The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-30
THE COUNTRY LIKES CLEVELAND.
The Republicans Must Reckon With
This Fact-A Massachusetts View.

From the Springfield Republican (Rep)
In party sense the nomination is per-
haps the sbrewdest that could have been
made. There would have been q certain
fitness in the choice of Blaine had not his
own previous words forbidden him to accept
with decency-for Blaine is the dominating
personal influence in the party and the
author of its avowed policy. But after his
two letters his Nomination would have so
intensified the personal objections which
defeated him before that the party would
have added a very heavy risk to the bur
dens under which it was already staggering.
The issues are now made up, and how do
they stands The choice is to be made, ap-
parently, on two questions-the tariff and
the general conduct of administration. On
the ono side, Cleveland's administrative
record, with the prospect it offers in case of
second term; on the other side, the degree
of ability, honesty and efficiency to be ex-
pected from Harrison with the republicans
behind him. On the one side, reduction
of the tariff about as proposed in the Mills
bill-say an average of 10 per cent. on the
other side, the maintenance or advance of
the tariff. These two points, we think, are
what is really involved. The sectional issue
may be appealed to, but we trust it will be
left mainly in the background.
The republican party has turned its back
pable and crying needs of the situation and
allied itself with compact moneyed inter
est as against the interests of the people at
large. 1t has done this we believe, under
the partisan impulse to oppose whatever
democratic President did or proposed SO
against the Presidents braveSt and wisest
act-the call for a reduction that should
clear off the surplus-the party, at Mr..
Blaine's summons, threw itself in bitter
h., Of D. IL.
American laborer" was caught up as
taking campaign catch-word. We believe
the republican stump-speakers talk worse
than they mean, and that, were the respon-
sibilitics of power thrown on them, we
should at least hear no more of raising the
tariff. But they have committed them
selves hOpelessly against lowering it.
On this question the democratic party, for
the first time since the war, has made a
definite, resolute, sagacious advance on
great governmental question. 1t owes this
advantage chiefly to the fact which is the
party's one great merit In the eyes of the
Countrywide strong personality and COM
manding leadership of President Cleveland
He has shown himself an honest able, cour-
ageous ruler. He is not an idealist, not an
uncompromising apostle of reform; he has
conceded much for the sake of controlling
his party; he has tolerated at least a few
very weak spots in the administrative serv.
ice. But he has proved a most skillful
party manager, and the power which he
thus holds he has in every crisis-whether
confronted by an eXtravagant pension bill
or the nomination of an interstate commits
sion or a chief justice-used straight for the
good of the country. And the country
likes President Cleveland very much-likes
him and trusts him-the republicans must
reckon with that fact.