Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-05-27


The election Of 1884 was like that
OF 1900, which placed Mr.. jefferson
IN the White House, apesceful revol-
utlon. During twenty-four years,
from March, 1861, TO March, 1885,
the Democratic party had been expell-
ed from federal executive power. The
Democrats who in 1861 were 40 years
OF age, had, if alive, reached the age
OF "a in 1855. They who we're 40
years old in 1885 we're but Is years Of
age when President Buchanan gave
over the reins of executive power to
President Lincoln. During that in-
tervening quarter of century of exec
utive control at Washington, the
Democratic leaders were necessarily
without experience and training in
federal executive affairs. President
Cleveland was only "a years of age
when his predecessor, President Lin
coin, was inaugurated.
In the interval between 1861 and
1865 new federal Constitution had
been adopted; new Union had been
made; our new States had been admit
ted; the population had increased by
ona-third; actual voting power in Con-
gress had crossed the Alleghanies; and
In every sense the members of Con-
gress, in both branches ana in both
parties, were, as whole, less expert
enced and trained in public affairs
than they were in 1861.
In 1884 there was serious, pro-
found and most natural distrust of the
fitness and capacity of the Democratic
party to WELD executive power in
Washington. Every one felt the
lnexperlence of the party. There
was fear growing out of the possible
attitude of the southern Congressman;
there was fear of the inability of Mr..
Cleveland, if elected, to withstand the
influence of the wild element
IN his own party; there was
fear about the finances, the
treasury, and the public debt.
Does any such fear now exist? None
whatever! The election of 1884 con-
vinced every reasonable being that the
virtues and vices of the American peo-
pie are distributed between the two
political parties according to the num-
bers.
President Cleveland was in March,
1885, absolutely unaccustomed to the
ways of Washington life. He had
studied the written federal Constitu-
iion and was familiar with the general
theory of the federal laws, but was
necessarily new to the unwritten forms
Ind practices Of the federal business,
which had been devolved since
1889 and handed down from
administration to administration.
lie has had to learn by sharp and Sc
rere lessons, as did Lincoln and Grant
n the first year for himself, and with
lis own yardstick, the forces of Sec
iona' end territorial concelt and pride
entered in Washington, the vanity of
'old stagers" in Washington, and the
act that one in his high place can
'arely feelthe direct personal influence
VI any in Washington besides syco-
,hants or enemies. Members of the
House and Senate in Washington are
,roud men, and sensitive men, who
re really put in a false position when
onstrained by their constituents to
olicit Offices from the President.
he relation is one and one
most likely to beget in q Presi-
len, new to Washington life an
pinion of Congressman not fatterlng
o those who thus approach him chat
n hand" But the subserviency is an
nforced one. The Congressman does
ot like it. He abhors it. But the
onditions of his existence as Con-
'ressman demand it. He is not free
gent. He must solicit offices.-M Y.
Star.