The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-15

"iVio Ao 10 ouLS1d6oCu. l. 10 10 "t5Ot n0
will protract the period of his withdrawal
from politics, lest he be carried from the
field a permanently disabled strategist, who
in a war Of giants could use only the puny
weapons and the paltry arts which had
seemed SO powerful in bygone days of hum
bug politics and insincere politicians.
Information for Princeton Freshmen.
The Buffalo Courier Record revives the
question of the authorship of the celebrated
phrase 80 often attributed to the Hon.
GROVER CLEVELAND, namely, "Public
Office is a public trust" and challenges
everybody or anybody to discover that
maxim in any Of Mr.. C~LBvELAND's
speeches or writings:
"win one OF our numerous esteemed contempt
raries which have frequently credited Mr.. CLEVELAND
with the declaration that "public once Is q public
trust" undertake to produce O speech OF the late
President, q real or alleged newspaper interview. o
reported private conversation. q letter, or O public or
private paper by him containing these words as his
own utterance7 We know that this cannot be done.
The reason why that phrase II so generally
attributed to tho e1-President 10 found IN the fact
that Mr.. DANIEL LAMONT, once Mr.. CLEvELASp's private
secretary and more recently Secretary OF War. used
49, ~ VI ouipa ouiph upiibu IL
support Of Mr.. CLEVELAND as 4 Presidential candi.
date. Mr.. LAMONT did not intend to represent this as
an original or adopted remark Of the candidate him
self, but 1t was regarded as such and became current
as II II had been one OF Mr.. CLEvEIANp's own utter
ances."
This Is at least half true. The maxim,
exactly as quoted above, does not appear in
any Of Mr.. CLEvELAND's speeches or writ
ings; and it was put by Col. LAMONT upon
the title page Of a campaign pamphlet
printed at the Argus Office in Albany in
support of Mr.. CLEVELAND as a candidate
for President. But Col. LAMONT did not in
vent either the idea or the exact form of the
maxim. Nor is Col. LAMoNT's publication
Of the phrase as a campaign text the reason
why 1t is so generally attributed to Mr..
CLEVELAND. The true reason is that Mr..
CLEVELAND has paraphrased the maxim
30 often and uttered in so many elaborate
variations the respectable, II somewhat
commonplace, sentiment which the maxim
embodies, that a great many persons as
sumo that it was by him originally discov-
cred and formulated. Here are a score of
illustrations, and the list might be ex-
tended to fill columns; for that Is a poor
speech of the Hon. GROVER ~CLEvELAND's,
and that is a half-baked letter or essay or
message of his, which does not contain the
public office is n public trust" idea in one
form or another:
Public ofncials are the trustees of tho people,
Speech at Buffalo.
" Public Officers arc the servants and agents of the
people."-Lefter accepting nomination for Governor.
when an election to onlce shall be the selection by
tho voters OF ono OF their number to assume for q
time q public trust" &o.-Lettor accepting no,rfna-
tfon for President.
I'VE are the trustees and agents OF our fellow citi.
Lens, holding their funds in sacred trust. Message as
Mayor Of BuDaio.
"ln the exercise OF their power and right Of self
government they have committed to one Of their fi.
low citizens a supreme and sacred trust; and he here
consecrates himself to their service. "-Inaupural as
PRECEDENT.
1.-THE onice which. in our plan Of government,
stands above all Others for the Sovereignty of the
people. and is the repository OF their trust."-Spesoh
at Centennial Of Wdshin0ton's Inaugural.
at embodies, in a greater degree than any other
ONCE on earth. the suffrage and the trust OF such q
po~ople."-Speech at Mlruukee.
III we permit ~grasping selhshness TO influence us In
the care OF tho trust. we are untrue to our obligA-
nons.'-Speech TO the Neto York Jereliers.
1.-THE reception OF the teachings OF Christianity ro-
snlS In the most scrupulous fidelity TO public trust"
speech to the Evangelical alliance.
1.-THE growing tendency Of to-day to regard public
once as something which may DO sought and admin.
istered for private ends. instead OF being received
anu held as a public trust ."-Speech at the FelTotp-
ordJf Club.
NO man can lay down the trust which hs has held
In behalf OF a generous and connding people and feel
that at all times he has met In the beat possible way
the requirements OF his trust."-Speech ut Ne.D Yors
Democratic Club.
"Men in high places of trust."-spsso at Thurman
Banquet.
This makes the continuance OF psrtisan no,zer .
stronger motive among public servants than tho faith
full discharge OF the peoples trust."-Spseoh TO cere-
land Democracy at Buffalo.
1--WE seek TO put in higher places those who have
shown fidelity to every private and public trust
Speech at Albany.
Public officers are the peoples servants. not their
masters."-Speech at Neicurk.
THE account OF my Official Stewardship 70 always
ready for presentation to my country men ."-Letter
TO Mayor Francis OF 81. Louie.
1.-THE faithful performance OF tho trust tho people
repese in their public servants. Letter TO the Erie
Herald.
my experience in the great once OF President Of
the United States has impressed mo with the
soiemnity OF the trust 10 Gen. Bragg.
IAN insistence upon the strict accountability OF
public officers as servants of tho people."-speech at
DIM IrbOr.
Every pubii, ONCE. small or great. ia held in
trust Tor your fellow citizens. '-Speech at DIM Arbor.
Several years ago The Sun took the
trouble with the mid of some industrious
volunteers outside of this establishment,
TO investigate the maxim, Public office
Is n public trust" as a truism gem
orally accepted and frequently uttered
before the Cleveland epoch. We traced