New-York tribune., 1885-03-12
THE NEANING OF MANNING.

There are some who still count upon ener-
getic opposition to the protective tariff from
President Cleveland's Administration. They
say, with measure of truth, he has selected Tor
his members of the Cabinet scarcely one who Is
not in sympathy with what is called tariif
REFORM" while several including Mr.. Bayard,
Mr.. Lamar and Mr.. Garland, have in their
votes and speeches in the Senate manifested
their hearty agreement with the aims of the
reformers." With such men to advise him,
these people say, and with not single ardent
opponent of q tariff reform" in his Cabinet, it
IS to be presumed that the course OF the Presi-
dent will be entirely in harmony with the
wishes of those who have been most earnest in
advocating an adjustment of the tariff to a
revenue basis.
These reasonings are not altogether without
ground. and yet it would be mistake to count
upon them too confidently. The Keynote OF
Mr. Clevelands position was struck in his selec-
ton of Mr.. Manning his Secretary OF the
Treasury. BY that he indicated that he meant
to deal with the tariff question with strict
regard to its political bearings, and to favor a
change or reduction of tariff only as 1t might
seem TO him that the political success OF his
Administration or of his party might be pro-
noted thereby. But Mr.. Cleveland is well
aware that the counsel hitherto given, not only
by Mr.. Manning, but by others with whom he
is associated, has been emphatically opposed to
an overturnng of the protective system In the
direction of what are called reform ideas. He
undoubtedly has selected this adviser of all
Others because he knows that, in respect to that
question, the advice of Mr. Manning and that
which through Mr.. Manning will reach him
from other influential friends, will be that
which is best calculated to secure the success OF
the party, and his own success as possible
candidate hereafter.
The opposition to the selection OF MIR. Man.
ming for Secretary of the Treasury was not
without meaning, nor was 1t altogether
! personal. Mr. Bayard undoubtedly would have
been better pleased had some one more con-
genial to himself been selected. But behind all
this there was the feeling that the influence of
| the essentially political advice which would be
given to Mr.. Cleveland on this question by such
| Secretary would be iTeconcilably adverse to
| that of the men who seek change of the tariff
on account of their economic convictions. 1t
| was certain that Mr.. Manning, for example,
would advise strongly against any course likely
TO expose the party to defeat in New ork and
Oter Eastern StdUeS, dliu IL WIS cuuiihy Ccita'i
that, being a shrewd and skilled politician, he
would look for nothing but defeat in those
States if the party should adopt the ideas which
the so-called refOrmers nave sought to bring
to the front. 1t would not please Mr.. Manning,
for instance, to have the new Administration
defeated III the State which he represents, and
particularly because..of the policy which he as
Secretary of the Treasury, had chosen to recon-
mend. Neither would 1t suit.hm to have the
party defeated in the other Eastern States
which were denied representation in the
Cabinet, because it was assumed that he would
prove peculiarly capable to represent the polit-
ical interests of the party in those States. In
short with him it is matter of life or death so
to advise, the President as to secure success in
the States which he is expected best to under
stand, and it is precisely in those States that
the policy of antagonsm to the protective tariff
would be most surely fatal.
Mr.. Clevelands Administration is under
bonds, like his. party. 1t cannot do what it
would. Whatever it might wish to do, in COM
pliance with demands from the Southern or
| Western States, it is quite certain not to do at
the risk of defeat in New-York, New-Jersey and
Connecticut.