The Washington critic., 1886-07-30
RICHARD H. SYLVESTER, Editor
WASHINGTON, JULY 80, 1886.
THE PRESIDENTS TRApuCERs.

letter purporting to be written by n
"Membcr of Congress" aud printed In
the New York H6rdN the other day
wind up with the sorrowful conclusion
that the Democratic party Is going to
the "demnition bow.wows" and that
Mr.. Cleveland is to blame for 1t.
In the Hcydld letter he is represented
as q man Of narrow and ill-informed
mind, who dcspiscs the party Of which
lie imagines himself the master; that he
Is misled by the ilattering toadles Of
the press and that he Is generally unfit
for the office he holds. Charges less
grave than these have brought heads to
the block before now; and 1t would not
at all surprise us to hear next that Presi-
dent Cleveland, as was said of President
Grant, is paving the way to dictator
ship or imperialistic power.
1t is not so immensely difficult to ac-
count for this asperity of abuse as some
people imagine. Very much of this
feeling, which after diligent oultiva-
tion loses all semblance to common
sense and rapidly deteriorates into
sheer and stupid prejudice, is traceabe
TO our civil-service legislation. There is
no doubt the practical workings of this
law are distasteful to large numbers of
Democrats who after waiting twenty
five years to be let into Office find the
inner doors barricaded to their getting
in. 1t Is natural enough and not un-
reasonable disappointment.
THE CRITIC, as is well known, has
small faith In the justice, or efficacy or
necessity of the sort of Reform that is
kept on tap at the Office of the Civil
Service Commissioners and no respect
for 1t, to speak of. But the Demo-
cratic party allowed itself to be carried
away by the chimera, at least to such
an extent that its leaders were very
glad Of the support Of the Independent
Republicans-now stigmatized as Mug
wumps-who voted for Mr. Cleveland
in New York; and whenever Mr..
Cleveland wrote or said anything about
this chimera during the campaign,
they all threw up their hats and
cheered It to the echo. Ii we are not
mistaken, our Democratic friends had
plank about the same chimera in sew
eral OF their national platforms.
Mr.. Cleveland probably never said
anything on this subject which he did
not honestly believe, He seems to
have felt, moreover, that having been
elected on certain pledges to the coun-
try, he was bound as a faithful Presi-
dent TO carry them out. He has no
doubt found it much larger contract
than he supposed it would be. bat h.
has at any rate exhibited courage an
consistency in the effort to keep b
promises. 1t is certainly not his fau
that the law was passed. 1t is no, d
deadly sin that he should seek to q
spect it, Neither can we see that he
is blameable if the enforcement of the
law proves disagreeable to his party, or
that he could afford to so back on the
obligations to which his party com.
mitted him in advance of the election.
The mistake-whatcye mistake there
be--is not with the President, who has
declared that the law shall be enforced
so long as it is law, as it is with the
party which cannot muster up tho
hardihood to repeal it.
AS to Mr.. Clevelands want of in
formation and narrowness Of mind, W.
have no special demonstrations O.
either, excepting that he has made
some mistakes, as all other President
have done before him, and are likely
to do after him. II is safe to ASSUME
that he is as well Informed as tn
average Democratic politician, yet h
is evidently a man so stubborn in hi
notions and tenacious of positions ono
taken, as at times to appear dogmati
and arrogant. Take him all in all
THE CRITIC Is Of the opinion that for
man of his severe official training AM
habits of thought and occasionally over
strained scruples, handicapped as h
also is by want of sympathy on til
part of a large element Of his ow
party, he has done remarkably We
and exhibited sterling qualities of hea
and heart that win stand him in might
good turn should he desire renomln,
lion.
II would be well for Members {
Congress" who write for the new
papers to inquire of themselves in Il
first place whether the Democrat
party throughout the country is real
weakened and endangered, as they a
lege, aud If so, in the second pac
whether this condition of things is N
quite as likely to have occurred throug
their own lack of craftsmanship,
slgnally illustrated on the floors of IL
Capitol, as by any popularity of att
tude on the part OF the President.
A close analysis of the situation, "
are satisfied, will show that the +
sponsibility rests rather with the repr
sentatives of the people whose failur
have become bywords Of reproacI
than with the executive head of Il
people who has simply endeavored
execute the laws as he found them, al
not always borne patiently with Dem
Gratis who have conspired to thwart h
good intentions.
Ir HAVING been suggested that Il
Democratic National ticket for 1888
Cleveland and Dana, (Chas. A. Dal
of the New York Sum, Mr.. Dana o.
jects on the ground that "the Constitl
lion forbids ticket made Of two cit