| Show AN AM OFFICIAL BLUNDER RECTIFIED PRESIDENT CLEVELAND has rescinded his order removing from office M E benton district attorney for western missouri the gentleman was accused of offensive partisanship 11 and evidence being adduced which appeared to substantiate the charge the president summarily removed him he has since explained i his bis position and defended f his actions showing that he had bad not neglected any duty of his office and that his partisanship was only exhibited in addressing some political meetings on the solicitation of the active workers of his party in that state the presidents reply to the attorneys explanation is important Import apt because it modifies the impression obtained from his noted order or warning to officeholders office holders that no official could safely engage in public political controversy tro versy veray and it recognizes recognises he liberty which every man whether in or out of public office should enjoy of advocating that which ho he believes to be right and aad for the best interests of his country and of openly supporting those men for office who in his view will best the public interest to deprive a government official of af that right is to make him a serf so no man of C if independence will willingly submit to such oppression but on theother the other hand bandit it is not right that an officer should we the power of his position for party purposes asa man and a citizen he should be free both in speech and action as a public servant he should not use his office for party ends the presidents communication sets this matter right and draws the line in a way that all who have eyes can see it but the whole proceeding exhibits a weakness that is often to be observed in men endowed with authority action was taken on one sided testimony the president jumped too quickly at conclusions the accused attorney was not heard beard in his own defense ills his side of the matter was not considered it if that tha thad had been heeded before instead of after a decision was reached in all probability the removal woula not have been made and the president would not have had bad reason reason to rescind his bis own order it was like the sending of troops to utah to put down a rebellion that did not exist inquiry after the blunder was made proved that government folly had been committed this thip was the case both in ig the gr great eat arm army ay iy fiasco under bucnanan buchanan and the little one under cleveland hasty judgment is otter of ter imperfect and the acceptance of one version of I 1 story atory 11 till the other is told usually leads to confusion and error however the president has showed more magnanimity than some great men inen exhibit jle he has been willing to correct his own wrong and acknowledged his own mistake in this he has manifested true strength of character it is only bitle minds that are ashamed to admit an error and afraid to make reparation Tep this example is not unworthy of imitation in smaller men clothed with less authority |
