The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-12-12
Cleveland's First Message.

The change in party supremacy created an
interest in the first official PRONUNCIATION OF
governmental policy, and the message was
eagerly awaited and attentive!y listened to.
- President Cleveland has the faculty of
expressing himself clearly and strongly In
graceful English. His message is compre-
T hensive, and shows complete mastery OF
all the details Of government, while his
A'~-a visws on all subjects are plain and straight
forward. There is no shrinking from deal
ing with questions of paramount Importance
and upon which men differ. All are
treated with frankness born of conscien-
tious convictions, and are handled IN
mann Dr. that is convincing.
n Ne rly half of the message is taken up
4 with foreign affairs, aud the details of our
= diBlomatic intercourse with other govern
ments are set forth infinitely. Besides the
y information given, which should be closely
read by everybody, the President reiterates
the doctrine of non-interventlon with the
affairs Of other governments, opposes the
ACQUISITION of new and distant territory, or
y the incorporation of remote interests with
our own.
The three chief subjects of our internal
affairs-Finance, Tariff and Civil Service
Reform-are boldly met and conyincingly
treated.
On the subject of Finance he forshadows
and discusses the evils of the unlimited
Of I'll, CHI 4 nDchpck
the country will be drained Of gold, the
international money; silver coin will depre-
ua1za0aauend values be unsettled, and boldly
II recommend the suspension Of
lpulsory coinage of silver dollars
A,by the law passed in February
he Tariff, he recites that the esti-
Surplus revenues for the year ending
P1SS6, will be seventy millions of dol
md says the fact that the revenues
excess of the needs of an economical
pistraton of the government, justifes
.ction in the amount eXacted from the
for its support. In making re-
Gtion he says business and fairness dictate
that industries and interests that have been
encouraged by the present laws should not
be ruthessly injured Or destroyed; that care
should be taken that the interests OF Amer
lean labor be protected, and recommends
that the reduction be made in the revenue
from tax upon the imported ne
4 life, thereby lessening the cost
The question of free trade, says
is not involved nor is there
on for the general discussion
pr expcdiency of protective
government, he observes, is
ms established by the will of a
by which certain principles are
ch they have adopted for their
protection, and it is never bet
cred, and its true spirit is never
rved, then when the peoples
its support is scrupuously lin
actual necessity Of expenditure.
Elbect of Civil Service Reform,
mt leaves no room for doubt as
on. His views are those held
t body of the American people,
psed to those of the mugwumps
ice theorists who have given
Puch gratlitious advice since the Presi-
some months ago avowed his endorse
mt of Civn Service Reform He says,
effect, that there are legitimate advan-
s, in the way of oficeholding, which
how party supremacy; that public officials
Cannot obtain Il best results through sub
srdinates of oS posite views; that clerks
~ be discharged for Incidence and in
tency; that competency should be a
IF fitness, not party service alone; and
hay competitive examinations are conducive
o an improvement in the public service.
On all these points he will have the en-
orsement of the people. He is Civil
ervice Reformer in reality; and not of that
ind that would make ofice-hoding life
lnure and thus build up privileged class.
Ie recognizes that this is government of
pc people, and that the people, not one
lrticular set, have right to participate
its administration, but he believes, also,
at questionable partisan service should
1t be q recommendation to office, and that
aimants for subordinate positions should
ialsh their fitness by competitive exam
ssage is longer than such docu-
Rally are, but we cannot see wherein
yuld have been curtailed. The consti-
ion requires that the President report
lually to Congress upon the State of the
ion, and to make such suggestions as to
may seem proper and he has gone no
her
ne Senatorial Republican caucus last
v nominated Senator Logan for Pres
no tenn, but he declined the distinc-
N declining he said-"I not only
hem (the caucus) but the people of
e country for the desire they seem
should be given this very
y position" Gen. Logan was re-
ID a year ago for Vice-President, and !
was no desire that he should be put
@ line of succession to the Presidency, 4
equently his thanks to the people of v
rtole country was little out of order. I
Republicans of this country are mi a
of the whole, and a considerable 4