New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-12
NOT WORTHY or TRUST.

That was a pathetic question said to nave
been asked by President Cleveland " W nat am
- | to do if / cannot trust the men whom the
"peOple have placed in powerf must make
{" these appointments. The applicants are all
"unknown to me. and If cannot rely upon the
Senators and Representatives, what can l
4" ~ This sounds as If it might have been
actually said by the President, IN some moment
of depression when he realized the awful botch
he has made of things thus far. But the Presi-
dent will have to learn that he cannot trust the
Senators and Representatives to tell him the
exact truth about men upon whom they have
depended or may hereafter depend for election.
Other Presidents have learned the same lesson,
and have found it necessary to employ not only
all their own experience and knowledge, gained
by many years of public service, but all the in
formation they could obtain through tried and
trusty friends i'll different parts OF the country.
Mr.. Cleveland lacks the personal experience
and knowledge, and he lacks also that thorough
acquaintance with public men which alone
could teach him whom to trust. In other words,
he fluids that THE TRIBUNE was right when 1t
said that his inexperience in public afiurs and
his lack of knowledge of public men would be
almost nsuperable obstacles in his way. how
ever good his intentions might be.
Then Mr.. Cleveland must also learn that the
present Democratic members OF Congress are
peculiarly and conspicuously unfit to be trusted
This he ought to have known, because they
have been tried aud have made most Disgrace
ful work of it, in the very business for which
they were most competent and were expressly
chosen. Mr.. Cleveland knows that the leglsat-
i've behavior of this Congress has been dis
grace to his party. Yet he seems to have
fancied that the men who had not honor enough,
or sense enough, or patriotism enough, to be-
have decently as lawmakers, would be found
lust the men to trust in the selection of officials.
SIT possible that Mr.. Cleveland has forgotten
how these same Democratic members behaved,
| when he sent them an earnest appeal to save
the party and the country from dscredit by sus-
pending the coinage of silver 7 Certainly he
must be aware that the men who were in that
| case so Indifferent to public dangers and duties
and 80 completely governed by a narrow and
| selfish demagogism, could not be trusted in
| the more delicate and difficult task OF selecting
from their constituents men worthy OF Office
and trust. Yet Mr. Cleveland has been trusting
these very men, and has been sorely cheated
and strange to say, is very much surprised
at it.
If Mr.. Cleveland will reconsider one of his re-
marks he will escape great part of his
trouble. He mistakenly assumes, IL must
make these appointments" But there is not the
slightest necessity to do anything of the sort
| The officials who are now discharging the pub
lie duties are, with very rare exceptions indeed,
competent and worthy men. III Mr.. Cleveland
| nleases he can retain their services, at least
until he comes to know men who are fit for
official position and for his confidence. 1t is not
in the least necessary for him to be making APP
pointments as he is doing, by the quantity and
blindly, knowing nothing of the men appointed,
and stupidity trusting politicians who have
proved themselves utterly unworthy of trust.
! If he insists upon doing this sort Of thing, MIR.
Cleveland must understand that the country
will of course hold him personally responsible
for the disgraceful results.