The sun., 1888-12-04
Mr.. Cieyerand's Farewell Address.


OF the condition which confronts us, permit
mo TO conflne my remarks on tho surplus
and tho tariffto such gcnerallties as may be
read and at once forgotten; and then We
will pass on to the usual synopsis OF the
routine business Of the several departments
and TO the brief mention Of the multitude OF
minor matters that can properly be grouped
together in an otherwise aimless and incon-
sequential document.
Such is the general tenor OF the annual
message which Mr.. CLEVELAND sent TO Con.
gress ycsterday-the Presidents fourth and
last annual message.
The Introductory essay on the tendency OF
the times Is for the most part repetition. in
new and vaguer phrases, of the ideas pre-
sented a year ago. and In the letter OF ac-
ceptance written last summer. What is not
commonplace is not new. aud what Is new
requires no especial attention. II any trace
OF irritation OF shaken self-complacency is
apparent in this part Of the message. it may
he found in those passages which refer to
the protected American manufacturers and
the alleged arrogance with which they as
sume that the Federal Government Is moth
ing more than an instrument for increasing
their own bank accounte. In one Or two
passages Of this sort there is almost touch
Of that indefnable quality which distin-
Ruishes the utterances OF cranks from those
Of philosophers
But the main fact Is that nowhere does
Mr.. CLEVELAND specify OF even suggest
any line OF policy to be pursued in dealing
with the question Of the surplus and the
taxes. He contents himself with expressing
the opinion that "a just and sensible re-
vision Of our tariff laws should be made for
the relief OF those Of our countrymen who
suffer under present conditions" and he
adttso that asuch IN revision should receive
the support OF all who love that justice and
equality due to American citizenship, OF all
who realize that in this Justice and equali
ty our Government finds it's strength
and its power to protect the citt-
zen and his property, OF all who be-
lieve that the contented competence and
comfort Of many accord better with thespirit
of our institutions than colossal fortunes un-
fairly gathered In the hands Of a few, of all
who appreciate that the forbearance and
fraternity among our people which recog-
nize the value of every American interest
are the surest guarantee Of our national
progress, and Of all who desire to see the
products Of American skill and ingenuity In
every market Of the world, with q resulting
restoration OF American commerce" This
xnexceptionable, il somewhat ponderous,
continent belongs to the class which in the
rase of legislative bodies is usually "ordered
spread on the minutes" and which in private
communications calls for no other reply than
"received, and contents noted"
The President has nothing further TO offer
to Congress in the way Of specific recon-
mendations concerning revenue reduction.
II II be asked how, under the circumstances.
he could be expected to descend from gen.
eralizstion to suggestion, the only answer is
that he has not attempted to do 80.
1t is proper to add, to the everlasting
credit Of Mr.. CLEVELAND, that In this for.
bearance he renders the Democracy great
and valuable service-perhaps the only SER
vice that circumstances have left In his
power to render to the party which took
him from obscurity and conferred upon him
one Of the highest prizes Of human ambition.
Senator ingalls, ON the Negro Question.
That was noteworthy interview with
Senator INGALLS, which was printed on Sun.
day in the Atlanta Consultation. When We
call to mind that the Senator from Kansas
has hitherto been classed with his colleague,
Mfr. CHANDLER, among the most aggressive
brandishers OF the bloody shirt and the most
stalwart champions OF the programme OF
THADDEUs STEVENS, we are startled by the
purport Of his explicit admissions, and still
more by the tenor OF the hints and overtures
that may seemingly be read between the
lines. II the Republican President Of the
Senate and Mr.. OATES, Democratic Rep
resentative from Alabama, have not yet
reached the same solution Of the race prob
lem confronting the Gulf States. they are
apparently approaching It upon converging
It will be remembered that Mr.. OATES ad-
vised the Southern whites to forego thatpro.
portion OF their representation In Congress
credited to the negro population In their
respective States, on condition that the
Federal Government should not meddle
with their State and local administrations.
The means which he proposed for the at
tainment Of this object, namely. constitu-
tional amendment disfranchising the negro
all over the United States. was upon its face
impracticable and Is, of course, repudi.
ated by Senator INGALLS,. But while
rejecting the means suggested the
latter substantially acknowledges the
end In view (the ascendancy Of the white
race In State affairs) obe reasonable enough
under the circumstances. and by implication
he favors the alternative expedient provided
by tho second section Of the Fourteenth
Amendment. For after virtually admitting
that the suppression Of the negro vote in
the Gulf States 10 justinable from the point
Of view OF the Southern whites, he goes
on to say that "they cannot suppress
tho vote and still retain the represen-
tation" apportloned to their negro fel-
low citizens. But Mr.. OATES. as we
have said. declares that he. speaking pre-
sumably Tor q fraction OF Southern opinion,
has no desire TO do both. and that he
would oheerfully surrender the negro's share
Of Federal representation In exchange for
acquiescenee In the rule Of white men over
State concerns, Now. II is clear that II the
Federal Government should enforce the