New-York tribune., 1888-08-29
This, we trust will be the work Of Repuo-
lican Administration
ALLURhD AND TEMPLE Z

"
The accuracy of that famous interview with
Chairman Bries is no longer openly disputed,
though the Colonel himself has never perceived
the necessity of withdrawing his original dis
claimcr. A prevalent and satisfactory method
of determining the truth or falsity OF theory
consists in observing the subsequent course
of events. Detectives who suspect an indi-
yidual of a crime are accustomed to note his
movements, associations and demeanOr, and II
these fit in with their theory they lose no time
in arrestng their man. Various incidents OF
tho last fortnight tend strongly to confirm the
authenticity of the bombshell which Colonel
Brice is alleged to have dropped into the Dem
ooratic camp The arrival Of German and the
imminent approach Of Higgins afford valuable
testimony but on the whole it is the President
himself who has given the strongest proof
II will be remembered that Mr. Henry Wat
terson cou, lied his indignant refutation OF the
idea that Colonel Brice might have been mis-
represented with an emphatic declaration OF
his own views Gn the subject. " believe"
he said, " that Mr.. Cleveland thinks that If we
were to close the National Headquarters to-mor-
row the canvass would move along just as we'll
and he would be triumphantly elected. Let
him tell us where he stands; is he with us in
this fight. or is he not ?n We feel warranted
in asserting, to use the lucid phrase OF the day,
that the President has caught on at last lie
has sent his check for SIC 0,00O-one-ifth OF
what the people pay him annually to see that
the Republic takes no harm-tO the Democratic
Committee. Like the maiden in the play
II / Il. L.. and NIL al rn
Ten thousand dollars is very pretty sum OF
money, and when we consider the procvltics
of the man who has parted with it, though in
the hope of getting it back with interest during
the next four years, it must be admitted that
he could scarcely have afforded more i'm
pressive demonstration of " where he stands"
The patriot who loved his country twenty odd
years ago only TO The extent of 500, which no
never found it convenient to pay in full and
whose heart throbbed just once for the victims
of the Charleston earthquake. at So throb,
is no wild reckless spendthrift.
But we haven't far 10 seek for an explana-
ton Of the Presidents last announcement Of
where he standsn Four years ago, in his
FIRST and only letter Of acceptance, Mr.. Cleve-
land discovered an unexpected depth Of feel
ing in abiding to "thc allurcments of power,
the temptation to retain public place once
gained" At that time the idea that he could
ever actually become the President of the
United States doubtless seemed 10 him so pre-
posterous that the mere suggestion of second
term made his head swim, and he pronounced
n stern anathema upon the incumbent who
should presume to threaten the country with
such "a most serious danger.n But the
patronage Of this great Office the allurements
Of power, The temptation to retain public place
once gained have been too many for him.
"Gentlcmen," he says, II am allured and
tempted to a degree which, considering the
kind OF q man | am, is adequately expressed
by tho tidy sum OF 81 O,OO0.r There has been
good deal oi ghouliSh glee over the Presi-
dents disinclinatiOn 10 write second letter of
acceptance, bit it ought to cease forthwith.
II q check for 81 900 isn't good Democratic
letter of acceptance, what is? Moreover, we
shouldn't be at all surprised if between now
and the 9th day Of November Mr.. Cleveland
should be allnred and tempted some more.
In that case he will say to the National Com
mittee "Aly friends. you have no conception
Of the alurements Of power, and the tempta-
ti0n to retain public place once gained. Draw
on me at sight. | will mortgage Red Top If
necesSary.n And the Committee will reply
" You are the kind of Civil Service Reformer
we have been looking for, 10, these many years.
Go on being allured and tempted at the same
rate. and we VIII nun YOU for third term"
But that is where the Committee will make
mistake. for after November 6, as the Presi-
dent conteriplates his check-booll, he will be
conscious not of allure ment and temptation,
bu. remorsc-wh:ch has been deftly defined to
meet Just such cases, as the humilating sense
OF failurc.p