New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-02
TRYING TO REFORM TIE PRESIDENT

TRYING TO REFORM THE PRESIDENT
The edifying spectacle was presented yester-
day of leading Democratic newspaper as
suming the role of a Salvation Army and
charging upon backsliding Democratic Presi-
dent II has occurred to "The World" that
if Mr.. Cleveland is TO enter this campaign as
he entered the last-posing as reformer-he
must speedily be rushed forward to the anxious
seat and cOaXed into repentance. Hence 1t
turns revivalst and makes a dead set at him.
Il reminds him that Civil Service Reform is
TO have an important bearing upon the Presi
dental election and that the course Of his
Administration has cost him the confidence of
those who are honestly devoted to that reform.
BY way Of stimulating remorse in his bosom,
it sharply contrasts his fine promises of reform
with his signal betrayals of reform after
referring TO the exemplary maxims contained
in his letter If acceptance and his inaugural,
and to his heightened order to Federal Office
holders, "The WOrldD proceeds in this drastic
strain:
These declarations were voluntarily made They
surely committed the President 10 a radically differ
ent line of policy from that outlined by the Reform
League ard Indicated by the " clean sweep In most
Of the States, by the unrebuked activity Of Office
holders IN party management and political affairs
and by the manifest influence with the President OF
notorious bosses and machine manipulators who fol-
low politics a trade.
1t will be generally admitted by intelligent
people that President Cleveland has richly
earned the stern reproof which he thus receives
in the house of his friends. IIc entered the
White House as nothing if not reformer.
and he has turned out not to be q reformer
But the time which "The Wordu chooses to
begin its revival work upon him is unfortunate.
There is room TO suspect that it is anxious
to have him repent and become a truly re-
formed man, not because of its enthusiasm for
humanity, but because it believes his repent
ance would make good campaign document
with the Mugwumps If "The World, had
made its effort to reclaim Mr. Cleveland in
an off year il would have gained more credit
for sincerity. The repentance to which it now
afYectionately summons him, just as his cam
paign for reelection is about to open, partakes
too much of the thrifty desperation of a death
bed repentance.
"The President can lose nothing and save
or gain much,n says "The World,n "by re-
affirming his belief in the principle and policy
Of Civil Service Reform and attesting his sin
cerity by actionv IL is good piece Of advice,
but Mr.. Cleveland is doubtless willing to take
the first half Of it and no more. Words arc
cheap. The bogus reformer at the White
House is likely TO reaffirm his belief in reform
principles at every convenient opportunity-it
is q way of his. But 1.-THE World" must not
expect him to attest his sincerity by action.
Is Garland to be driven from the Cabinet? Is
the order to ofice-holdors to be enforced? Is
l. l..
craftsmanship of the New-York State Com
mittee? Are the blameless victims of the
clean sweep to be restored to the places from
which they were ousted? Probably not.
Unless 1.-THE World" will be satisfied if the
President becomes a reformed reformer with
his lips only. it might as well disband its