New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-12
AN ASsIDUOUS POLITICIAN

The accepted theory among Mr. Ceveland's
admirers has always been that he was paln
blunt. honest man, tramping along in the path
of duty in rugged disregard of ordinary po-
Itical considerations. Recent events have
done much to dspel this delusion, to cause
the scales" in the words Of Representative
Cogswel, of Massachusetts,, "to fall from the
eyes of some and let them behold a-pre-
tender" The humiliatng position In when
the Administration has placed Congress IN the
Chinese exclusion matter, is another proof that
Mr. Cleveland is an eager and assduous poll
tcian, though not always an adrolt one. In
the hope of getting credit for a little energy In
dealing with the Chinese question, where so
little had been shown before, Mr.. Scott as
Mr.. Cleveland's next friend, introduced an alb
soute exclusion bill in the House, and forced
its passage, without waiting to receive Official
confirmation from any quarter Of the report
that the Chinese Government had refused to
ratify the treaty. This was at best an act OF
gross discourtesy to a Government which has
shown us tho greatest complasance, first, In
abandoning her traditional policy and opening
to US her territory, second, in cheerfully CO.
operating with us to keep an undesirable class
of her own people at home
1t was not, apparently, until the Senate,
having received the bill, made a formal call
upon the President for information as to
whether the treaty had been rejected or
not, that any effort was made to
lean the exact situation. When word came
that the treaty was still under consideration
and had not been rejected Senator German,
after conference with Mr.. Scott, begged to
have action delayed upon the bill, realizing the
ridiculous plight in which the President would
find himself, if the bill which, it
was well known, he had inspired,
should be thrust at him Just at
this time. A majority Of the Senate, composed
Of both parties, made the mistake Of passing
the bill, apparently with the idea of leaving
the responsibility with the President, but it
seems likely now that this vote will be recon
sidered and that the Senate will refuse to pass
the bill until it is officially informed that the
treaty has been rejected. This will save the
country from one of the shocking diplomatic
blunders of this Administration
similar exhibition was made in the so
called Retaliation Message. For years Mr..
Clevelands policy had been one that was sat
isfactory to Canada but not to the United
States. In the treaty which he concluded
rights which our fishermen had always claimed
for fifty years were deliberately given away
the Administration reserving the right to buy
them back by giving up the duty on fish. Then
suddenly, within space Of twenty-four hours
its whole attitude changes, and the President
sends in a message breathing threatenings and
slaughter. The purpose Of it was made evident
by this dispatch, sent out Immediately by the
chairman Of the Democratic State Committee
of Ohio, which unluckily got into the news
papers:
Have prominent Irlshmen send congratulaory tclc
grams to President Cleveland his message on the
Fishery Treaty, and get up demonstration. If possible
J. b. TOWNSEND.
Chairman Ohio State Central Committee.
There is nothing novel in these disclosures
Of Mr.. Clevelands character. His actions
while Governor were precisely in the same
line. The manner in which charges were held
over the heads of New-YorE City officials until
after he had received the Democratic romina-
ton for President illustrated his methods. His
anxiety to make new issues, and get back
some Of the capital he has lost on the tariff
question, is amusingly apparent Mr.. Cleve-
land ia hunting a second term with the same
assiduity he hunted the first.