The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-10
.spERNICIoUs ACTIyITY.'

UlHu6 SUCH l6duCESulp AuAAhS C1OAA VhA
cal career. Mr.. jefferson uttered some
disapprobation of this course, it is true,
but if any other President made objec-
ton, we do not recall it. 1t is certain
that Adams, Jackson, Grant and others
were actively interested as party
leaders and looked to the office holders
to carry out the programme determined
upon.
When Mr. Cleveland became President,
he shocked those who had seen nothing
Objectionable in active participation in
politics by ofIice-holders by the follow
ing order, issued July 14th, 1885, to the
''heads of departments"
81 deem this proper time especially to
warn all subordinates in the several de
| partments, and ALL office holders under
the general government, against the use
of their official positions in attempts to
control political movements in their To-
calities.
coffee holders are the agents of the
people, not their masters. Not only are
their time and labor due to the govern
ment, but they should scrupulously avoid,
in their political action as well as in the
discharge of their official duties, offend
ing, by display of obtrusive partisan
ship, their neighbors who have relations
with them as public officials.
"They should also constantly remember
that their party friends, from whom they
have received preferment, have not in
vested them with the power of arbitra-
rily managing their political affairs.
They have no rights as Office holders to
dictate the political action of their party
associates. or to throttle freedom by
methods and practices which pervert ev-
cry useful and justiiable purpose of par
ty organization.
1.-THE influence of federal office holders
should not be felt in the manipulation
of political primary meetings and nomi-
/ mating conventions. These uses by these
officials of their positions to compass
their selection as delegates to political
conventions are indecent and unfair; and
proper regard for the proprieties and re
quirements of official place will also pre-
vent their assuming the active conduct
of political campaigns.
individual interest and activity in
political affairs are by no means con
demned. Office holders are neither dis
franchised nor forbidden the exercise Of
political privileges, but their privileges
are not enlarged nor their duty to party
increased to pernicious activity by office
holding
"a Just discrimination in this regard
between the things a citizen may pro
perly do and the purposes for which
public Office should not be used is easy
in the light of correct appreciation of
the relation between the people and
those entrusted with official places and
a consideration of the necessity under
our form of government of political &C
| ton free from official coercion"
In order to emphasize his purpose to
enforce this new creed the President
SUMMARY dismissed several otherwise
good men from Office who had been gull
ty of "pernicious activity" There was
much criticism of this new policy, but
it was generally acquieseed in, and the
last National Democratic Convention
gave its formal approval by a severe ar
raignment Of the activity Of President
Harrison's office-holders. The whole
country expected Mr.. Cleveland upon
his return to the Presidency to live up
10 his former order and the
platform declaration, and he fully
met public expectation until he
outlined his policy of crushing the silver
sentiment in the party. Since then, not
even under Grant, have the Federal
holders, been more Indecent and
unfair" in their ''pernicious activity" to
advance the new monetary policy against
which the Democratic party has fought
for thirty years. In Nebraska, post
master presided over the boiling gold
faction of the party, mere handful of
men, most of whom were Federal off
Gals. Federal postofice editors in most
of the States have not only been guilty
of ''pernicious activity" but their de-
traction Of free silver men has not only
been indecent and unfair" but offensive
as well
Mr.. Cleveland ought either to admit
that he blundered in his former order, or
to enforce it. Thousands Of good men
would approve the resembling of his ban
put upon Federal oflice-hoIders because
they believe it circumacribed individual
berty Of action.
If it is right for Federal Office holders
to run primaries and nominating con-
ventions, Mr.. Cleveland's former utter
ances are all wrong. If it is not right,
he ought to stop them or publicly declare
that he labored under delusion during
his first term. There is no way to recon
Gle the present practice with past procla-
nations and platform declarations.