po-
litical primary meetings and nomi-
mating conventions" If our recollec-
ton be correct, Mr.. Cleveland con-
strued this order to extend to the ao-
ton of oficeholders eve after the
nominating conventions had acted.
There were considerable differences OF
opinion as to whether this was not 60
ing too far, but there was a general
agreement that the oficeholders ought
not to manipulate primaries or the
nominating conventions of the party.
Notwithstanding this order and the
great public support it received. the
oficeholders had a good deal to do
with the st. Louis convention that re-
nominated Mr.. Clevelandin 1888. Our
recollection is that their ofenses were
passed over in silence. It is much to
be regretted that after MI. Cleveland
was elected in 1892, he did not in
his entry upon the Presidential office
announce his purpose to enforce the
edict of July IA, 1886, and notify all
his oficeholders that any meddling
with primaries and manipulate
ing of party conventions would
be visited with summary dis
missal. We do not refer here to his
secretaries. There is no reason why
they should not now and then make
a speech to announce the policy of the
government. This would relieve the
President from a good deal of needless
trouble and letter writing, and is in
keeping with the traditions Of our own
aud other constitutional governments.
This privilege, however, must be care
fully distinguished from the practice Of
stumping States, which, for a head of
department, is undignifed and repre-.
hensible in the highest degree. But it
is needless to discuss the limitations of
proprieiy for federal Office holders.
They have thrown all decency to the
winds. The Cleveland circular of 1886
with its vigorous Saxon, is spit upon
aud derided by the great mass of Mr.
Cleveland's Office holders. There wa
a host of them at the Kentucky demo-
cratic convention. At the Ohio demo-
cratic convention they swarmed in
force-collectors of internal revenue.
postmasters, bank examiners, inspect
ora and pap suckers ofeverypossibie hue
and variety-none Of them seeming to
realize that il Mr.. Cleveland's views be
correct they were presenting q most
unseemly spectacle. In Iowa we hear
that not a single prominent federal off,
Ger was absent from the State CONVEX
ton. In Illinois and Missouri they were
too weak to make a fight, bat we a,e
afraid were not too virtuous to abstain.
1t is high time for Mr.. Cleveland to
speak out again and tell these men in
plain terms that he will not allow them
to do the DEVILS work in his name.
If he would turn out some in each State
f,- d;erooord of bio oircu1ar there would