National Republican., 1885-08-15


ina My thing which one likes to remem.
Der to the credit of Mr.. Wood.
WHO WILL BEGIN THE FIGHT !?
SO far the discussion of the Cleve.
land administration has been con.
fined to matters of inconsiderable
detail. 1t is still too new to have
presented all opportunity for the
formation of comprehensive opinion,
and there is, as yet, no basis upon
which 10 predict either failure or sue.
cess.
The Republicans have not yet decided
upon point of attack, and the Democ.
racy is in confused state of mind as to
what course it will take. 1t does not
quite understand the administration, and
it is filed with an alarming suspicion
that the administration does thoroughly
understand the Democracy.
The main cause of the hotch.potch of
impressions as to what will be done may
be traced to the new element which came
into prominence with Cleveland's elec.
ton. That admirable political sage,
Simon Cameron, first discovered the
Mugwumps years ago, and alluded to
them rather disrespectfully as those
id literary fellers." At that time
they constituted an exasperating politi.
cal impertinence in the Republican
party, and were wont to assume serene
Importance and indulge in much hyper.
criticism in matters which they did not
understand, and which they would not,
in all probability, have looked at justly
even if they had understood them.
All of it was at the ex.
pense Of Republicanism, however, and,
therefore, the Democracy was greatly
impressed with them and expended much
wind in noisy vociferation that the Re.
publican party was being deserted by its
"better element" Meanwhile, however,
the "better element" did not have either
habitation or name, and it was not
until Mr.. Blaine's nomination that they
obtained both. Then the New York
San christened them Mugwumps, and
they packed up their baggage of hypoc.
risies and pretenses; took up their
lodging in the Democratic camp, and
all through the campaign which followed
they slandered the Republican nominee
according to the most approved methods
of mock. culture, aud told quite as many
lies as the plebeians whose cause they
had adopted, the only difference being
that their lies were the meaner ones, and
the verbs agreed with the nominative
cases in person and number. Through.
out the fight these confidence men of re.
form and the sluggers of Democracy
were on the most charming terms of in.
timacy.
But now Only few short months
have gone and the administration is still
in its experimental stage. Yet the war
between the two elements is open and
bitter. Mugwumpery claims that it mar.
lied Cleveland to the Presidency, and it
has definitely announced its intention to
play the motherin-law in the white
house and run the establishment. II
has become the "better element " in the
Democratic party, and it is forever ON
hand with its platitudinous nagging to
compel the President to do its bidding.
1t is not even polite in this, but is just as
iO,dleStyeg HsS sRa sasakgsGy yip hiGh mora
way rs it used to be when it was trying
to control the Republican party by means
Of conferences, which no one attended,
and platforms which we're made up OF
spite, political ignorance, and scraps Of
badly digested political economy. Ii
issues "solemn warnings" and prints
cartoons in which the President is warned
against his party, and writes editorial,
whose sentences dance themselves to-
gether in ponderous minuet over thC
appointment Of apostmaster in Podunk
In a general way it assumes with til,
easiest assurance that the masses of boil
parties have eliminated themselves iron
all participation in the government, ant
that the task Of running things ha
fallen upon itself through some mys
terious heredity of gall, All tn
phenomena of selfimportance wit
which it used to annoy Republicanisr
have suddenly been turned upon the as
tonished Democracy, and the novelty c
the thing has taken its breath away
Aud what is more exasperating to hi
Democratic brethren, President ClevC
land really seems to listen to the ne
kings in Egypt.
When the President first went int
office there was considerable discussio
as to what course Republican Senat
would take upon the question of confirm
ing his appointments. The events sine
have rather changed its form, and it no
bears principally as TO how the Demc
, cratic senator's who have failed to col
troll their home patronage will condu
, themselves. There will be fight upo
, the administration, of course, becaui
there is fight upon every administr
tion, but there is just prospect that Il
f country may see the astonishing spectac
of the first Democratic President in
quarter of a century getting the Garlic
vigorous volley from the ranks of h
own party!
0