Daily Republican., 1884-08-28
"A Phenomenal Interview.

The following is from the New York
Tribune
Intsryiewer--Govern would yon
have any objections to stating for
Ipublicstion your views on the tariff
Iques.ion?
Mr.. Cleveland-None ut all, 1 am
free to say that the Office of Presi-
dent is essentially executive In its ma
ture.
Interviewer-I am to understand,
then, that you are cordially in favor Of
protecting American industry.
Mr.. Clevelan,t-In order to make my
meaning perfectly clear, it is proper
that 1 should explain that the office
OF President, being essentially execu-
tive, Is neither legislative nor judi
cial.
Interviewer-Ah, see / ,nisuuder-
stood you. You desire 10 be reported as
n thoroughgoing free trader Am /
correct
Cleveland-Well, it's Just here. The
Office of President being essentially eI.
ecutive, put it to you as man Of
sense that IL cannot properly take TO it,
self the functions that go with the
Legislature or the bench. Do you fol-
low me?
| 1uterviewer-You are lucidity itself.
Your words admit of but one consrruc-
tion. You desire me, as q faithful
scribe, to record you as an earnest hori-
zontal rsductionist, first, last aud all
the time. Shall make such re-
cord.
The Governor-To exclude the possi
bility Of my being misrepresented, and
in order that there may be no doubt of
my entire frankness in this matter, let
line recapitulate. 1st, The Office OF
President is essentially executive I'd,
The Office of lawmaker 10 essentially Y
legislative Sd, the Office Of Judge Is
essentially Judicial. Now am running
for the Presidency. The Presidency be.
ing the Office Of President, 1t follows
, that am running an essentially execu-
tive Office.
: Interviewer-Thank you very much
3 for your masterly exposition. You mean
. to tell me in NO many words. do you
. not, that you think that the Democrats
: who were responsible for re-opening the
0 tariff question In the last House ough!
!. to be taken out and shot Surely I've
n got II right this time =?
a The Governor-I fully apprsciat,
. your intention 10 do me per feet Justice
b II does you credit, and / will cheerfully
. have reasons to believe that q 6endisl
attempt is being made to convince tn
!. people that have characterized the Of
s Ace Of President as not being essentiall,
g executive. 1t is a campaign lie OF tn
!, most revolving sort, and IL Mannini
n agrees i will denounce 1t as such owe
s my own signature. / have always con
!. tended ever since | was n boy that tn
II Office OF President was essentially ex
tecutive. Am L running for Con gres
,l Just now Or for Chief Justice of th
: United States Most certainly not, 70
!. the good and sufficient reason tina
It neither the Office OF Congressman no
l. that OF Judge Is executive. certainl
< cannot run for an office that is not exc
eutive when the office am running TO
Is An executive office.
Interviower-You have placed m
under great obligations. You have on
abled me to read your mind, 80 Far a
a the tariff Is concerned, with absolut
Q accuracy. You decline to commit you
/. self in regard to its general feature,
N but are free 10 avow that you wer
sternly opposed to reducing the tarl
On wool. That covers the ground, doe
it not?
~ The Governor-Speaking OF Amer
. tssu luuubtTltS III tue aRgreEaIe, Du
more particularly Of the wool interest
have moi the slightest hesitation /
asserting that believe stand for tn
d truest craftsmanship, and therefore tn
{, most fervent patriotism In expressing
the conviction that the office OF Presi
dent is essentially executive. An,
II right here let me say that yesterday
+ received the following despatch iron
?. my private secretary, (pulls out tele
gram and reads):
d EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ALBANY
q. Aug. %, 1884.-To Grover Cleveland, IL
the woods: 1t is being reported here tina
- you have stated that the office of Presi
!, dent was not essentially executive
/. What shall do? LAMONT"
:, IN THE Woods, Aug. 22, 1884.-T
= ID. LAMONT, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
II ALBANY: Tell the truth. 1 never sal
30. G. CLEVELAND"
~ Let me add, Mr.. Interview er, Will
/" on this point, that /
NorB.-The Governor was still engs
y ged in defining his position on rhe tari
!, when we went to press.