The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-16
The Bottom Question for the Next Presi-
dent.

dent.
New York SUM-
Grover Cleveland was the nominee of q
Nsuonsl Democratic Convention, aud he
was elected President mainly by the votes of
men who had all their lives upheld Demo
cratic principles, although they may not
always have felt abs to approve their party
candidates. He slso received some votes,
which undoubtedly were needed to turn the
scale, from men who had hitherto belonged
to the Republican organization. Such linn
tied recruitment from the ranks of whilOm
opponents is st once a cause and conse-
quence of the revolution IN opinion implied
BY the transfer of preponderance from one
party 10 another. Thomas Jefferson could
never have been President without the help
Of some Federalist votes; Andrew Jackson
must hsve tailed in 1928, IS he did four
years earlier, had he lot received support
from some of those who had voted for Craw-
fore, Clsy or Adams in 1924.
But although his vote was welcome. no
FeGerelikt expected or deserved TO be called
TO high place in the councils of Jefferson
unless ne became an honest and avowed cou-
vert TO the strict construction of the C0nsti.
t1tIon; and no man could hope TO figure IN
JscksoD's Cabinet who would not atcept the
Fundamental tenet of Democracy. That tenet
has lot changed j0t IN ninety years. Now,
az then-with the prophetic instinct
that II The loss OF toe habit OF local self gov
would lose lis corner stone-it insists upon
reserving 10 the States the utmost measure
Of independence that is compatible with Ma
tiOnal cohesion and the letter of the organic
law. Thus defined. the primal Democratic
doctrine Tebukes the heresies of secession
aud notification no less sharply than it. re-
pudiates the other fatal solvent of civic en-
ergy, an intrusive, all-absorbing, emascu-
lating Capitalization which would render the
sons of Virginia and New England as hope
lessly incapable OF self-cOntrol and self-pro-
lection as the miscalled citizens OF France.
If Mr.. Cleveland is a Democrat 1t must
be his deepest conviction that Federalist
perversions and eneroachments have gone
far enough, and that IL Is OF vital moment to
the future welfare of this country that for 4
time, at all events, q strong reaction in
fav0r OF strict construction OF the
Contribution should set in. Believ.
ing this to be for his party and
tor the Nation the one paramount consider
atiop, he will not for 8 moment overlook it
in the selection of his Cabinet. On all
other public questions Democrats may fairly
differ without imperiling their title to up
bear the party standard, Like Republicans,
they may affirm or question the wisdom OF
innovations IN the practice OF appointing TO
Office in the civil service. Like Republi-
cans, they may disagree about the expedi-
ency pf stimulating native manufactures by
protective tax on imports. Like Republi-
cans, they may even refuse now and then to
vote for unacceptable candidates. Bat one
thing no man can do, and preserve any
claim to call himself q Democrat. much less
to be honored by post in the first Demo-
cratic Cabinet which Americans have seen
in quarter of a century. He can not dis
avow the bottom principle of the Demo
cratic party; be must not proclaim from his
seat in the Federal legislature or on Fed
eral tribunal q more reckless defiance OF the
letter of the Constitution, a more lax and
arbitrary theory of Interpretation than was
ever exhibited on the bench or in the Sen.
ate House by the most headlong psrtisans of
Federaist designs.
This is the touchstone by which real DEM
ocrats will measure the significance of MIR.
Cleyeland's Cabinet appointments aud test
genuin eness OF his Democracy. He can
easily inform himself beforehand how each
OF his contemplated councillors stands uoon
this vital question. for all the men qualified
by experience and sbili ties to act as his ad-
visers have been forced more than once dur
ing the last few years to define their position
on the fundamental issue between the two
great issues. He may place in his Cabinet
protectiOnists or free traders, civil service
reformers, or those who look ssksnce upon
their schemes. But Mr.. Cleveland can not
put Federslist in his Cabinet and remain
Democratic President.