Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-30
mr.. uunin Talks ont In Meeting.

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
The Atlanta Constitution, as lately quoted
by the State. saws: "That Democrat II
coWardly or recreant who abuses or depre-
ciales Mr.. Cleveland. He - Il. greai in dis.
aster ~ be was in triumph, and he made the
bcst President the republic ever had"
For one, representing, a. | think / DO, a
great many others, accept this challenge OF
the constitution, and, without abusing Mr.
cleveland, shall essay 10 prove by the record
thst he il neither IA great man nor great
statesman ergo that he WAS not good
President.
In his letter Of August l8, 1854. accepting
his nomination 10 the presidency, be speaks
Of the platform Of bis party as ga plain
statement Of Democratic principles" and
adds: " / have carefully considered the plat
form snd cordially approve the same
one Il toe plainest Of these "plain sta'e-
ments " Democratic principles" was "thai
Legislation affecting the occupations o. the
people should be cautious and conservative
in method. not in advance OF public senti-
meut. but responsive to il, demands"
But the first Thing Sir. Cleveland did after
he was elected ana before be took his seat
was 20 violate bis pledge right there. The
platform had said: eve believe I'm hard
Constitution and circulating medium con-
yeriible into such money without loss"
There were and are, NJ we know, two parties
10 that proposition the bimetalusts. who are
the people al large aud the mon0metlllists,
or gold standard men. who are the capital
lists that want money TO bee scarce. 1t was
With these rich men that Mr.. Cleyel1nd
sided. "not only IN advance Of public senti-
meut," which be- had promised 10 respect,
but I'm contradiction " 10, IS well rs OF his
"csrciully.cousidercd aud cordial pledge
on that very point
Another equally "pIaln statement" was
that the selection OF Federal officers for the
Territories should be restricted TO citizens
previously residenttherein. But be violated
that pledge "a 20 TIE most important Territory
OF the United SiatcS-tO wit, the District OF
COlumbia-by appointing two nonresident
negroes In succession TO one Of its most re-
sponsible and lucrative Odices-one for winch
there were number Of rssIdeut candidates
perfectly qualified. one m whose business The
white meu interested were to the black men
rs one hundred 10 one. hec0o descended bv
a bll of management TO keep these negroes in
Office, though the Senate had Gisapproyed Of
the appointments and had thereby relieved
him OF any further obligation in that direc-
ton.
Another "plain statement" was that the
- Federal Government should care for and
improve the Mississippi river and other great
waterways Of the republic so as 10 secure
for the interior states easy and cheap tra0s-
poriati0n TO tidewater." Bat it is well
known that he did most reluctantly and I'M
grAclously sign the river and harbor bill u
July, 1886, and be defeated The bill OF 1857
by the sidewnd Of what IS called a pocket
veto, when he knew It would have been pass.
ed over his veto n be hsd returned it-for n
bad passed both houses by two thirds vote.
IN the same wav be is known to have object
ed strongly 10 the bill Of 1883. The O0lec-
ton he made in all these cases u said to
have been 10 the l0g.rolliRg that was claim
ed 10 have passed these bills, though that
Was neither peculiar 10 nor excessive IN those
bills. But others thought that his disregard
Of tins declaration OF hls party proceeded
from an Overeslimste Of the importance OF
New York as the great emporium Of the
United states entitled to the hons share Of
the appropriation.
All This was lmpolitic aud not IN good
faith; built was rs nothing compared 10 the
fatal mistike OF bis message Of December,
1887. The Chicago platform Of 1854. scare.
fully considered and cordially endorsed, -
remember, by Mr.. Cleveland, declares "the
system Of direct taxation known as internal
revenue Is war tax" That descriptive
term itself marks Il with reprobAtion IN q
Democratic document, aud Mr.. Cleveland
knew it. He also knew that the tax vas
odious TO a large number OF Democrats 10
certain leading Democratic States, some Of
which (regarded as pivotal Democratic
Siates) mad demanded its total repeal, and
others had proposed notifications Of Il.
But, IN DISREGARD % bis cordial approval.
Ne. Cleveland IN that fatal message ignored
tins fact and attempted 10 force pollcT
which has brought disaster upon the coun-
try. Whether he was prompted 70 this by
personal ambition. by bis characteristic
strongshcaded obsiinacy aud bis blind self
confidence, II boots not now 20 consider,
nor whether he was warned against It ~
friends IN and out OF his ChblDet. lie
chose ~ risk everything upon a single issue
when there weIe others OF more importance
necessarily involved 10 the decision OF that
one.
We heard great deal at the time about
one very wise sentence'in that message: at
Is condition which controuts us-not a the
ory." Bus. unhappily, Mr.. Cleveland's
view was limited to only one out OF several
conditions that confronted us, aud 10 very
narrow yiow OF that one. IL Is useless to
Ihresh thai straw over again; all concede
aow what many OF Us saw At the time and