The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-01
A EULoGY OF CLEVELAND.
A Boston Man Talks with the President and
Finds Him Very Great Man.


Finds Him Very Great Man.
''Templetou,' in Boston Herald
Il don't think the country ever had a Presi-
dent who was less diplomatic in manner. Mr.
Cleveland does not hold with Talieyrand that the
use of language is to conceal thoughts. told
President Cleveland that l came to him as the
representative of the Herald, and as one of the
great pgh lic of Boston. | should judge that ne
maintains a very good knowledge of the press or
the country. When told him that he had many
friends and well-wishers in Boston. he said. with
emphasis, 1 know that WELL No city in the
country has been kinder more considerable and
just to me than has Boston. / feel very sensi-
bly, how much / owe to the people for their good
will Then, with twinkle of his eye, he added:
i suppose you Republicans did not believe that
Democrat could possibly be good Presidents
How strange Men actually seemed to be so
deluded rs to think that this great Democratic
party could rot be trusted to govern the
country; that it hadn't man whom it could
elect who would administer the government
honestly and faithfully. Well, that shows how
far party spirit will carry men,
He next spoke of his position toward the SEN
ate in the matter Of combinations to Office. He
said it gave him some anxiety, for the Senate
had been good while in disclosing what it
meant to do They seem to distrust me- said
he, If am to accept what hear from others.
But hear nothing from them. They have not
called upon me for information or for docu-
ments. l have tried to deal honorably and fairly
by them My purpose was announced at the
beginning of my administration. | meant then
to adhere to it. / have never changed it. do
not mean to change 1t in the future. 1t seems
to me unjust and ungenerous in them to suspect
that do. If had not meant to adhere to my
policy. it would have been foolish in me to begin
it. should have escaped much in refusing to
begin it. 1t is not at all pleasant for me to dis
appoint and / fear, sometimes, to offend my party
friends. Nothing but sense of duty has
brought me to this step. Why run all this FISK,
and incur this hard feeling, only in the end to
retreat 1t seems to me it would have been as
impolitic as it is wrong. No; have tried to be
true to my own pledges and the pledges of the
party. We both promised to divorce the offices
OF the country from being used for party service.
have held my promise, and mean to hold to
it. said to him, I suppose, Mr. President, that
pledge was not retroactive No. was his reply;
i did not propose to hold party service in the
past in the Democratic ranks as against man.
On the contrary. it gave him a strong equitable
claim to Office. he had been excluded for
twenty four years because he was Democrat
He should be remembered for the same reason
when Democratic administration came into
power, provided he was a competent man for the
position to be filed. What understand by civ
Iservice reform, as am carrying it out. Is that
the Office holders shall be divorced from politics
while they fill their positions under the govern
ment That rule have meant to stand by
II asked him if he was aware of any deviation
from it among his appontees.
If there has been any, said he, it has not
been called to my attention I suggested that
some such charge had beer made in New York.
He said be did not believe that there was tounda-
ton for it, and that it was well known there that
his wishes were that the office-holders should
attend to the duties of their positions, and inter-
fere neither with candidates election contests
My removals from office, such as they are made,
said he, are made for cause. 1t would be alb
surd for me to undertake to give the country my
reasons in all cases. because it would be imprac-
ticable. When / have removed Republican for
political reasons, or any other reasons, would
apply the same rule to my own party. think
the Republican Senators should be just enough
TO believe this of me. They ought to appreciate
that am trying to do my duty. Why they
should continue to distrust me do not see They
do not come to me either personally or by COM
mittee to get an understanding of my attitude,
or to obtain explanations on points of action to
which they object. They stand off and question
the sincerity of my purposes"
Il wish every man in Massachusetts-in the
whole country. indeed-had seen the President
while he said these things. know they would
have been ready to exc.aim that here was "A
man! man! by all the gods, mani!