The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-08-21
Cleveland's Letter.
a Very small Letter by a Very small Man.

A Very Small Letter by a Very Small Man.
[From the New York Tribune.l
There is nothing in Mr. Clevelands brief letter of
acceptance to show why it should have been kept
back so long, anything to justify its final publ
cation except as a mere formality. 1t is common
place in the extreme. The first point worth noticing
is the assertion that he does not believe in the re-
election of the president. This really need have
troubled Mr. Cleveland, for he will never get even
first election to that office. Then follow soft and
sweet, but indefinite, words for the working men,
with repetition of the promises made to the labor
ing classes when he was elected Governor. The only
trouble here is that those promises not kept.
After touching upon the necessities of helping the
canals, and improving the natural waterways of the
country, Mr. Cleveland finally says in regard to the
Civil Service "The selection and retention OF sub
ordinates in Government employment should de-
pend upon their ascertained fitness and the value of
their work. There is nothing in that sentence that
will not give pleasure to the Democratic party which
is hungry and thirsty for spoils All in all it is
very small letter by very small man.
Weak Evasion.
From the Boston Journal.l
Mr.. Clevelands weak evasion in this matter al
fords an instructive view of his character, of which
policy not principle, is the dominant motive. He
strives to conciiate his Independent supporters by
expressions favorable to civil service reform; he en-
deavors to win back the workingmen by soft words
about the rights of labor, to which, by the way his
official acts as Governor give the lie; and he tries
to stear clear of trouble on the tariff question by
declaring that the platform is plain that it stands
In no need OF explanation. Ills evasion is made
more pronounced by his assertion that there is
nothing in the character of the Presidential
Office in the necessities of the case which calls
for full exposition of the views of Presidential
candidate. But every schoolboy knows that by
virtue of the veto power the President has an in
fuence upon legislation which is equivalent to the
combined power of two-thirds of both houses OF
Congress-at least, which requires that combined
power before it can be Overridden. Mr.. Clevelands
treatment of the Presidents Office as if it were
executive only is almost unfortunate an evasion
as Gen. Hancocks disposition of the tariff as merely
local issue.
Faint Praise by an Independent Organ.
(From the New York Times
Gov. Clevelands letter of acceptance is short but
it contains all that is necessary to enable his fellow
citizens to Judge fairly of his views and purposes
1t iustihes the confidence which his party and a
large part of the voters not of his party have placed
in his principles his character and hls good sense
While accepting the platform of the Democratic
convictions regarding matters which are of immed-
ate concern and as to which the voters will be
guided more by their Judgment of the candidate
than by part professions
AN Unfortunate Production.
(From the New York Sum-
Gov. Cleveland has written his letter of accent
ance and we print it elsewhere 1t has the merit of
comparative breyity, but no other that we can dis
Germ. In letters of great pith and moment the man
ner is commonly of small account compared with
the matter but Grover Ceveand's letter of accept
ance is from every point of view, unfortunate
production.
ADemocrAtic Papers Only Comment.
(FroR the Boston Post)
Gov. Cleveland gives us an acceptance at least
comparatively short.