Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-05-28
President Cleveland and the Future

AS three months have not yet elapsed
of Mr.. Cleveland's official term it seems
somewhat premature to discuss the
propriety of his denomination in 1888
Mr.. Randall, we observe, goes into the
subject in a confident, oracular manner
and expresses the opinion that the
Democracy should unite in supporting
the administration with a view of re.
electing Cleveland four years hence,
But Mr.. Randall h more of a politician
than statesman. He lives in an
atmosphere of political forecasts and
speculations and likes to be regarded as
far-seeing leader, whose influence per-
vades the presentand moulds the future.
We must object, however, to his advice
to the Democracy and Mr.. Cleveland
on the present occasion. We have
more than once expressed the opinion
that the political revolution accomplish
ed last fall indicated a great deal more
than the elevation to power of the
Democracy for one presidential term.
1t is also our opinion that the Cleve-
land administration will prove memor-
able success; that the president will be
politically stronger and more popular at
| its close than he was at its opening, and
it is quite possible that he may prove
in 1883 the most available candidate for
his party to select. But although, so
far, we concur substantially with Mr..
Randall, we by no means approve the
idea that the president and his party
should shape the administration and
Gipncf fhnir off crtc with n ~, =
to his denomination and reelection in
in lSSS-nor do we believe that Mr..
Cleveland entertains any such notion
or is regulating his official actions by
personal ambitions. Schemes for re-
election and the manipulation of federal
patronage to that end We're among the
worst vices of Radical office-holders.
Grant and Arthur weakened their in
fiuence and reputation by such plott-
ings, which are quite impossible to con-
ceal. 1t is safe to say that it was the
subOrdination ofpublic interests to par
tisan and personal ambitions that help
ed to disgust the country with the Re-
publican party and to break down its
power. We do not want to see the
Democracy or its representatives follow
any such fallacious examples, or adopt
the methods devised by defeated par
tisans. Mr.. Cleveland is president of
the United States and not of political
party, and the best way he can
strengthen and consolidate his party is
by giving the country a wise, pure, en-
ergetic administration ofpublic affairs.
This is the present business in hand
and it is because he is attending to it
modestly and conscientiously that his
administration grows in public favor
every day. Let us not forget the long
years of our Punishment from position
of control. The Democratic party was
defeated at the polls over and over again
simply because its professions were dis
trusted. Mr.. Randall will readily recol-
lect how eloquently and how frequent
ly he and other Democratic leaders
sought to impress the public mind with
the solemn fact that the Democratic
party really meant what it said; that if|
placed in authority it would put an end
to corrupt uses of federal power, and
would act only under the inspiration of
true, patriotic, Democratic principles
and be controlled only by public inter
ests. Mr.. Cleveland and his party are
harmonious to-day on this basis, and
we do not want to see it changed. The
country is contented and confident, and
the opening of the new era is unatten-
ded by a cloud. The future will take
care of itself, and the president and his
friends have quite enough to do with
out combining their energies to shape
events belonging to other years.-iT.
Louis Republican (Dena.)