Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-14
The President viii Not Change
Front.

J
Front.
The statement is being quite industri-
ouslv circulated that influential Demo
cratic leaders are trying to induce the
President 20 abandon his position with
respect to civil service reform, and the
coinage OF silver. 1t is very doubtful IL
/ there is much truth in the statement. No
/ doubt there are Congressman who would
/ like the President to announce that be
favored free coinage OF silver, and the
appointment TO office of men Gu the
ground that they had rendered excellent
service to the party because they think
that such an announcement would help
them to a reelection. They are not so
much interested in the welfare of the
country and the success of the party as
they are in accomplishing their own pur-
poses. The fact that change of policy
relative to either OF the important mat
tiers mentioned would damage the chances
for reelection Of more Congressman than
it would help, and that it would do the
Democratic party incalculabie DANA ge
in the very localities where it is weak
has comparatively little weight with
them.
The President is only following the
course marked out for him by the Nation
al Democratic convention. He is not go
ing beyond the promises and the pledges
which he made with the approval of the
entire party before his election. A change
of front, therefore, would be a confession
that the party made grave mistakes in its
Ft1o no foF NO
other purpose than to mislead the people.
The President isn't going to change
front, and those who think he is, or that
he can be influenced to do so, will find out
their mistake eventually. He knows,
that though those who are seeking offices
for themselves and friends are hostile to
his civil service reform policy, the masses
OF the people are in sympathy with it.
That is shown by the canvass that has
been made in North Carolina. Apparent
ly there is a stronger sentiment in favor
of the spoils system in that State than in
any other, but even there it has been quite
satisfactorily demonstrated that the peo-
pie are overwhelmingly in favor Of the
civil service reform law.
With respect to silver coinage there is
great diversity of opinion, not only
among Democrats but also among Re-
publicans. The President believes that
the continued coinage OF silver will pre-
duce grave financial disasters. He gives
excellent reasons for this beliei-reasons
which are supported by facts, and which
the silver advocates answer with theories
and it is probable that they will con-
tinue to control his judgment until The
silver controversy is settled.
lis not probable, therefore, that there
will be any change in the policy of the
administration with respect to any of the
important questions before the country.
If the grumblers of the Democratic party
want to be in harmony with the admins
tration they will have to modify their
views 30 suit those or the President. 1t
can be accepted as certain that he will
not change his views.
That there is some little friction between
the President and some of the Democratic
leaders is not strange. Was there ever
an administration that gave entire salts
faction to its party leaders? Indeed, when
all the circumstances are considered, it is
surprising how very little opposition,
which threatens danger, there. is in the
party to the administration.