The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-06-08
a scathlng lndlotment.

from bne New 1Ofk INDEPENDENT kluOJs
1t Is now quite evident that the candi
date Of the Democratic party in the com.
ing campaign is to be Grover Cleveland.
We do not say that it is rot a fit nomina-
tion to be made by that party. We are
inclined to think hal the man and the
party are exactly suited to zach other.
Az to the a he stands at present on
a level with his party. When he vas nom.
mated 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 fulfill his
own pledges and the expectations OF his
original Mugwump sponsors?
He gave a solemn pledge that the gov
eminent should be coneucted on sonnd
business principles. Men were to be re-
tanned in office for competency, experience
and taithfulness, regardless Of partisan ef-
ticieney. This pledge has been constant
ly, conspicuously and reeklessly violated.
He gave his solemn pledge that fitness
and not partisan efficiency would be the
condition Of appointments to Office. This
pledge has been trampled upon in a count
less number OF cases.
Heid declared that public Office Is a pub
lie trust What meaning has this dec
laration in the light Of his admistration?.
He laid down the rule that office. holders
must not become perRieionaly active in
politics. Within a Few months thereafter
he suspended and restored District Attor
ney Benton. Of Missouri Tor taking the
stump, while District Attorney Stone. oil
Pennsylvania, Was suspended and remoy-
ed for doing precisely the same thing in a
lar less pronounced way. Benton was al
Democrat, Stone d 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 racoenizad fnstend Of Marty anh.
serviency, 81 tho surrender OF honest POI
liticai belief Out Of over SO, 600 Offices
about43. 900 were filed with Democrats
in tho first two years Of the Administra
tom Thousands Of Incompetent and faith
ful employees now know, to their sorrow,
that merit and competency are seldom.
III ever, found outside the Democratic
party. He has simply fallen back into the
arms OF his party. than which. before his
election he was said to be SO much better.
His pledges we're magnificent; his per.
formances disgr acoful.
His scheme OF service was fine; its fuL.
He sets out to lit the Democratic party;
he ends by letting down the Government.
He began as 4 conspicuous reformer. he
is ending as a conspicuous failure.
What are his claims on the s~ufirags ol
the country Not reform, not good ar.
pointments, not patriotic unpartisanship.
He has treated the country to a free trade
message practically advocating d tariff
Tor revenue only without propesrerard
to the principle or protection; ne has
made glad all England by giving the Iau.
rels to Canada on the fisheries treaty: he
has iowe9ed The tone OF the Indian service
and intOfierca unwarrantabiy with reiigs
iOuB matters % tue mission schools among
the 1ndians-with which matters it 10 aim
ply impertipent for him to NEEDLE; he has
allowed. and We believe now allows mad
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 de not
believe the people now want a mai for
president who is not d great deal better
than Grover Cleveland.
Still another thing. President Cleveland
has practically and ~dishonorably eaten his
own utternnces given atdnia inauguration.
What lid be mean by these wotdss Did
he Seallg and honestly mean what hssaidg
What Democrat can read his declaration
and condemn James g. Blaine II he should
finally allow his name-aftsk twice or
Thrice d~eclining--to be presented to the Ma
tional Republican Convention What
could be say about these words ID a sec
oad letter. II nominated7 What Will the
country say about thesincerity 81 this ut-
Il hie name appears in another
eafapaignl II viii say VIZ DO NOR WANT
A sEcoND = or apcH a NAN As GRovRR
CtrFELANp.