Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-05-13

A Fair showing thus faf'
The administration Of Mr.. Gleve-
land has now reached a point at
which criticism both from a Demo
cratic and Republican standpoint IL
permissible. The President has to-
day been little over a year in Office.
-1Ie has in frequent messages as
closed the animus which will prob
ably govern his public policy to the
end. II is useless TO disguise the
fact that multtudes of Democrats do
not endorse all that the first Demo
crat who has succeeded both in being
elected and inaugurated Tor long
and wearisome quarter OF n century
has done. On the other hand, the
more intelligent Democrats realize
the fact that this prolonged inter
reenum of itself involved difficulties
OF very pronounced character,
Everything in official and admins
trative circles had, SO to speak, to
start de moro. In the Judgment OF
many Democrats, the President has
been perhaps toe slow and deliberate
in his official changes. With many
partizans OF both parties the National
Executive is really looked upon AS
Great Bouncer, whose only business
is to throw people OF the opposite
politics out OF office. This is IA rather
poor IDEAL OF an exalted public func-
ton. and the mass OF Democrats, and
probably of the whole American peo-
pie as we'll, have extended To the
President "a large measure OF in
diligence and appreciation in his dis
charge Of delicate task complicated
beyond precedent.
Mr.. Cleveland, in two leading APP
pointments, has challenged, in very
marked manner, the Democratic ira
ditions which he, in common with
other adherents of that tme-honored
party, has inherited The first was
when the appointment OF Mr. Pearson
as Postmaster Of New York fell in.
In this case he would have violated
no prescription OF the Civil Service
rule, which, in an evil day, and
largely through the influence of Hon.
George H. Pendleton, was foisted
upon the Democratic party, If he had
appointed Democratic successor to
Mr.. Pearson. This case was the more
interesting because the Postmaster OF
New York has about two thousand
subordinates, and Democrats natural
ly hoped to fill their places.
The second pronounced departure
of Mr.. Cleveland was when he reap
pointed Mrs. Thompson, Republi-
can lady, who is evidently trick,
Postmistress OF Louisville, Kentucky,
in spite OF the energetic protest OF
that staunch Democratic organ, the
Louisville Courier-JoWaai. 1t really
seems to us as il the Hon. Henry J.
Watterson was lacking in his ordinary
chivalry when he made his deter.
mined fight against this appointment.
We think that, on every ground OF
gallantry and good nature, it is much
more defensible than the appoint
ment of Pearson in New York.
Democrats generally adhere TO the
old e-honored idea of rotation in
Office even as respects Democrats.
Much more do they desire to see this
venerable rule enforced rs to their
opponents. Mr.. Cleveland has not
cared to indulge them all at once in
this trusty tradition.
But he has done one thing which
will prove to have strengthened his
party amazingly, viz, he has given
the country genuine Democratic
administration-one which has re-
called the best traditions OF the party
and of the country. lie has placed
himself directly in communion with
the people, and has recognized the
duty imposed upon the Executive Of
being personally honest, upright and
single OF purpose and he has sent the
magnetic impulse through all branch
es OF the public service which meant,
Enthusiastically, that all his subordi-
mates should act in similar spirit.
In addition, in all occasions Of public
crisis, as in the incendiary proceed
ings at Colon, the energy, manliness
and directness OF the action of his |
administration recalled the best ira
ditions OF the days when such men as
Daniel Webster and VIM. l., Marcy |
were at the head OF the State Depart
ment. In matters OF domestic detail |
he has Infused a rugged spirit OF hon
esty, while he has already done more
TO resurreCt the status of the United |
States among the nations OF the earth
than Grant, Hayes and Arthur put |
together,
The masses are satisfied with Gro
yer Cleveland, and the elections this
fall will show that they are. His
Democracy in the line of rotation in
Office may at times be latent, but it is
reliable. Now that he is beginning
TO ''learn the ropes" at Washington
his party will have more and more
occasion to stand in with him, while
the verdict of the country at large
will he one of general acclaim.
OUR esteemed contemporary, the
Epsnjng Express, very frequently
acquits itself OF moral gems. The
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