New-York tribune., 1896-11-18
TRUSTEE, Not "HIRED MAN."

The campaign just over brought forward
prominently two ideas of the Presidency which
lave already been much discussed. One is that
the President is trustee, the other that he
is a hired man." Major Mckinley. as a can
didatc for Office maintained Il dignifed de-
mcanOr befittng the conception OF the Chlei
Magistracy as a high Office which Is at once
a symbol as well as an instrument Of the Ma
tiOnal majesty and power. Mr.. Bryan appro-
priately simulated the conduct Of a "hired man"
seeking job. The American people evidently
preferred trustee with a Selfrespecting re-
gard for the dignity of the office and himself
and Major McKinleys announced determine
ton to remain in Canton until it Is time to go
to Washington and control his own time In the
public interest shows that they made the right
Judgment when seeking a trustee.
Any study of the life imposed upon Presi-
dent of the United States, however, must re-
suit in the conclusion that Mr.. Bryan was not
entirely without reason for his views. nor
wrong in thinking that posing rs a "hired
man. might he popular. Far too many worthy
citizens think that because the President is Il
public servant he is also every mans servant
and should divide his time among the sOvcr-
cigns who elected him and use his power TO
give them individual favOrs. Naturally a Presi-
dent docs rot complain of this treatment. but
probably no President. if he spoke his mind.
would fail 10 testify that the pressure of indi
vdua demands, both social and political. upon
him. is injurious to the public business and
demoralzing to those who make them and the
greater body of people who share their conccp
ton of the Presidential functions.
The idea that the President is the representa-
tive of the individual voter and that this popu
lar sovereign has n claim upon his attention
and his time is a vicious one which has grown
up from the preaching of demagogues. and did
not attach 10 the office at the beginning
George Washington. ii may be safely as
serted, was never any voters "hircd man."
The modern democratic radical will say he
was an aristocrat because he insisted on
Difference TO his office and did not open his
doors 10 the crowd and permit indisrriminate
handshaking. But for n President 10 refuse
audience to every chance conner who thinks
he has something he wants 10 say and make
the White House receptions polite assem-
blages of limited number Of people. instead
Of the meetings of pushing, crowding mobs.
would not be insulting democracy, but making
democratic institutions more dignifie1l. No
where is the idea Of equality more strenuously
held than in France but no Frenchman thinks
of treating the President with less ccnsidera
ton than any private gentleman. He is the
President Of the Republic tie visible embOdi-
ment Of its majesty, and the citizens will not
have a monarchy thought more worthy OF re-
spect than the Republic. Consequently the
French President, though having far less real
power than ours. finds himself protected much
better from annoyance and able to devote him
self to public business with much greater free
dom.
The American people have this year decided
that they do not want "hircd man" They
have settled upon an Executive who is not 10
take ORDERS" but to be the administrator OF
their affairs, using the ability and Independent
judgment which he possesses as he deems best
within the limits Of the law for the years Of
his service. He is 10 work for the mass OF his
fellows. but not for every fellow in the mass.
He should have liberty 10 do that work. The
tendency Of recent years to make OF the Prcsl-
dent a show TO satisfy individual curiosity and
a gift enterprise to satisfy individual wants
is an imposition on the official and an insult
TO the Republic. Let us leave that habit with
those who want "hired man"