The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-18
CLEVELiND'S FIRST YEAR
REVIEWED by THE PHILADEL-
PHIA "TIMES.n
The Great POrces OF Monopoly and
Corruption Which He Has Sue
cessfuily Encountered.
MILLIONS OF MONEY ARRAYED
AGAINST HIS REFORMS,
Together NTH the Blaine COmblna.
ton, Supported by the Partisan
Newspapers.

GOnN haEPVA wv W Wv 80 AAuNa
Newspapers.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, February l5.-
Editor Mcclure reviews the first year
of the Cleveland administration in
lengthy dispatch published in the
Times OF this morning, and in a clear,
open, manly way. He tays that the
manifold difficulties in the way OF the
first Democratic administration upon
a return OF the party to political power
after lapse OF a quarter Of q century
can scarcely be appreciated by the
country. Mr.. Cleveland himself was
a year ago an unknown quantity. The
country knew what Gov. Cleveland
was; OF what President Cleveland
would be it knew nothing. That il
believed in him and trusted him was
evidenced by his election and installa-
ton as President. At the very
threshold he was confronted by two
facts: that large proportion OF the
Democratic party, composed OF ante
bellum material, expected him TO es-
tablish his administration on the basis
OF reform. The 6rst-named element
contained the old-line politicians, the
second new generation Of voters.
Long accustomed to feats OF political
legerdemain and Injured 10 iaIsehood,
the politicians met the new admins
tration with the assumption that ante
election promises were void, and that
now that professions OF reform had
served their turn they would be cast
aside as useless.
TAKING THE HONEST COURSE.
The President had one of two
counes open to him; to violate his
promise TO the country and stultify his
whole record by accepting this pre-
sumption as fact, or risk the dis
pleasure OF this formidable wing Of
mis- party by driving straight ahead
and trusting TO the results Of a pure
administration Of public affairs for his
vindication. He chose the latter and
honorable course. AS was ANTICIPATED
at the frat indication OF this deter
mint on, he was threatened with dis.
memberment tf his party on the one
hand and united opposition OF every
corrupt element In the county on the
other. Every NANCY political cur
snapped at his heels. Every spoils-
man within and without Kissed them
on, and, too coWardly for open war
fare, spat upon his shadow in the
darkness. But the President, domi-
mating q strong Cabinet in hearty sym.
patty with his honest efforts to give
the people good government first and
take care Of his party af.erward, paid
no heed to this partisan clamor nor
turned aside from his great purpose.
Gradually, day be day, he felt the APP
proval OF the people was HE, and IL
strengthened his hand to execute.
The ours became tired Of barking and
retired into the obscurity Of their ken
nels. The venom OF the disappointed
spoilsmen slowly dried up.
DIsMAY OF THE coRRUPTIoNIsTs.
The elements that viewed the grad
ual change and foresaw the ultimate
triumph Of honest government with
the greatest dismay YesB the elements
that profit most by dishonest govern
ment. The corporations which had
their foundation In subsidies and
fraud and held their charters by cor
ruption, which had sprung from moth
ing TO wealth and power, which had
the public by the throat and wrung
from its purse enormous dividends on
millions oi watered stock-these did
not want honest governments. Such
elements OF unbridled corporate
power had put forth every energy TO
secure in perpetuity the pol,t cal
authority. OF the party under whose
administration they had been born,
reared and made fat. They had
formed n syndicate OF wealth to put n
man in the Presidential chair who
was tainted and tattooed with fraud,
ard whose prospective administration
guaranteed them immunity and
additional spoil. They were Joined
by every corrupt ring and ringtter,
Democrat and Republican, in the |
country, who believed that Mr.. Cleve-
lands elettion meant honest. govern
ment. Their candidate was heralded |
as THE Thieves OWN and was sup |
ported because OF it, His personal |
magnetism drew them as the load |
stone draws needles. They sWarmed |
at Chicago by Thousands and nom.
insted him, against the protest of hon
Get men, and they poured out money
like water't) elect him. Not because |
It was James q. Blaine, but because
he was the representative of cor
rupt party, under which they had
grown great, Republican rule had
made successful fraud possible; il had
made jobbery respectable. And these
elements were all for Blaine and Re.
publican rule.
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