The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-16
GEORGE JOB.
A Serious Aspect Of Ills Dismissal
From the Civil Service.

To rHE Enron ~ THs suS-Sir: The
fate Of George Burkitt. who for six
years served the Administration OF his
country. apparently to the satisfaction
OF all Interested. since ne became assist
ant postmaster. and has been discharg geo
On account Of q casuai remark made to .
stranger that president Wilson Mould
have waited AZ least a year before think
ing Of reentering tho state OF matri-
mony." may perhaps be OF little or no
interest to the people OF North America
but the principle involved 10 OF para
o Importance.
In certain countries whose advanced
state Of civilization Is to be questioned
a man may be imprisoned for sighting
the ruling monarch, either In public or
private, To crticise the rulers conduct
IL considered a misdemeanor ana this
particular crime In referred to an '1ese
majestic" 1t Is also more or less be-
lieved in these countries that the en-
peror or king IA God appointed. his per-
son and acts being, therefore. not open
to tho attacks OF the mol polloi."
n The proper administration OF the re-
publican government OF the United
States is based o N two much revered
documents, namely the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution.
1t is duly stated in the Declaration OF
Independence that
We hold these truths 20 be seiS-s vidAnt,
that all men are created equal. that they
are endowed by their Creator with GER
tain unaiienabis rights; that among these
are life. liberty and the pursuit OF happa-
ness. That. TO eecure these nehts. gov-
ernmsnts are Instituted among men deriv-
ing their just powers from the consent
Of the governed.
The Constitution declares moro spe-
officially tArticle l., amendments) that
Congress shall mako no law respecting
An establishment OF religion or p~rohibit-
ing the free exercise thereof. or abridging
the freedom Of speech or Of the press.
Tho President IL merely the first citi-
zen Of the land, put at the head OF the
Government by the will OF tho people.
His actions. whether public or private.
are as much open to discussion as the
actions of any other citizen nay. moro
80. since they may reflect on the char
acter OF the whole nation.
FREQ speech Is ono OF the sacred. UNI
aiienable rights OF all living within the
boundaries Of the United States. whether
employees OF the Administration or not.
To tamper with tho right OF any
citizen whatsoever TO free speech Is to
challenge the Constitution. There II no
law and there can never be any law
passed to protect the actions OF the
President agains: open criticism. All
citizens are born equal In tho eye OF
the Declaration.
| I therefore hold tina. the arbitrary dis
charge of Burkitt for "~disloyalty TO The
President" liz illegal, unconstitutional
and contrary to the Constitution.
When the time comes for him TO do
so. Burkitt has a right to vote either
for or against the present Administra-
ton. He a therefore the right TO
express his opinion. either pro or con.
That this is the case and that the
fact was fully understood by tho De-
par,ment and the man who discharged
him Is eelf-evident, since padding OF this
charge through the addition OF other
charges. seemingly unfair. was tried.
President Wilson'S sense of Justice is.
I believe. most profound. Shall he read
Of the case n merely let II pass =?
II so, II will be the most u~ngenerous
| most u-nmagnanimous of his acts.
l.. CLEMENT p'ARr.
NEW York, November Is.