Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-05-21
Mr.. CLEvELAND'S POSITION.

The Attitude of Republicans and indie.
pendents Toward the Administration.
1t would be gratifying if all of Presi-
dent Cleveland's acts could be mads
acceptable to the Independents. But
this is clearly impossible if the indie
pendents expect the President to con-
form to their own peculiar notions in
stead of being satisfied to aid him in
making strong, honest Democratic
Administration.
President Cleveland was elected by
nearly five million Depocratc votes, as
the candidate of the Democratic party
on Democratic platform. That plat
form declared, first and foremost, that
while new issues are born of time and
progress, and old issues perish, the
Democratic party remains and will ever
remain as the best and only security for
the continuance of free government"
President Cleveland is as sacredly
bound to remain true to the Democratic
party as to adhere to the reform pledges
made to the people before the election.
The Independents are jealous of the
Presidents fealty to his promises of
civil-service reform, but are restless
when he manifests the intention to be
faithful to his obligations to his party.
Look at the situation! The Democrats
have elected their President after a
quarter of a century's exclusion from
power. Yet the Democratic Admins
tration has up TO this time made fewer
changes in the Federal offices than
were made by any of his Republican
predecessors in the same period.
What is Mr.. Cleveland's reward?
''Aha!'' cry the Republican organs; $50
the cry of Turn the rascals out was a
fraud after all, and there was no rascals
to turn out!'
Senator Sherman. Con gressm ma
Phelps and others declare that the re-
tention of Republicans in Office and
their appointment to office convicts the
Democracy of having obtained office on
false pretenses, and they pat the Presi-
dent benignly on the back for giving
the country a Republican Administra-
ton conducted on the Republican idea.
And the Independents? What say
they?
The Internal Revenue business in
Maine and Massachusetts is insignifi-
cant. In the two States less than two
millions and half is collected out of a
total tax in the United States of S122,-
600, 600. The Collector in Massachu-
sets gets $4,000 salary, and in Maine
So, 800 Yet because the President fills
these two paltry offices with Democrats
Endorsed by their party and
fully qualified as capable and honest
men the whole Independent press of
New England is in white heat of in
and the heightened indie
pendent journals of this city coolly re-
quest the President to reconsider the
What causes all this Indignation? The
unfaithfulness and dishon-
esty of the new officers? Not at all.
There are no such charges against them.
But it is alleged that they were "Cop-
perheads" twenty years ago, and have
been busy Democratic workers ever
SINCE
Is not this inconsistent with Mug
wumpism, which only requires the test
of honesty and capacity, supplemented
by classroom competitive examina-
ton, and processes to ignore political
opinionsP
Does not this incident make plain
that Democratic Administration can
only expect trouble if it allows itself to
be absolutely controlled by Independent
journals ard that it can not
attach itself permanently to Mug
wump policy?
One of the objects of the Independent |
is to destroy the Demo
cratic party and to build up some ex-
perimental new party on its ruins The
object of Democratic Administration |
must be to rebuild, reform and enlarge
the Democratic party as it has existed |
since Jefferson 8 days, ''as the best and |
only security for free government.
Can those who pursue two such total |
Iy opposite objects harmonic and blend |
together?
Yet there is an honorable and import
ant mission for Independents. While |
the great political parties are so evenly |
the Independents can hold
useful balance of power, and by sup
port of the best candidates can compel |
good nominations. Their criticisms of |
the political parties are likely to be |
wholesome and advantageous.
The Democracy will welcome the In |
as associates, as allies, even |
IS critics. But they can not receive as |
officers and leaders an element which |
still detests Democracy and which |
nungers for the final dissolution of the |
Democratic party.-M. !. World.