New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-01
Study IN INDEPENDENCE"

Mugwump organs are constantly proclaiming
that their political attitude is one OF indepehd-
ence. Not Republican, not Democrat, Dut
the critic of both parties and the partisan OF
neither Is the account which the typical Mug
wum gives Of himself in defining his relations
to the two great parties Is the description ac-
curate? Is the Mugwump genuine lnde-
pendent?
The Mugwump in 1884 supported Mr. CieVe-
land because Mr.. Cleveland was supposed TO be
a reformer. The Mugwump was shut up 10
doing so because it could not be pretended that
Mr.. Cleveland was a statesman. 1t follows
tberef ire, that ii Mr.. Cleveland has proved a
failure as roformer the Mugwump, in case ne
is also an independent can have no further use
for him. is in honor bound to drop him and TO
nrote,t against his candidacy for reelection.
But the facts are: 1st. That Mr. Cleveland
has proved failure as relormer. "a lhat,
nevertheless, the MugwImp leaders are sui
hacking him. "Harpers Weekly" whose ed
tor is commonly recognized as Mugwump-in-
chief lately admitted that MIR. Cleveland had
Welded to the malign pressure which had been
brought to bear upon him by the Democratic
marty that instead of bending the organization
TO his purposes as a reformer he had been oehO
by it to its purposes as spoils-seelIer. In us
last issue "The Weekly" again pillories the
President. It declares that he cannot be lgno-
rant of the contemptuous disregard OF his pro-
found convictions shown by committees ana
managers of his party and Of the scandal which
II brings upon him and upon the country.
Asif This reprUach was not bitter enough as 1t
stands "The Weekly" adds: "When the he
publican majority in Congress ceased TO profess
any regard for reform President Grant frankly
abandoned the attempt. 1t was better course
than to permit the injury to the cause when IN
eyitably results from using its name when It's
substance has disappeared" The confession
that Grover Cleveland has proved sham as a
Civil Service reformer is thus wrung from the
leading organ of Mugwumpery.
Nor does "The Weekly" stand alone in its
denupciation of the President. Its fellow
Mugwump journals have expressed themselves
to the same effect 1.-THE New York Times"
which advocated Mr.. Cleveland in 1884 as re-
former. albeit il had sneered ct him as " paro-
chial" statesman, now admits that he has be-
trayed the reform cause. 1.-The NeW-l 0rk
Evening Postn which in its zeal for the speedy
advent of reform millennium joined the for
tunes of Mr. Cleveland to the cry that chastity
was not zone of the virtues that bind society
together,n to-day is saying ditto to 1.-The
Weekly" and "Thc Times" And still the
Mugwump banner for 1888 is inscribed: For
President, Grover Cleveland" Is this indie
pendence Of the courageous sort? Is this in
dependence which has regard to that high
ethical standard to which the Mugwump is con-
tinually pointing? Mr.. Curtis is forever ex-
pressing his disapproval of the dyed-in-the-
wool party man the man who subscribes to the
doctrine, "my party, right or wrong" Yet
now we find him enlisted for the reelection Of
President who he acknowledges has yielded
to the pressure of party which, to use his own
language, is "a conspiracy for plumber and
spoils."
independence that commands respect is made
of sterner stuff.