New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-13
COMPLIMENTS FOR Mr.. CLEVELAND

COHPIINENTS FOR hh. CLE' FIh'D'
1t was a coincidence that Mr.. SHERMAN OF
Ohio and Mr. Phelps, of New-Jersey, happened
TO express their opinions in regard to Mr..
Cleyeland's administration on the same day,
though many hundred miles apart. Their
opinions do not seem to have been far apart.
for both commended the Administration highly
in some respects, and expressed considerable
confidence that the President would give the
country good government. and would satisfy
the reasonable expectations of the people. NO
doubt Mr.. sherman, in speaking before the
Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, was tempted
to give AZ favorable "a view OF the situation Tor
business interests as he could, and the ex-
pressions of Mr.. Phelps. IN a reported inter-
view at Washington, may have been slightly
colored by the sympathies of the reporter.
Nevertheless both gentlemen seem inclined to
take hopeful view of the Administration and
to commend it as far as they can. This Is
proper spirit. aud one which most Republicans
have shown. notwithstanding the bitterness oil
the campaign which resulted in Mr. Clevelands
election. But it is just a well not to overlook,
on the other hand, the things which President
Cleveland has done that do not deserve cOnpll-
mcnt or praise.
A great many people In this country would
probably suggest TO Mr.. Phelps and Mr. Sher-
man a trilling modification OF their expressions
of confidence. They meant 10 say, no doubt,
that Mr. Cleveland would give the country
about as good an Administration rs he could
with the Confederate and Coppcrhca1 material
which he seems TO prefer IN the selection OF
officers. If he must turn out Union soldiers.
whether maimeI in the service of their cJun~
try or not in order to put in Confederate sol
dicrs, and the people who helped the rebel
army as much as they could by making trouble
at the North; if il il quite necessary for him
to turn out men Of long experience and thor
ough training, because they were Union men.
and to put in others who have neither trimming
nor qualifications, because they were Confed-
crates perhaps it may be safely said that Mr.
Cleveland will do a. well IA he possibly could
under those some ghat diseouraging conditions.
But there are a great many people, botA in
Northern and in Southern States. who do not
admire that change. They are inclined TO ask
whether it Is true that former Confedcrates are
by nature more capable than former Union men.
or more honest or better fitted by training To
give the country good government. If not,
then perhaps the course Of President Cleveland
thus far should be common ded with cOnsidera-
bic reserve. IfItis his idea not To give the coun
try as good government As he can, but 10 give the
country as good government "a may result from
putting the gray above the blue, commenda-
tons will need to be much modified in the times
that are coming. 1t may be added too, that
the Democrats themselves are not altogether
unanimous in approaching and praising the
Administration. Thus the selection Of MIR.
Phelps, of Vermont, whose ugly speech about Mr.
Lincoln and about the abolition of slavery will
not soon be forgotten, meets with decidedly
savage criticism in The NciC- York World. But
it is possible that the more Republicans com
mend what Mr.. Cleveland does that is praise
worthy, the more his own party will be dis
gusted with him.