The Evening critic., 1884-08-27
CLEVELAND ON THE TARIFF.

The valuable Information IA Per-
sistent interviewer OF tho New
York "Tribune," who Visited
Cleveland I'm the Woods, Got out of
Him.
Interviewer--G Governor, would you have
any objections to stating for publication
your views on the TARIFF
Mr.. Cleveland-None at all. am free to
say that the Office Of President is essentially
executive in its nature.
Interviewer am to understand, thon,
that you arc cordially in favor Of protecting
American Industry
Mr.. Cleveland--In order to mako my
meaning perfectly clear, it is proper that
should explain that the Office of President,
being essentially executive, is neither lcgis-
lativo nor judicial.
Intcrviewcr--Ah, / see l understand
you. You desire to be reported as a thor
ough-going free-trader. Am / correct
Clovelsnd-Well, it's just here. Tho of
fee of President being essentially executive,
put 1t to you as man of senso that 1t
cannot properly take to itself the functions
that go with tho legislature Or the bench,
Do you follow me?
Interviewcr-You are lucidity itself.
Your words admit of but one construction.
You desire me, as faithful scribe, to re-
cord you as an earnest horizontal reduc-
ZIONIST, first, last and all the time. Shall l
mako such record?
The Goyernor-To exclude the possibility
of my being misrepresented, and in order
that there may be no doubt of my entire
frankness in this matter, let me recapitu-
late: LIST, the office of President is essen
TALLY executive I'd, the Office of law
maker is essentially legislative; Sd, the
ofico of judge is essentially judicial. Now,
/ am running for tho Presidency. The
Presidency being the Office of President 1t
follows that / am running for an essentially
executive Office.
observation-disclosures you very much for
your mastery exposition. You mean to
tell mo in so many words, do you not, that
you think that the Democrats who were
responsible for reopening the tariff question
in tho last House ought to be taken out aud
shot? Surely I've got it right this timer
The Governor-I fully appreciate your
intention to do me perfect justice; 1t does
you credit and will cheerfully assist you
TO tho best Of my ability. have reason to
believe that o fiendish attempt is being
made to convince the people that have
characterized tho Office of President as not
being essentially executive. It's cam
| paign lie, of the most revolving sort, and If
| Manning agrees I'll douounce it as such
ONtI MY pWn SikudtuIt. nave
| contended ever since was a boy that the
Office Of President was essentially exec
utive. Am l running for Congress just
| now? Or for Chief-Justico of the United
| States? Most certainly not, for the good
| and sufficient reason that neither the Office
| Of Congressman nor that of Judge is exec
| utive. | certainly cannot run for an office
| that is not executive when the Office Pm
running for is an executive office.
! Interviewer-Yo have placed me nudor
| great obligations. You have enabled me
| TO read your mind, SO far as the tariff Is
concerned, with absolute accuracy. You
decline to commit yourself in regard to its
general features, but are free to nvow that
| you were sternly opposed to reducing tho
tariff on wool. That covers the ground,
does 1t not?
The Governor-Speaking of American in
dustries in the aggregate, but more particu-
larly Of the wool interest, 1 have not the
slightest hesitation IN asserting that be.
| lieve stand for the truest craftsmanship,
| and therefore the most fervent patriotism
in expressing the conviction that the office
| of President is essentially executive. And
| right hero let me say that yesterday / re-
| celyod the following dispatch from my pri-
vatc secretary. Pulls out telegram and
| readsl:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
ALBANY, Aug. %, 1881.
TO Gyoger Ciegeidnd, In tho 9go0ds:
| 1t is being reported here that you have
stated that the oflice OF President was not
essentially executive. What shall do?
| LAMONT.
IL THE WOODS, Aug. %, 1884.
TO d. Lamont, Eaecattve UAan5ey, Albany
Tell the truth. never said so.
| Il. CLEVELAND.
Let me add, Mr.. Interviewer, while on
this point, that /
Note-The Governor was still engaged in
defining his position on the tariff when we
i ,rnnt N nrnns