Show SO NO NEED TO RESIGN wic WE notice that several democratic papers are echoing the sentiment expressed in the new york graphic in re regard lard to the proper course lor for officeholders to take who have received their appointments under the present administration the graphic they should all ali resign as aa soon as president harrison takes his seat as the chief executive some of them go so f far ar as to say that if democratic officials do not step out they deserve to be kicked out with other remarks of a similar character we do not see the propriety or good sense of such a course nor the wis domor necessity of such counsel coun sel that it lasall predicated on the theory that party politics should rule ruie in the civil service that is that under a demo cratic administration no republican sh occupy a a public position I 1 and that no BO democrat ought to remain in office under a republican administration we do not believe in the doctrine we have never endorsed the spoils idea public office is a public trust is a better maxim than to the victors belong the spoils and honesty integrity and fitness in our opinion should be considered para 1 mount qualifications for holders irrespective of partisanship if however the latter is so strong as to interfere with the proper discharge of duty and to become offensive removal is the proper remedy but this should only be applied in cases calling for its exercise there is no need tor for a clead sweep out of ill ail incumbents at every change of the administration who are of different poli political lical views from those of the dominant party there are important stations no doubt which should be occupied by persons in full sympathy with the party in power but other places and they the most numerous which do not demand derriano der any expression ot of political views and are not affected by any party bias can just ast as well be filled ailed by democrats as republicans andvick and vice versa where the carrying out of any public policy is affected of course the officer should be iu in harmony with his bis chief it is quite likely that it if president cleveland had bad been more vi vigorous orous and prompt in removing republicans from public offices he been much fauch stronger with certain elements of his own party but he would not have been right perhaps ancl ana it is better to be right than to be president he acted upon principle and where officers were doing their duty he did not inquire into their politics unless chev exhibited offensive partisanship 11 when aney were given full liberty to be e as parti an as they pleased free from the cares of office A man may be just as aa good a clerk bookkeeper postmaster an executive or judicial officer it if ue lojane e political party parly as though he be c connected 0 with the other and the th emere r tact fact that he holds opinions 0 on sa some e subjects differing fromi those of the president ought not to interfere with the faithful discharge of sworn duties in which party politics cut no BO figure it is to be expected that when new appointments are made the dominant party will favor its own 0 nu followers it is too much to expect anything else whatever correct principles might suggest but whenever public te off officers leers are performing the functions of their offices with fidelity there is no rule of justice propriety or regard for the public welfare which re their honohan the ehe chief officers of the nation nat ion are of a different political party at any rate it is time enough for such persons to step down and out when their places are demanded for others to fill voluntary resignation res ignati on under suen circumstances is a tacit recognition and endorsement of the false idea that a mans political opinions necessarily interfere with the faithful discharge of his official duties there will be a great deal more dignity and consistency in a quiet q ulet but vigilant perform performance anee of the requirements quire ments of office irrespective of the change of administration than in a general rush of offers to vacate we we do not believe that the new president will be in any great hurry to turn out efficient officers to make way for place hunters hungry for spoils there will be removals no doubt in due time and some perhaps a little premature because of the pressure of demands for rewards for services rendered but we do not anticipate the revolution that some people predict nor ajile agree with the graphic and its echoes that every democrat in office should rush to the white house with his resignation on or about the ath day of march A D 1889 |