Wichita eagle., 1888-06-24
CLEVELANO'S POWER.
He Is Absolute Dictator in tho Affairs OF
His Party-The Greatest Bulldozer of
Modern Times.

He Is Absolute Dictator in tho Affairs Of
His Party-The Greatest Bulldozer OF
Modern Times.
The speech of Senator Stewart upon the
subject OF the arrogant and dictatorial
course of Mr. Cleveland is timely and in
structiye He shows very plainly that the
present occupant of the White House as
sUmes it to be the right of a President TO
so employ his power as to compel Congress
to do his bidding, and thus reduce legisla-
ton practically to i matter of obeying the
will of one man. 1t is not to be believed for
moment, remarks the st. Louis Globe
Democrat. that the trainers Of the Constitu-
ton intended that the veto power should be
used to defeat every bill which President
would not be willing to vote for If d MEM
Der of Congress; and yet that is precisely
the theory upon which Mr. Cleveland has
acted from the beginning.
Ee has taken 1t upon himself to say, IN
effect, that Congress is not capable of de-
Gliding the questions with which it has to
deal, and that it is accordingly his preroga-
tive and his duty to teach that body wis
dom and Prevent it from perpetrating mis-
takes by vetoIng its action whenever such
action does not agree with his personal
opinions aud preiudices. All former Presi-
Z
power only upon exceptional occasions, and
with reference to matters Of grave public
doubt or danger: but he has insisted upon
applying 1t TO affairs Of all kinds, for rea~
sons often of q trivial kind, and in a purely
arbitrary manner, as much as to say that
his pleasure is at once both the constltu-
tional basis and the supreme controlling
force Of the Government.
t. l., 20 th0y 20
domineering and inconsiderate official, who
holds his place by virtue of pitlfUl plurality
of less than ], 200 votes, does not hesitate to
disapprove and defeat measures Of strictly
local character in order to force individual
Congressman TO heed his private wishes, or
to punish them fer daring to question his
authority as boss in all things. With a
wave OF his hand he causes a majority vote
in Congress 70 lose its force, and his per-
sonal win to 10 substituted for it as the de-
Gliding factor in the work OF National legis-
lation In short he assumes that tho legisla-
tive branch Of the Government has rot an
independent existence, as is generally sup
posed, but that it is provided only as an
agency for carrying out the DEGREES and
fattering the vanity of the person who hap
pens to be President.
So far as his own party Is concerned, he
has secured its abiect submission 70 this
policy, and silenced al protest in that quar-
ter against its continuance for another Pc
Rod Of four years. BY sheer bulldozing he
has made himself the absoluts master OF
that organization. II asks only to be told
what be desires that 1t may hasten TO show
how utterly subseTvient 1t eas become, and
how willing it is to fswn and crawl at has
command There Is certain degree OF
credit due him, no doubt, for having thus
Napoleonized himself at the expense Of
| those who elected him II Is triumph CT
audaci.y that EFFORTS admiration, IN spite
Of its mischievous effect But the fac,
remains that man with such views OF
the nature Of the Presidential Office, and its
relation to tie law-nakirg power Of the
Government. is not safe or proper Eaan TO
be continued in that position. Il is well
/ enough for the Democratic party to have a
Dictator: deserves nothing better; bat
certainly ths country can not AFFORD TO keep
! in its highest ofice character Of that inss-
. lent sne Gan cevcus kind