New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-17
an UNKNOWN NAN ON TRIAL.

II seems tn some people cruel thing to call
attention 70 President Cleveland's frequent
mistakes. He is lew man. people say, anu IL
ought not to be expected that he can conduct
affairs at the outset without any mistakes.
Hence it is supposed to be in some sense Unfair
to call public attention to the appointment OF
unfit men to responsible positions. or to the
selection of notorious political scOundrels In
some of the States for positions upon which the
success of Civil Service reform largely depends.
Let it be remembered that, as soon as Gov
ernor Cleveland was nominated for the Presi-
dercy last summer, the first objection raised by
THE TRIBUNE to his election was that his
inexperience, and his want Of knowledge OF
public men in the different States. would render
him likely to make grave mistakes and great
many of them. 1t was pointed out that new
man, having to depend upon party which had
long been out of power, would especially need
a large knowledge of public affairs and WIDE
acquaintance with public men, in order to avoid
errors disgrsceful to himself and disastrous 10
the country. Mr.. Cleveland had not that
knowledge or experience. 1t was pointed out
also that President having to deal with such
party as the Democratic, very hungry ana very
thirsty. and managed principally by particu-
larly INSCRIPTIONS demagOgues, would stand In
especial need of extraordinary experience and
rare personal knowledge in order to avoid the
selection of worthless scamps for places OF
trust. Mr.. Cleveland had not that knowledge;
he had not even the ordinary acquaintance
which almosti every member OF Congress
possesses. He was wholly in the dark in deal
ing with men like Senator German, OF Mary
land, for example. and knew little what to
expect from such seasoned spoils-hunter "a
the Vice. President, and even in his own State
had so little knowledge Of the relations OF men
that he permitted persons like Thompson aud
Mclaughlin to get position as his near friends.
1t is but right that the results of this daring
experiment SHOULD be faithfully pointed out.
If the people are hereafter to select men who
know nothing of public affairs, because being
themselves unknown they may perhaps be the
more easily selected, they must do so in the full
understanding that men who lack experience
and knowledge of public affairs are quite apt
with the best possible intentions, to select the
worst possible officials. That is a lesson which
the country ought to learn. and the sooner the
better When a man has been active for many
wears in public affairs, and has acquired the
experience and knowledge to fit him for the
vast responsibilities of the Presidency, the
country knows something about him. The
people have had some opportunity to Judge OF
the man by his conduct and to determine what
sort OF people he prefers to have about him. lie
has been compelled to show, by his recommen-
dations if in Congress. or by his management OF
affairs in his own State, how far his judgment
of men can be trusted. But when the people
take a man who has no experience, who comes
into office by accident, and whose especial dis
tinction above other candidates is that the peo-
ple know nothing about him. one thing is certain,
that he knows little of the men with whom
10 tho Chief Executive he will have to deal
IL he does not know what sort of men Demo-
cratic leaders are, he is certain to be deceived
by them. If he has not the experience to teach
him what sort of work is done by Democratic
workers, he is just the man to select for respon-
sbe official positions such creatures as Pills
bury and Higgins. To show, dayby day, what
Mr. Cleveland is doing, is the only way to teach
the people of. this country that they cannot
afford to intrust vast power to men OF whom
they know nothing.