Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-06-02
A scATHiNa INDICTMENT.
Cleveiand's Administrations Reviewed and
Condemned by an Impartial Critic.

SSrl INV INStS ! VIEW . = 100
Cleveiand's Administration Reviewed and
Condemned by an Impartial Critic.
1t Is now quite evident that the candi-
date of the Democratic party In the
coming campaign is to be Grover Geve-
land. We do not say that 1t is not q fit
nomination to be made by that party. We
are inclined to think that the man and the
party are exactly suited to each other.
As to the man. he stands at present on
q level with his party. When he was
nominated and elected he was hailed as a
great political reformer, who would lift
his party to a high position and give the
country an improved system of public
service. What has he done to fulfil his
own pledges and the expectations of his
original mugwump sponsors3
He gave . solemn pledge that the gov
eminent should be conducted on sound
business principles. Men were to be re-
tanned In Office for competency. experience
and fsithfulness, regardless of partisan
efficiency. This. pledge has been con-
stantly, conspicuously and recklessly vo-
lated.
He gave his solemn pledge that fitness
and not partisan efficiency would be the
conditioned appointments to office. This
pledge has been trampled upon In q count
less number of cases
He declared that public Office is q
public trust" What meaning has this
declaration In the light of his administra-
tion3
He laid down the rule that office hold
ers must not become perniciously active
In politics. Within q few months there
after he suspended and restored District
Attorney Benton, of Missouri, for taking
the stump while District Attorney Stone,
Of Pennsylvania, was suspended and re-
moved for doing precisely the same thing
In a far less pronounced way. Benton was
q Democrat, Stone q Republican. The
rule as thus modified would seem to apply
to Republicans only.
He said public employees have the right
TO insist that merit and competency
shall be recognized instead of party sub
serviency or the surrender of honest po-
itical belief" Out of over sc 5000 offices
about $4,000 were filed with Democrats in
the first two years of the administration.
Thousands of competent and faithful en-
ployes now know, to their sorrow, that
"merit and competency" are seldom, If
ever, found outside the Democratic party.
He has simply fallen back into the arms
Of his party, than which, before his cleo
ton, he was said to be go much better.
His pledges were magnifcents his per-
formences disgraceful.
His scheme Of civil service was fine; its
fulfllment a farce.
He sets out to lift the Democratic
party; he ends by letting down the gov
eminent.
He began as o conspicuous reformer; he
Is ending as a conspicuous failure.
What are his claims on the suffrage of
the countryf Not reform, not good ap-
pointments, not patriotic unpartisanship.
He has treated the country to a free trade
message, practically advocating q tariff
"for revenue only" without proper re-
gard to the principle of protection; he has
made glad al England by giving the
taurels to Canada on the fisheries treaty;
he has lowered the tone Of the Indian
service and interfered unwarrantably
with religious matters In the mission
schools among the Indinns-with which
matters it is simply impertinent for him
to NEEDLE; he has allowed, and we be-
iieye now allows and firmly intends to
allow, political circulars to Issue from the
government departments In Washington.
Such are his passports to the confidence OF
the people. We do not. believe the people
now want a man for president who is no.
q great deal better than Grover Cleveland
Still another thing. President Cleveland
has practically and dishonorably eaten his
own u~tterances given at his Inauguration.
What did he mean by these wordsf Die
he really and honestly mean what he said
What Democrat can read his declaration
and then condemn James G. Blaine II ht
should finally allow his name-after twics
or thrice de%ciining-to be presented to tht
national Republican convention What
could he say about these words in /,
second letter, If nominated What vii
the country say about the sincerity Of thi.
utterance If his name appears in anoshel
campaignf 1t will say: 1--WE do not wan
a.second term Of such q man as Grove,
CLEVELAND New York independent. Ind