The Washington bee., 1886-06-19
CAN IT BE?

Tie dir has Leen thick with ru-
mors, of very recent currency, to
the effect that Mr.. Cleveland has
after series of political repuls, s,
succumbed to the demands of the
wide-mouthed, ind'screet and Ne
gro-bating portion OF t e democ-
racy. To what extent these ru-
mors are we'll founded will be de-
veloped IN a very few weeks; and
we hope they will develop to the
surprise aud disaI pointment of
those who seem willing to retreat
from all their advanced professions
and to settle once more into the
old ruts alongside the putrid car
casses which marked the earlier
stages of their transition from an
te bellum insipidity and injustice,
luto an era OF progressive ideas
and new political and economic
policies. What is the reason for
this change, if change there be, is
difficult to determine. 10 be
sure, there is great dissatisfaction
among the lower strata of the
party on account of the slow dis
position of political spoils; but
those who have the expelienc,
and foresight and true party ideI-
lly, seem to be satisfied with the
slow and judicious system OF sub
slitution. 1t is also true that the air
Is filled with the prediction of
great change in the congressional
fed this fall; bat that does not
result So much from lack of Wis
dom on the part of the adminis>
tration, as it docs from tie great
awakenil g, on the part of republi-
cans. to realization OF the ia t
that, if they are not more than or.
dlnarll y united their chances for
ascendency in 1888 are meagre
and shadowy. 1t may be that the
president after bold stand for
the colored man and his rights
has at last been made to yield and
to defer to the powerful allies who
are opposed to giving the colored
man justice in anything; but who
are determined, ifpossible to route
him from the posts Of honor and
profit to which he is of right fully
entitled.
We bope that in so far as the
colored people are concerned, the
president will continue to show his
wonted wisdom and generosity and
beat down and discountenance all
attempts, on the part of designing
and mean men, to do the colored
man injustice. Should there he a
change in his policy, it can only
hasten the disaster and bring upon
the party All avalanche of opp,si-
sition which will forever settle its
chances for permanent control. In
any event continuous dem ,cratic
ascendency is doubtful; but should
the PR sent administration do It's
duty by awarding simple justice
to all classes of American citizens
it will at least signallze change
in party sentiment which may be
the means of securing accessions
from sources hitherto stubbornly
antagonist to any alliance with
that party. Moreover, liberal
policy may eventuate iu setting
at rest those questions of human
rights and constitutional and civil
privileges which have heretofore
been with held from colored clti-
zeus and be the means of .ermit-
ting colorsd voters to exercise in
telligent discrimination up m mat,
ters which concern the mate erisl
and economic interests of the
times. Up to this time the ad-
minlstration has moved cautious
ly along new and doubtful road.
without any very great party mis-
hap. but should there be a change
in which animosity and revenge
shall lredominate; if the warnings
OF the people are not needed. 1t
will run against distractions
which will dash to atoms the par
ty and render recuEeratlon impos.