The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-26
The Indelicacy of Grover c,


In these improved modern days when
the scope of the powers of the walking
delegate has been enlarged to the extent
of his not only protecting and promoting
the welfare of his constituents, but also
acquiring valuable perquisites for him
self, it is instructive to watch the prin-
ciple extend itself 1t is precisely the
same principle which makes it possible
for the servants Of the people to appro-
pirate to their own uses the peoples
property. For this there is no warrant
in law and little precedent in practice.
In an age of greater simplicity the SER
wants of the people could not bring them
selves to use the public property for other
than strictly public purposes. The only
visible modification of this reluctance
was in the instances when such use OF the
public property conduced incidentally,
and incidentally only, to the comfort
and personal advantage OF the public
servant. Then and in such cases it was
excusable and negligible.
When, however, the use OF the public
property was only incidentally for the
public service and mainly for the COM
fort and individual advantage of the
public servant it became tainted with
different complexion. And It was
thing that could not but grow an appe-
tite which once awakened could but
increase by what it fed on. The public
is naturally good natured, indulgent,
and, up to some certain point, indiffer-
ent But it can be awakened, and then
it is not incapable of resentment.
When Mr. CLEVELAND was President
he was little lax in the matter of apply
ing the public property to his own COM
fort and personal advantage. The sun
took him roundly to task for it and was
quite right in doing SO. We must admit
that it is difficult to understand in the
light of contemporary history, how The
Sun could have been as ascetic as it was
in dealing with the relatively venial and
trivial derelictions Of Mr.. CLEVELAND.
1t was that gentleman's wont to attach
himself to the personnel Of some light
house tender which in the natural dis
charge of it's duties penetrated to lonely
waters frequented by fish and fowl and
there, tho while the modest craft debarked
its oil and wicks, its fuel and its various
victuals, Mr.. CLEVELAND would exercise
his craft with rod or gun and work
mighty and becoming havoc with either.
1t may be true that Mr.. CLEvELAND's
use in this way of the little vessels Of the
Treasury marine was purely incidental
to their discharge OF their weightier Gov
eminent functions and implied and in
voIved no scquestration to his private
uses 5f'publio property. Indeed we are
satisfied that such was the case. THE
sun condemned it, all the same, on the
ground that it was an infracton of prin-
ciple, a. precedent to be followed by
others, and, ones followed first enlarged
and then abused.
That Mr.. CLEVELAND had robust views
of his own about other peoples property
his administration variously attested;
but when on pleasure he was bent his
frugality was at his own expense. His
inclination to flood and field often took
him away from Washington, and he liked
the comfort and, perhaps, the dignity
of a private car. In these later days
there is a tinge of positive indelicacy in
Mr.. CLEvELAND's conduct in paying the
full regular railroad rate for his private
cars. 1t cannot be helped he was blind,
impenetrable to modern ideas, and if he
couldn't pay his fare he wouldn't ride.
One of these days Congress will be
called upon to set the matter right. 1t is
IN tne power Of Congress to do so, and the
doing of it is, after all, very simple
matter. Official life in our age is much
more complex and multifarious matter
than it was when our Government was
framed and our fathers shaped and pro"
vided the conditions to surround it.
The social obligations Of republican
ruler are very different fir ON what they
used to be, and state is state and it's de-
mands imperious. OF tho regular naval
appropriation 100000 should be yearly
made to apply to the Presidential per-
sonal marine II probably costs more
than that now upon the books of the
Navy Department, but that is because
UNCLE SA cannot run yachts so econom-
ically as d private citizen can. No one