The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-05
He Solemnly Announces that the Pres
ent Administration Is Democratic.
He Asks that the President Be Given Time,
and Warns the Party Not to Quarrel
with the Administration.
1T Is DEMOCRATIC.
Watterson Inspects the Administration and
Pronounces Its Demncracx Genuine.


who has been here for the past week, tonight
sent the following to his paper as the expression
of his impressions of President Cleveland and his
administration:
"a Slight attack of sore eyes suggested visit
to Washington, and having tried the executive
and department treatment for nearly a week, it
has occurred to me that brief account of some
Impressions of the administration may not be
without interest to the readers OF the Courier
Journal.
ION certain occasion Artemus Ward stepped
IN front OF his canvass and. pointing to the
passin: scene said to his audience: Ladies and
gentlemen, these are horses. 1t was only this
morning that the artist to me with tears
In his eyes and exclaimed: Il can con-
ssa sav it d from hors ou no longer 0rs Mr. Ward ter
ances and appointment the administration has
so spoken to the country 1t can conceal it no
longer. 1t is a Democratic administration For
my part, have never doubted this in the least
If had been given the making of it, could not
better have suited myself. Indeed, have been
so well pleased, that have been content to stay
at home and play at philosophy, leaving others
to play at patronage, quite satisfied that the
President and the eminent and accomplished
men with whom he has surrounded himself
might be trusted to give civilservice capa-
BILE and clean; to handle the public business with
fidelity and efficiency. and to discharge ad-
equately their obligations, both to the people
and the party. Personal contact and oppor
tunity for getting at both sides of points of criti
cism and dispute have strengthened these orig
inal impressions, and / am happy TO day that
the case of sore eyes, with which l started from
home, has entirely disappeared
'Ihe President is less reserved. and a more
liberal man than ] had been in the habit of
thinking him. He is at once exact and exacting,
but there is beneath his unmstakable business
like purpose and exterior nobeness of spirit
and engaging candor which come out strong on
ll1.
ners from severity Genial is hardly the word
to describe the sunny side of him, for he is
curious man, and hard worker, and a hard
working man; but he has the gift of apprecia-
ton, a simple, schoo-boy dRe of fair play, and
a repose altogether unaffected, and is completely
and ssavuiarly lacking both in cynicism and
vacuity.
Il observed the latter of these admirable
qualities in Miss Cleveland, whose rapid ad-
vancement and elevation to the highest social
honorS and duties have in nowise Disconnected
her, and who will add one name to the very
short list of ladies who have signalized and
adorned the mistresshp of the executive man..
sion. Her brother is not so deeply or so seri
ousy read as she-not so much of doctrinarian,
it, indeed, doctrnarian at all, for | should say
he has been a student rather of men than of
books-but he has an undeniable genius for
manGing. and, for one of SO little ostentation, is
the most unpromising subject of familiarity i'm
aginable His weight and reach of brain have
yet to put forth his full mental powers and re-
sources. Time, which develops, can only dis
close the nature and extent of these. But
there is one thing about him which
in all he says and does, and which
is blazoned upon all the aspect. That is char
acter; and the older grow and the more l see
of life and men, the more respect | have for
character, when brought in contact with intel
lect Many man called dull and slow has, by
hoy poct yi inf xxilt or,la hxy
nothing more luminous than plain, good sense
the offspring of every day experience, conferred
inestimable blessings upon his kind whilst the
history of the world is full of examples of curses
wrought by brilliancy and genius misapplied.
Mr. Cleveland is a plain, sober man. There is
nothing sensational about him. He has not
like SO many politicians long conscience and a
short memory. His hates and his loves are few
positive and sincere. He has shown himself
abundantly able TO say no, and yet as l have
wish to crafty the wishes of others
He wants to do the right thing
the kindly thing and there is not the smallest
doubt that since his election he has been inspired
scientious sense of duty, equally loyal to his
great place and his party, asking no favors, and
looking to his work to vindicate itself. Very
great orbearance and patient temper should
be extended by the public to such public
servant. He selected his political advisers by
the rule OF fitness, and he has inspired them
with his own business like spirit.
1.-THE departments are in hands most uniform
and methodical. In every OF them there
circuates the atmosphere of the workshop
TO say nothing of the practical benefits
and utilitarian performance and promise, all this
has moral value incaculable. 1t is, in itself a
sort of democracy, much needed one, at that
1.-The attack Of Mr.. Eustis upon the admins
tration seems to me equally unjust and unwise.
AS long as senators and representatives insist
upon sharing the patronage of the government
they should be willing to share its responsible
ties To-day the President is just two months
in Office. There has been no attempt to form
policy. The tbankless duty of hearing the ap-
peals and considering the claims of aspirants
and the friends of aspirants has consumed all
the time. Appointments mean ndisappolntments,
because for every place there are dozen
more applicants, and for each which he fills
the President must take the risk of making one
traitor aud eleven enemies No one understands
this better than Mr. Eusts, who is deliberate
and thoughtful man, and hence it is a matter If
surprise to those who know him that he should
break with the administration upon simple
question of patronage. There is little reason to
doubt that when Congress assemblies he will find
himself in close agreement and sympathy with
it upon all leading issues of the time, and so he
will be placed in the awkward situation of hav-
ing his approval and support forced from him in
spite of his personal hostility-a circumstance
which whips the advantages of the controversy
over to the side of the President. The Louisiana
senator indeed may get a temporary
profit ont of this at home, but in the long it
cannot pay man of his character and ability
After twenty-four years of absence from power
the Democratic party has, by little less .han
miracle. como into the custody of the national
government. Whether it retains that custody
will depend upon the success or failure of the
men it has delegated to represent it Tie patty
is on trial. Inevitably it Is bound to stand or
fall by its administration. 1t cannot afford to
quarrel with this upon matters of detail, or
lightly to criticise it.
Il have encountered but one spirit here, and
my opportunities for forming a Judgment have