The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-21
Mr., oLBvBLAND,s ACCEPTANCE.

surprise and disappointment and is remark
able more for what it does not than for what
it does say. On no point now at issue does ne
express an opinion or give assurance OF what
the Democratic policy might be in event OF its
success in the coming election. So far as
affording chart or guide, he might as well
have submitted a thesis on the incarnation OF
the soul or a dissertation on boiled milk as the
natural pabulum Of infants. None OF the
great questions Of statecraft are touched upon,
and the ten million voters Of this country are
left in ignorance Of what Mr.. Cleveland's
opinions are on any of them. In view of the
fact that candidates for the presidency are de-
barred by custom from active participation in
the campaign, their letters of acceptance have
come to be looked to as an exposition Of the
views Of the nominees, and the Interpretation
they put upon the platform is accepted
as official. It was for this reason
that the public looked forward to
Mr. Cleveland's letter with more than usual
interest. The ambiguity of certain important
paragraphs and the evident intention to con-
fuse the reader Of the Democratic platform
made it necessary that some one regarded as
Democratic authority should interpret the
same, SO as to leave no doubt as to the policy
proposed Take, for example, the Democratic
conventions utterance on the tariff question.
In what two localities is it understood alike9
And what representative Democrat will be
honest enough to tell the people what its sig
nifcance is, to be accepted in all parts of the
NationY This was so plainly Mr.. Clevelands
first duty that to ignore it was but to confess
either that it was not susceptible of explana-
ton or was intended to mislead. A para
graph of finger-length would have been
enough in which to explain the only two APP
parent contradictions involved; or Mr.. Cleve-
land in the same space might have followed
the example Of the late Democratic nominee,
who declared the question of protection local
issue. OF the two, General Hancock was the
more sincere and therefore more honorable.
It is not enough to dismiss it as need
ing no supplement OF explanation.
The New York Worlds view
of this important question is dramatically
opposed to that of the Louisville Courier
Journal, and each is loud in proclaiming its
own explanation as the only correct one. That
there is an issue here, and that the Democratic
party itself has acknowledged it, may be suf-
fciently proved by simply referring to the
prolonged fight made by Democrats in the last
session of Congress on this very point That
the struggle will be renewed on the first OPP
portunity needs no argument. The public
had right, therefore, to expect that the can
iedly commit themselves on this point. The
slight put upon it both by the Democratic
convention and by its nominees will deceive
| nobody, for it is known of all intelligent men
that the tariff question is the shuttlecock in
! the Democratic game Of battledore
But the most astounding thing in this letter
is the manner in which the writer proclaims
his utter ignorance Of the duties Of the high
Office to which he aspires, an exhibition the
most humiliating Of its kind. It is plain
enough that Mr. Cleveland had no help in
draughting that paragraph. The presidency
is much more than an executive Office, and,
to man such as Mr.. Cleveland has
shown himself to be, it affords an
opportunity to become almost an autocrat.
The veto power makes him national legis-
lator equal to two-thirds Of House and Senate,
al power to be conferred only on men of the
largest mental build and incest discrimination.
dent of the kind that Mr.. Cleveland would
make, man of the narrowest conceptions, an
obstructionist, and the ready tool Of any and
all who choose to fatter his vanity. If Mr..
Clevelands vetoes as Governor of New York
may be taken as an example Of his character
as an executive, there would be little hope Of
the success of any wholesome legislation, and
corporations would manipulate him as pup
| pet
| In lodging the questions that all the people
are daily discussing over and over again, Mr..
Cleveland has insulted the intelligence of the
country Moved, perhaps, by the idle and
humorous criticisms made Of the length Of
the letters Of Blaine and Logan, and Butler,
he has contented himself with cutting his
down to almost paragraph, and then fills
that with matter as irrelevant to the
questions Of the hour ss would be that