New-York tribune., 1885-03-24


Ao+s snool louder than words. Mr.. Cleve-
lands selection of certain officials has gwen
sucb an impression as to the influences when
prevail with him that an mtervle" WIN
Secretary Manning on the subject oi the t'rli
no longer attracts muck attention. with the
adroitness of a politician of his Sort Mr.. Man
ming. it is felt, could easily use words in double
sense. But the meaning of some OF the appoint
ments which President Cleveland has made can
hardly be misunderstood.
Mr. Mannings remarks about the tariff, how
ever. correspond entirely with what has been
known of his position, and OF the Influences
which nrevail with the President. MIR. Man
ming saws: THE Democratic party is pledged TO
q q revision of the tariff. | believe those are
= the very words of the platform, adding, III inc
u sn,rit of fairness to all interests" What the
platform said is of less consequence just now
than what Mr.. Manning thinks it said HIS
understanding of it, at all events, Is not calcu-
lated 10 kindle much enthusiasm IN Kentucky
b,soms. He goes on to remark that revision
sbould he cautious and by conservative
metbods. and that we must not ignOle the IN
terests of domestic industries; that some in
dustries depend upon "absolute protective
lepislation,n and that therefore, in any
changes to be made, the interests OF labor and
capital alike should be looked after"
So far as these words convey any meaning,
they show that the Secretary is wholly ID mar
mony with Mr.. Randalps opinion. In other
words. his words convey the same meaning as
the Presidents appointments. In his inaugural
| address, it may be remembered, the President
| himself used language not only susceptible oi
| the same construction but upon which no other
construction could be placed without attrlbut-
inc to him an intent to deceive. The choice OF
Mr. Manning for Secretary of the Treasury, and
other selections which have been made, have
bv this time made it clear that in the light OF
| factions within the Democratic party, Mr.. Ran
dali will have at least as great an influence as
| ANYBODY else 1t is not necessary to ask what
| Mr. Cleveland's real opinions are. III he has
anv. on this question, they would certainly be
| modified to a great extent by the knowledge
that the success of his party in New-York and
other Eastern States would depend absolutely
upon his ability to prevent the adoption OF a
radical free trade policy by his party. In
| Connecticut it is noticed that Mr.. Barnum, the
nroteetionist, has the ear of the President and
commands greater influence than all Other
| leaders OF the party III tHat otaUo' III 'i"iy
land Mr.. German, a man OF the same shade OF
opinion, commands the patronage and enjoys
the Presidents confidence. In Ohio and In
diana the influence of Senator Payne, whose
letter ON the wool tariff will not be forgotten,
is evidently greater than that of men like Thur
! man and Pendleton and Ward, and Mr.. Hen
bricks, in spite of the irritation between him
self and the President, has power enough to
! shut out Mcdonald from positions Of influence
! All these things do not indicate that Mr.
| Cleveland inclnes to protective views or that
his administration can be relied upon to defend
| a protective policy. Under the guidance ol
shrewd politicians he is seeking to make hi'
party stronger in Eastern States, where defence
of manufacturing interests is necessary, no
only to its success, but to its very existence
Mr.. Randall is called Protectionist, aud, By
| Democrats of the Kentucky sort, traitor u
his party; but he is not by any means a be
lever in the principles of protection, and he i
| always careful to accompany his opposition
particular free.trade measures with genera