New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-23
THE DEMOCRATIC PHOTOGRAPH.

The TRIBUNE publishes to-day a record of the
fruits of Reform under President Cleveland. IL
is not a review in which any American citizen
can take pleasure or pride. Every right-think-
ing person who reads it will realize that this
country has been disgraced, and that the sincere
desire Of the people for genuine Reform has
been insuted The pledges by which Presl-
dent Cleveland gained his election have been
deliberately. Systematically and contemptuously
disreCarded So nauseating is the contrast be-
tween his professions and his acts that DEM
ocratic journal cries out, Better public i'm
notation of the Presidents callow utterances
of incipient craftsmanship than continuance
of pretence and cant and sham"
But it is not the personal faithlessness OF
Mr.. Cleveland to his pledges, not his personal
insincerity, which will most deeply impress the
people in reviewing this matter. As tree IS
known by its fruits, so great political party
discloses its character by its selection for places
of honor and trust After twenty-four years
of exclusion, the Democratic party came back
to power in 1885. Since that time 1t has re-
vealed to the people more of its Utmost nature
than even its best leaders ever understood. Its
real likes and dislikeS its sympathies, assocla-
lions and habits: the character of the men who
ordinarily control its workings and shape its
utterances, are revealed by its choice of public
officials. The country has a right to trust this
revelation, for it is one which the party itself
has made, as the traits and propensities of
man record themselves on the Photographic
plate in the strong sunlight with absolute
fidelity.
1t is a party which honors and trusts men of
a coarse and grovelling type and of low asso-
Citations Not by accident do so many jailblrds
and scoundrels, so many drunkards and dead
beats. so many ignorant, degraded and brutal
creatures, come to represent great party when
it first selects its favored ones after twenty
four years of exclusion from office. Not by
accident do creatures get its most potent recon-
mendations whose personal character makes
them unfit for the association Of decent citi
zens. Not by accident do graduates of the
penitentiary and the workhouse have the In
huence of Democratic organization behlnd
them Not by accident do so many unscrup-
uous and disreputable men, election swindlers,
forgers, thugs, keepers of iquOr-saloons and
places Of bad repute, gamblers and poker
players, Swindlers on large scale in the stock
board or in public offices, and dog stealers or
tappers of church tils or horse thieves, COM
nland the Endorsement and the influence which
secure appointments.
II is a party which hOnOrs and prefers dis
loyalty; which cherishes fierce and fanatcal
affection for traitors and those who Sympathize
with treason. The foulest mouthed and the
vilest acting traitors the men whose deeds and
words revolt even tie more cultivated ex-Con"
federate who broadened his mind by brave con-
duct in war-these are creatures who come TO
the front as representatives of the innermoSt
spirit of a party. The Copperhead whose words
were so vile that they cannot now be printed;
the men who have been engaged in forgery,
ballot box stuffing buldozing. whipping. and
systematic assassination. as means OF restoring
rebel supremacy against the law; these are the
men who take places of trust and honor in
spite of the protests of loyal and decent citizens
The country has to face the facts. What
ever is basest and most degrading in its char
acter and history, in its tendencies ard passions
and vices naturally gravitates to the Demo-
cratic party The inevitable outcome, when
that party is intrusted with power, is National
!