The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-27
DRIFTING TOWARD FAILURE.
MT. Cleveland Charged with Incompetence BY
the Chief of the Mugwumps.

NIT. Cleveland Charged with Incompetence by
the Chief of the Mugwumps.
Boston Herald.
The Democratic party at Washington is drift
Ing toward failure in the conduct Of the govern
ment, owing chiefly to a lack Of agreement and
cooperation between its leaders in the legslat
tive and the administrative departments
Whether this state of things be due to the
theories of the President. to the jealousies Of
Congressmen,lor to an absence Of that real union
OF men for the accomplishment of q common
purpose which is the basis of true party organ
ization, the result is alike unfortunate, and the
consequences, if not averted, will be disastrous
to the party
It is probable that each of the causes named
has contributed to the inaction and the incpient
decentralization now seen at the capital. With
the best of motives. the President took wrong
attitude toward Congress at the beginning of
the session. He construed the independence Of
these coordinate branches to m IAN, or to re-
quire, their entire separation. Not wishing i'm
properly to influence the legislative branch, he
disavowed any wish or purpose to influence it in
proper manner. Having made his recon-
mendations to Congress, he left the RESPONSE
bility for action with that body. AS the head
of the Nation. he was right AS the head of his
party, he was wrong. The President should
not as some executives have done. use the
| patronage or power of his Office to promote
| personal policy, or to advance personal ends.
But he may, and should, as the most punctilious
| and patriotic of Presidents have done, seek to-
| place his administration in such cordial and as
sistful relations with the leaders of his party in
Congress as shall help to give effect to the prin-
ciples of his party, which the people approved in
| the election. Mr.. Cevelands lack of experience
as political leader might account for the failure
to establish such relations, did not his proclama-
| ton of, and adherence to- a purpose to abstain
| from even seeming to care what Congress shall
| do show that he is acting upon theory of en-
tire non-interference
AS a consequence of this policy, leading DEM
ocrats of the House, occupying responsible
places on the committees some Of whom are in
accord with the administration, do not go to
the White House to consult in regard to meas
ures which should embody the party's princi-
pies and purposes. They do not wish to ask
advice, or to seek cooperation that has been
declined in advance The administration thus
loses all opportunity to impress its views upon
legislation. and accepts for itself the position Of
a mere dispenser and director of Offices. The
| situation is complicated and made worse by the
other facts mentioned-the feeling of Congress
| that it is ''the government" and that it should
| resent or ignore suggestions from the executive,
| and the abnormal divisions in the thing OF
shreds and patches that calls itself the Demo-
cratic party. The jealousy of its prerogative to
initiate aud pass legislation is proper enough in
Congress as whole. but this feeling should not
prevent the leaders of the responsible majority
from seeking to consolidate all legitimate inAu-
ences in support of a policy of government en-
bodying the ideas and aims of their party.
The lack of agreement among the Democrats
is undoubtedly, contributory cause of this
paralysis of the party. The differences between
the administration and majority of the Demo-
Gratis In Congress could hardly be wider or more
fundamental if they were of opposite parties
When before has the spectacle been seen, under
nominally party government, of the commit
tees of the House taking position Numerically
opposed to that assumed by an administration Of
the same party upon questions as vital as the
currency, the coinage the management of the
Treasury, and the maintenance Of the public
faith in the payment of the debit The Demo
cratic party is weak in its leadership. but it lis
more fatally weak in its lack of agreement upon
the principles and policy of government. "a
house divided against itself cannot stand