Wichita eagle., 1888-05-06

charge OF ambiguity. The PresldenB ce-
clares that there are four thousand articles
on the dutiable list, when the entire mum Der
is only nine hundred and eighty-two; he pre-
diets ruin, disaster and financial depression,
when there is nothing in the state OF the Ma
ton to warrant it; he refers to financial
questions in such way as TO grossly exag-
gerate the situation; and ne employs hn-
Euage which one reader interprets as be-
ing plea for free trade. while the next In
sists that it means only revenue reform.
He bears with great stress on the surplus
in the Treasury, but he does pot state that
the bonded Indebtedness Of tie Nation Is
still 81, ,Oo0, 900, ,0oo.
What, then, has Cleveland done to eStao-
lish the claim made for him that he has been
a good Presidenta What public act Of his
Administration for which he is responsible
can be pointed out which has been Of use or
benefit TO the Nation! What in short. has
he been or done to commend him to the Con-
fdence and esteem of those who do not
agree with him politicallys Certainly he
has not kept bis pledges, express or I'M
piled; he has manifested no ability as a
statesman; he has violated even the tTadi-
tions of his party as handed down from JEFF
ferson, Madison, Monroe and jackson, m
advising the retention Of the Internal reye-
nue system, he has not risen above the
level of nediocrity in a single instance, and
at times has appeared 10 sink below II.
Such is not the habit or the mental equip
ment of q good President. When the history
of the Cleveland Administration comes to
be written, the unpre1udicsd and candid bis
torian must say that Mr.. Cleveland was q
man Of good intentions, but weak in carry
ing them out; Of strict personal honor and
honesty, but singulariy obtnse in matters Of
political honor; Of a firm behef IN fds own
infallibility, but wofully Ignorant of great
public questions; theoretically the friend OF
CiviLService reform, but practically the
primo supporter of tho political machine; !;
with these contradictions and incongruities,
he can not be rated as good President.
Minister Phelps on Democratic Doctrine.
Notwithstanding the fact tha. Mr.. Phelps,
Minister to England, is sfxty-fve years of
age and five years beyond the agreed age
for confirmation, Ar. Cleveland 10 said stll
TO favor strongly his appointment to the
Chief Justiceship. The President seems
determined also, says the Chicago Trtbsas,
to overcome the opposition of the Irish
American Democrats, who to a man are
bitterly hostile to Phelps. A delegation Of
Irish American Congressman, beaded by
Collins. of Massachusetts, recently called
on the President to protest against the ap-
pointment of Phelps, and Informed Cleve-
land that such e selection would cost the
Democratic party good many thousand
votes. Phelps LACK Of sympathy with Irish
homo rule, his close affiliations With the
/ Tory party in England, and his notorious
admiration for the British aristocratic sys-
! TEN hhvo gained him popularity in English
Tory society at the cost of steadily -increas-
ing dislike aUbng Irish millions in this
country.
The Presidents strong predilection for
Phelps notwithstanding the objections
against him is easily expleiped. Phelps,
although a Northern man, approves and
justifies the means by which popular. suf-
frago has been stamped out in the South
and that section made soid,'' so that in
every Pre- sidential campaign the Demo.
cratic party plays with loaded dice. When
Collins, Foran, Lawler snd the other pro
testing Congressman said that the appoint
ment Of Phelps woule cost tho Democratic
party crowds Of votes. the President douk.-
less must have been tempted TO reply that
bnt for the enforcement Of the Phelps dec
trine the Democratic party would DO with
out many Southern States and without any
chance Of carrying the country and without
any Federal Offices to divide.