The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-21
Mr.. CLEVELAND'S POSITION.


Mr.. ClEVELANO'S POSITION.
| The Attitude of Republicans and indie
| pendents Toward the Administration.
1t would be gratifying if all of Presi-
dent Cleveland's acts could be mads
acceptable to the Independents. But
this is clearly impossible if the indie
pendents expect the President to con-
form to their own peculiar notions in
stead of being satisfied to aid him in
making strong, honest Democratic
Administration
President Cleveland was elected by
nearly five million Democratic votes, as
the candidate of the Democratic party
on Democratic platform. That plat
form declared, first and foremost, that
while new issues are born of time and
progress, and old issues perish. the
Democratic party remains and will ever
remain as the best and only security for
the continuance of free government"
President Cleveland is as sacredly
bound to remain true to the Democratic
party as to adhere to the reform pledges
made to the people before the election.
The Independents are jealous of the
Presidents fealty to his promises OF
civil-Service reform. but are restless
when he manifestS the intention to b.:
faithful to his obligations to his party.
Look at the situationl The Democrats
have elected their President after 3
quarter of a. centurys exclusion from
power Yet the Democratic Admins
tration has up TO this time made fewer
changes in the Federal Offices than
were made by any of his Republican
predecessors in the same period.
What is Mr.. Cleveland s reward?
Aha" cry the Republican organs; $50
the cry of Turn the rascalS out was Il
fraud after all, and there was no rascalS
to turn Outr'
Senator Sherman, Com rcss SINAI
Phelps and others declare that the re-
tention of Republicans in Office and
their appointment to Office convicts the
Democracy of having obtained Office on
false pretenses. and they pat the Presi-
dent benignly on the back for giving
the country n Republican Administr;l-
ton conducted on the Republican idea
And the Independents? What say
they?
The Internal Revenue business in
Maine and Massachusetts is insignifi-
can't In the two States less than two
millions and half is collected out of a
total tax in the United States of S122,-
OOO. OO1. The Collector in Massachu-
sets gets $4,000 salary. and in Maine
g, 800. Yet because the President fills
these two paltry offices with Democrats
strongly Endorsed by their party and
fully qualified as capable and honest
men the whole Independent press Of
New England is in white heat of in.
dignation and the heightened hide
pendent journals of this city eoolly re-
quest the Preside mt to reconsider the
appointments.
What causes all this Indignation The
incapacity, unfaithfulness anu di5hon-
esty of the new officers? Not at all.
There are no such charges aga INST them.
But it is alleged that they were Cop
perheads" twenty years ago, and have
been busy Democratic workers ever
since.
Is not this inconsistent with Mug
wnmpism, which only requires the test
of honesty and capacity, supplemented
bv classroom competitive examina-
ton, and processes to ignore political
opinions?
Does not this incident make plain
that Democratic Administration can
onlT expect trouble if it allows Itself to
be absolutely controlled by Independent
Republican journals ard that it can not
attach itself permanently to a Mug
wump policy?
One of the objects of the Independent
Republicans is to destroy the Demo-
cratic party and to build up some ex-
perimental new party on its ruins. The
object of a Democratic Administration
must be to rebuild. reform and enlarge
theDemocr.tic party as 1t has existed
since Je1erson's days, ''as the best and
only security for free government.
Can those who pursue two such total.
" opposite objects harmonic and blend
together?
Yet there is an honorable and import
ant mission for Independents. While
the great political parties are SO evenly
divided, the Independents can hold a
useful balance of power, and by sup
port of the best candidates can compel
good nominations. Their criticisms of
the political parties are likely to be
wholesome and advantageous.
The Democracy will welcome the In
dependents as associates, as allies, even
rs critics. But they can not receive as
officers and leaders an element which
still detests Democracy and which
hungers for the final dissolution of tha
Democratic party.-M Y. World.