han they are to a republican magistrate charged with the
welfare of millions of people distributed over a vast continent. Office
seekers apparently regard themselves as a privileged class with a right
of personal access to the President, and any appearances of aloofness or
reserve on his part gives sharp offense. The exceptional force of
such claims of privilege in the United States may be attributed to the
participation which members of Congress have acquired in the appointing
power. The system thus created imposes upon the President the duties
of an employment agent, and at the same time engages Congressmen in
continual occupation as office brokers. The President cannot deny
himself to Congressmen, since he is dependent upon their favor for
opportunity to get legislative consideration for his measures.

It was inevitable that numerous changes in office should take place
when the Democratic party came into power, after being excluded for
twenty-four years. It may be admitted that, in a sound constitutional
system, a change of management in the public business would not vacate
all offices any more than in private business, but would affect only
such leading positions as are responsible for policy and discipline.
Such a sensible system, however, had existed only in the early days of
the republic and at the time of Cleveland's accession to office federal
offices were generally used as party barracks. The situation which
confronted President Cleveland he thus described in later years:

"In numerous instances the post-offices were made headquarters for local
party committees and organizations and the centers of partisan scheming.
Party literature favorable to the postmaster's party, that never passed
regularly through the mails, was distributed through the post-offices as
an item of party service; and matter of a political character, passing
through the mails in the usual course and addressed to patrons belonging
to the opposite party, was withheld; disgusting and irritating placards
were prominently displayed in many post-offices, and the attention of
Democratic inquirers for mail matter was tauntingly directed to them
by the postmaster; and in various other ways postmasters and similar
officials annoyed and vexed those holding opposite political opinions,
who, in common with all having business at public offices, were entitled
to considerate and obliging treatment. In some quarters, official
incumbents neglected public du