Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-28
TEE PRESIDENT As A PHRASE. MAKER

United States, is quite likely to be more
remarkable as a phrase-maker than for
anything else He has produced one brief
sentence that will 20 down in history with
the Jacksonian apothem; "To the victor
belongs the spoils' His offensive par
tsanship' is worthy to trot down the ages
in, harness with the sentence we have
quoted, rs conspicuously and indisputably
one of the same kind 1t is somewhat dis
guised, or intended to be, the sentence
having been uttered by a reform presi-
dent, elected by faction OF refined and
"too-too" Republicans, who could not take
the corrupt machine politician" Mr.
Blaine, into their delicate stomachs, but in
their zeal for genuine civil service regen-
Grafton and the adoption OF the doctrine
OF the survival Of the fttest, could bolt
down Mr.. Grover Cleveland with his en-
tire family so-called, personal record,
ETC., as if the lot were single luscious
strawberry, or glass of sparkling nectar.
But the sentence in ITSELF is jewel that
reflects its own light, regardless of its set
ting, and it has already given to its author
luminous future. Like charity it has
been made to cover multitude of political
sins. But it is the gauziest mantle that
ever cloaked pious pretence. Mr. Cleve-
land was one of the goodiest OF persons who
ever went into the Executive Mansion. He
had been reform sheriff, and hangman,
a "reform" mayor, and a reform" governor,
| and now he was about to become the most
effective and rantankerous reform" pres-
dent whose breath ever perfumed the at
mosphere OF the White House. There
was not only to be no general Jail de-
livery of the 'rascals" in office, but those
persons who were competent and worthy
were to, remain until the millennium re
leased them from their responsibilities anc
promoted them to paradise. AS terms o
office expired the good Of the service wa
only to be consulted and promoted by re
appointment or the succession of bette
men, either Democrats or Republicans
This was the lovely programme OF the new
and improved Democratic administration
and a more radiant prospect conlc
hardly be permitted to genuine
two-winged Mugwump, with his ascension
robe laundried to snowy whiteness and
close at hand ready for use in possible
and highly probable emergency.
But, for some reason or other, this new
programme didn't seem to work. l,
wasn't what the knockers, and bummers
and soakers, had been working for. They
wanted the pap, and they wanted it right
away, for they were hungry-and mighty
thirsty, too! They hadn't had lick oi
anything good for quarter Of century
Really they were famshing! And wha
, they wanted, the Mugwumps didn't want
The President could easily see that they
had put the greater weight in the
I scale, but he could see also thai
the Mugwumps had put in the
precious little bit of metal that had kicked
the beam in his favor So he was in q
strait betwiyt two; whether to succumt
to the "boys' and be one OF them aud lose
his wings and white robes, or to be good
stay with the Mugwumps die happy, anc
"go up" by the first summer excursion
But he has declined doing either, anC
herein are discovered and harvested th,
fruits OF his wonderful stroke of genius, a.
phrase inventor and producer Tn,
awful chasm was bridged with a luminous
and original sentence that magcally re
lieved the situation Of all perplexities ant
solved the great political problem OF the aye
Offensive partisanship" were the won
drous words that cleared the atmospher,
and sleneed the murmur ings Of the Mug
wumps and the cavis of the uncireum
cised Republicans. For offensive parti
] sanship' all Federal office.holders coulC
| be removed, and their places filled Will
ex-rebel ballot-box suffers and red-handec
murderers, and all whose "partisanship,
8 although displayed in the form of rebellion
8 against the government, and the forcibl
7 seizing of the voting places, and the bull
doing of citizens, had not proved "offen
4 sive'-to Mr.. Cleveland! Hence tn,
Federal oflice-holder who was such al
Offensive" partisan as to vote for Mr.
,, Blaine or to refuse, after the election O
!, Cleveland, to bow down and worship him
! at the sacrifice Of principle and honor
, must &c" But will this little fraud, ex
temporized as an expedient to enable tn
J administration to attempt to mix oil an,
! water-or nectar and whsky-endure tn
test Of the pending presidential contest
We shall see.
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