New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-07
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
THE FATE OF PARTY SCAPEGOATS.
A LESSON IN AMERICAN HISTORY THAT Mr.. oLEvE'
LAND DOES NOT SEEM TO FAVE LEARNED.

LAND DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE LEARNED
70 ne BdNer Of The Tribune
FIR: II Mr. Cleveland had ever read the history Of
the United States he would probably not have written
snch message az that which no laid before Congress-
last fall From the day he entered upon the office
of President 1t perfectly evident that his con-
trolling purpose In all that he did was to get him
self nominated and elected for a second term Tho
peculiar composition Of his Cabinet announced this
policy, which up to tho time of the message Of De-
cembcr, 1887, was followed steadily and unninch
fngly. The message marks a point at which he was
compelled to make choice and take one Of two risks
and apparently his ignorance OF American history
has led him to choose the greater risk.
For half century no Presidential nominee Of the
Democratic party whether elected not, has been
renomlnated and the last TO be rcnOminated
Martin Van Buren, in 1S40 was de-
feated by the same opponent whom he had defeated
four years previously. The reason s that they have
all, or nearly all. been made scapegoats. And this
applies not only TO those who were elected Demo-
Gratis but also to three that elected Vice Presi
dent by the other party but on succeeding to the
Presidency practically went TO the Democracy.
In every they have been used to further the pr
poses OF tho extremists In the party the party has
then thrown them overheard to escape the popular
odIum of their acts. James X. Polk, who Presi-
dent during the Mexican War. which brought
by the extremists Of his party for the purpose Of
cNtchhlng save territory was ono or Inc youngest
Of our Presidents, and had done everything that his
party required him 10 do. but he not elomi-
mated Willard Fillmore, who went over to The Demo
Gratis and signed the Fugitive Slave law In 1850, did
not receive their nomination in 1859 Franklin
Pierce, who used I'll ihe power IT the general "
e.rmcnt TO crJwd FREQ labor ont OF Kpneas In Obedi-
ence TO the Democratic demand for still more slave
territory. was not renOmlnated. His successor,
James buchanan, who continued his Kansas policy
and vetoed the Homestead bill when Northern Demo-
cratic Congressman longer dared to vote against
II, was not renOminated. though candidate had
ever so thoroughly identified himself with the plat
form OF his party Andrew Johnson. originally
Democrat. had not been President very
long when he returned to that party and did all that
he possibly could for II. obstinately opposing Con.
gross TO the last. Bat the Democratic Convention OF
1865 did not nominate him for recollection.
In each OF these the man used by the
extremists OF the party and whom he had done their
work he was cast over that the party might escape
the loss of votes that would result II II tried 10
carry him. Tho present extremists OF the Demo-
cratic party the free traders, who constitute lts
most aggressive element. and they appear 10 have
put Mr.. Cleveland to the old familiar scapegOat use.
What pity that he had never acquired enough Of
the reading habit TO enable him to find oui what be-
came Of his predecessors CUNNING NYE.
tcir- Ork, JAN 1893. e.