New-York tribune., 1885-07-17
CaN uR. CLEyELAND RESIST HIS P4RTY'

H..
1t is beginning to be possible to Judge this
Administration by its acts, and to learn some
thing of its real nature. At the outset the
country was disposed to hope the very BEST
and to receive with favor and thanktuiness
every prasewOrthy act. Never before III the
whole history of parties perhaps, had a party sue
ceeded so distinctly by protesting 10 nave
nominated a ticket better than itself. Ger
tain!y the supporters of Mr. Cleveland, dur1ng
the Presidential campaign, spared no efiort 10
impress upon the people the belief that, though
the Democratic party deserved to be distrusted
and condemned, as few of them denied, stu
Grover Cleveland meant to do right just where
his party was most eager to do wrong, and was
strong enough and stubborn enough to resist
his whole party, if necessary, In carrying out
his own convictions of duty. 1t was on this
n]ca that many men voted for him, i'll number
more than enough to turn the scale. who de-
clared that they knew the Democratic party to
he utterly unworthy of trust but they were
certain that Mr.. Cleveland could be trusted to
resist and defeat his party.
Thus it has come to pass that the question OF
questions, about which intelligent and candid
men have been most anxious, is whether Mr.
Cleveland has the nerve to withstand the drift
of his party. Every act is studied by such
men. not 40 much to find out what Mr. Cleve-
land would like to do if free from influence, as
to find out whether he has the strength to hold
any opinion or purpose against the VIII OF the
party which elected him. All know that il he
has not if we are to have Il mere Democratic
Administration, with Democratic ideas and
tendencies controlling executive action and ex-
ecutive interpretations of law. the country has
been cheated and is going to have hard time
of it. But the men who staked their all upon
his ability to prove better and stronger than his
marty are naturally more anxious than anybody
else.
1t was hailed by all fair men rs grand bow
of promise in the skies when the President be-
gan by boldly declaring his opinion on the
silver question If he could be trusted to resist
the large majority of his partisans on such
question as this, it was felt probable that he
would not prove weak and false on others His
selection of Cabinet officers was not praised, Tor
there was little to praise in it, but was regarded
with tolerant patience, because it was hoped
that the choice of a New-Yorker for Secretary
of the Treasury, and man acquainted with
the financial necessities of commerce, gave
reason to expect an honest effort to resist the
silver fanaticism. But before five months have
elapsed it is found that the Administration has
rot the pluck to use the power given 1t by ex-
isting laws to maintain the public faith. 10 is
admitted that the Administration is not willing
to sell bonds in order to keep mp its gold re-
serve, and therefore applies to the banks Of
this city to break faith with their depoitors, by
taking into their reserves useless fractional cur
rency instead OF the gold they are pledged to
hold and to repay. There can be but one rea-
son. The President has not the courage to
confront the known opinion of his party 80 far
as to declare that the gold reserve shall be
maintained.
If Mr.. Cleveland cannot resist his party ON
this question. how long can he be expected TO
withstand the clamor of oflice-seekers The
fact is that he has been allowing tricks and
evasions by which to defeat the Civil Service
act, and to give his party full satisfaction of its
greed. Instead Of resolute refusal to remove
competent men without cause, there have been
thousands removed on pretexts so dishonest that
even Mr.. Cleyelands partisans are disgusted
by them. Again, if Mr.. Cleveland cannot resist
his party on the silver question, how long can
he be expected to withstand its clamor against
protective tariff man both resOlute and
politically shrewd would resist here as the only
chance of future success. But so he would on
the silver question. Mr.. TI!den saw the ne
cessity. Mr. Tiden dictated the letter of Mr.
Cleveland on the silver bill. Bat now Mr..
Cleveland beginsito:.set ND for:himself. and tells
Governor Hoadly that it is not an objectionable
offence to forget" about Noyes, and the coun-
sells of Mr.. Tilden have less weight than the
clamor of Western and Southern Democrats.
How long will such a President keep up even
the pretence of resistance to his party Oh other
questiOnsf
THE CONTEST IN VIRGINIA.