The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-26
The Presidential
Harper's Weekly.

Harper's Weekly.]
The election places in the Presidency a
man whose public career has made him
universally known as a courageous,
honest and independent magistrate.
! He is a Democrat, but a Democrat
whose party and political relations
have been little considered in the
general confidence in his integrity
and public spirit. He was chosen Mayor
of Buffalo by Republican and Democrat
ic votes; a similar union made him
Governor of New York by an enormous
majority, and the same combination has
now elected him to the Presidency His
election was impossible without the vote
of New York, and his success in New
York is due TO the Independent Repub-
lican vote. The result proves what the
situation has long suggested, that there
is a serious decline in public confidence
in the Republican party. The vote for
Mr.. Blaine in New York would have
shown startling decrease of the Repub-
lican vote if the loss had not been sup
piled by the most disreputable elements
of the Democratic vote. Even among
those who voted for Mr.. Blaine there
we're thousands and thousands of stanch
Republicans who voted with the utmost
reluctance; and Massachusetts, the
strongest of Republican States, cast
majority of her votes against the Repub-
lican candidate, and the State was
carried by a meagre plurality only.
There was nothing moro striking in the
election than the character of the vote
which the Republicans lost and that
which the Democrats gained. The secces-
sion from the Republican candidate was
composed of the most representative of
original Republicans of the highest
character, intelligence, and patriotism
"a secession springing neither from
personal telling, disappointed ambition,
nor eager self-seeking. The folly of sup
posing that the objections to Mr.. Blaine's
candidacy were of kind that would be
overlooked by conscientious Republicans
has been fully demonstrated, and the
party has been admonished in the most [
impressive manner that there is host of [
Republicans who require something more
than a regular nomination to secure
their support.
The result is not mere party victory \
There is no reason to doubt that Mr. |
Cleveland comprehends fully the cir
under which he has been
elected. Those circumstances secure to
him freedom Of action which is most
desirable in the situation, but which
other conditions in the campaign and |
the election would seriously have limit
ed. Mr. Cleveland is attached to his
party, but his whole career proves his
profound conviction of the truth of his
remark that public Office is a public
trust. The trust which has been confided
to him is that of clean and upright
upon principles and by
methods which he has already shown
that he approves. The old tradition of
parties that change of administration
imports a clean sweep of the civil ser
vice is not a tradition which he has
accepted. The same regard for the
of public Office a public trust
which he has shown at Albany he will
observe in Washington, and all the more
because it is his fidelity to that princi-
pie at Albany which has really trans
ferred him to Washington. 1t is great
to the country that Governor
Cleveland has learned from his official
career that dependence upon the good
.ense and honest patriotism of the intel
igent people is a surer reliance than
to mere party politicians
The ultimate results of this great
change it is impossible to foresee, and
III speculation upon them is premature.
The one thing which is clear is that no
great national policy will be changed
The Democrats retain the House and
the Republicans the Senate. The record
If the present House shows no dispo-
;ition to disturb the existing order.
Mr. CIeveIand's s election does not signify,
ike Mr.. Lincoln I, a reversal Of the course
1f the country upon any great question.
Tt is not a result due to free traders, or
Daper-money men, or Southern reac-
.ionaries, but to citizens who demand
he emancipation of the government
from the evil influences and tendencies
which have been too plainly disclosed
Tt is not a change which threatens any
interest, but one which promises honest
md vigorous administration, and close
scrutiny into the details Of public bUsi-
ness. One result of the election, how
ayer, IS most beneficial, and it cannot be
20 strongly emphasized It viii dissi-
pate the mere superstition of party.
However American citizens may differ
1pon cardinal principles Of public policy,
{ Is monstrous that half of the people
should be regarded as dangerous enc
mics Of the government. The longer
hat this extraordinary notion was cher
she'd, the more difficult and periIous
my change Of party administration
became, and no circumstances could be
imagined more happy for such change
.han those of this election, when the
most conscientious and devoted mem
lers Of the dominant party have made
he change possible, and when the situa-
ion Is perfectly comprehended BY the
President-elect