New-York tribune., 1900-05-26
REMOT4LS FROM OFFICE.
GROVER CLEVELAND ON THE INDE.
PENDENCE OF THE EXECUTIVE


PENDENCE OF THE EXECUTIVE
From The Atlantic Monthly.
1886 the question of the power of the President
under the Constitution TO remove persons IRON,
the Senate was again raised in a sharp contention
between the Senate and the President In the mean
had grown more pronounced and bitter and it was
the fact that the party tha, had become Infatuated
10 power by twenty-four years of substantial con.
March. 1885 to make way in the Executive Office
dor PresdsnI @ elected elect oy the opposite party % he
Service reform: and passing beyond the letter Of
class of Government positions which are not With
In the letter Of the Civil Service statute but which
tration that the removal therefrom Of present In
Sum5en!s eur In my opinion should not be made dur
on partisan grounds and for the purpose of put
cord with the appointing power"
The meaning Of this statement is that while.
law there are those whose duties are so related
to the enforcement Of the political policy Of an
%i,h It, there are others Of such officers whoss
executive work: and these should not be removed
merely for the purpose of rewarding the party
positions thus made vacant An ad6erente @ to this
su.e, st l oeIlevs estabhShed preSedent when has
since operated TO check wholesale removals solely
for political reasons.
The declaration which have quoted how
hcation. in these terms: But many men holding
such positions have forfeited all Just claim 10 re-
tention, because they have used their places tor
party purposes. In disregard OF their duty 20 the
people; and because. instead OF being decent pub
lie servants. they have proved themselves offensive
partisans and INSCRIPTIONS manlpuators OF local
party mana cement
These pledges Were not made without full sp-
probation of the difficulties and perplexites that
would follow in their train II anticipated that
party associates would expect notwithstanding
Executive pledges made in advance. that there
would be a speedy and liberal distribution among
them of the offices from which they had been In
exorably excluded for nearly quarter OF cen
tury. II plainly that many party friends
would be disappointed that personal friends would
be alienated and that the charge OF ingratituds.
the most distressing and painful of all accuss-
tions. would find abundant voice. Nor the
difficulties overlooked that would sometimes ac-
company consistent and just attempt TO deter
mine the cases In which incumbentS in office had
forfeited their claim TO retention That such cases
were numerous with the slightest claim 10
sincerity could for moment deny.
With all these things in full view. and with an
alternative OF escape in sight through an evasion
OF pledges. 10 stubbornly determined that ths
practical enforcement OF the principles involved
worth all the sacrifices which were antici-
pated. And while II expected that the
Senate which was the only stronghold left to the
party politically opposed 10 the President. was g
contribute an ugly dispute 10 situation ALREADY
sufficiently troublesome. in a position 20 say
that even such contingency. II then made mani
fest. would b contemplated with al possible forH
tudA