The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-18
The President Resents the Idea that He Is
Ungrateful, and Outlines What He Con-
siders Safe Line of Action.
A Massachusetts, Member Tells Why He
Cannot Afford to Stay in Congress.
Congressman Springer and His Services to
the Pubiic-HumorOus Senator Evarts-
Crowds of New England Excursionists.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.

PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.
He Is Tco Amiable with the Mugwump-The
Safe Policy In Politics.
specai to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April ll7.-"President Cleveland
is just. o little too amiable to the mugwumps to
suit me" said good. oldfashioned, Jeffersonian
Democrat to your correspondent the other day,
after attending one of the Presidents hand shak-
ing levees at the White House. II observed
that Mr. Cleveland's smiles were more hearty"
continued the gentleman, "when the man said
he was mugwump than when he said he was
Democrat I noticed this fact closely"
This is one OF the many varieties of COM
plants one hears by the people of the chief ex
ecutive, and this is an illustration of the neces
sity there is for arbitrary action by the Presi
dent upon every issue that comes before him.
OF all the State, county, municipal and federal
officers within existence none have such a gen.
eralty of complaints, so many varieties of de-
mands and so many characters before them as
the President
"Censcience!" exclaimed Mr.. Cleveland, in
conversation with personal friend on this point
during the past week. 'if should stop to con-
slider the feelings and favor of men and women;
if should wait till all the returns were in before
counted the successful candidates, what mass
Of trouble would have on me, indeed! There
is only one course for a President to pursue in
political affairs and matters of state and that is
to act the moment he is satisfied with the infor-
maticn at hand. / scarcely know which is the
more disastrous, to act hastily or to daily"
"You must have many nightmares in your
wakeful hours when the crowd is pushing you."
suggested the friend.
Nightmares" calculated the President; that
is the proper word If an officers true friends
would only help him-would only steer him clear
Of these breakers-they would show their real
friendship. / think. though, that the most
trouble r ever had as an officer with friends.
I mean. they made me trouble by dividing, and
each side stoutly demanding favor. 1t seems
they never. think of this"
Have you had many contests of this kind
here?"
''Some. I have adopted rule in dealing with
those know WE'LL continued the President.
when am confident man is entitled to, and
l am willing to intrust an Office to him, give it
to him, and Immediately. When one knows the
surroundings perfectly he should act upoL the
impulse with friends. have heard and read
good many stories going around about me, and
old friends should provide for, and censuring
my inaction. Now, I am a little sensitive
upon this matter because II affects my gratitude,
and consequently my manhood. If the people
knew why do some things which appear re-
rehensible, and do not do some things they may
think ought to do they might be better salts
fed with my actions
''And you cannot explain your actions" sug-
gested the friend .
Exactly. 1t would seem undignifed for me
to stop to explain rumors and gossips. The Of
fee of President is like stone wall along the
roadside, against which the small boy throws
mud balls, men paste proclamations and sign
painters make all sorts of characters, more or
less repulsive. The wall cannot clear itself of
the Disagreement"
President Cleveland, II Is said, has met more
people during his thirteen months at the White
House than did any of his predecessors during
the same length Of time. He has remained
steadily at his post almost constantly, and being
man unknown to the fame Of the country the
masses of visitors who have flooded the capital
have focked to him in curiosity. In some ways
these people have been surprised and disap-
pointed.
Mr. Cleveland has not that dffdence the bulk
of the population seem to have presumed. AL
though he has leaped with bound from sheriff
to the presidency, pausing short time with the
governorship, he was born with the spirit CT
self possession which has made him graceful
Men who have been familiar with Presidents for
decades say he has at no time appeared to be
lost in the deep recesses of the office Then his
common manner, his easy way Of evincing an
inspiration from the ordinary people, has been
both a surprise and disappointment
Inhabitants of the national capital become so
accustomed to the presence of high officials and
men of broad reputation they lose all reverence
for positson, come to look upon them all alike,
and consider them as a matter of course. Many
of the chief executives have become well known
by citizens here, and have had a social standing
| in the community. Since the first term Of Gen.
| Grant, however, this familiarity of the common
crowd at the White House has been on tbs
wane until at present the position Of the Presi-
dent is purely official
am told that for ten years the intimacy of
| the President with his Cabinet has also been on
| the decrease; so much on the decrease that one
| or two of Mr. Garfelds counselors were very
| timid in his presence, and that there has Fever
| been that cultivation of social relations between
| members of the present Cabinet and its head
| President of the United States is the most
thoroughly feared and respected. at the same
| time, by large percentage, the most hated OF
our government officers.
PATRICK COLLINS.