The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-05-11
BROKEN PROMISES.

Editor Free Press:
1t is not alone as the champion shirt
shaker and flourisher of the old wartime
animosities that Grover Cleveland must
pose before the American people, but as
a reckless, unprincipled violater of SOL
emn pledges he has never had an equal.
He has deceived every faction and par
ty that has trusted him He accepted
the nomination of the Democratic party
with the most positive assurance of sin
cere devotion to the principles of the
civil service law. He secured the Mug
wump vote led by Curtis and Schurz.
just enough to give him New York. and
secured the presidency. But how long
did it take him and his big-headed p. M.
General TO concoct that artful excuse,
Offensive partiZanship," for violating
pledges and law, by removing Republic
can officials against whose official charac-
ter not complaint had been made, to
put a Democrat in their place, and nine
times out of ten one whose chief qualiti
cation was his blatant partizanship
This beyond all controversy was the
most gauZy preteXt ever concocted by q
president for the removal of an official.
A plain declaration of the old time
spoils doctrine of his party would
manhood of a good quality has no part
in the composition of Grover Cleveland.
His acceptance and inaugural pledges
to the old soldiers have been So often
spurned, their just and reasonable de-
mands denied, and his vetoes SO sharp
ened with sarcasm and sneers, his pref
erences so often shown for the rebel
over the Union soldier, that many be-
lieve 1t was the rebel moi the Union sold
| Ter he referred to in his pledge. Even
Douglass Democrats have Jared little if
any better than their Republican COM
rades. Loyalty to the Union when the
Southern Democracy conspired and
fought for its destruction, is no passport
TO Growers favor, his pledge to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. Mr.. Cleveland
promise that the officials of the territor-
les should have the federal offices of the
territories has been well illustrated in
Dakota. He cared no more for his
pledges to them than to the Mugwumps.
His sole object has been to compel the
people of Dakota to swear allegiance to
Grover Cleveland, render !, .sonal hon.
age to HIS EXCElIESgY and declare for his
election; Or stay out of the Union and be
rEied by foreign officials. To this end
was Church sent there to govern the ter.
ritory, and has so neglected the most
material interests of the people while
devoting his whole time and ability in
wire working for his master, Growers in
terest, that the conditiomof the territory
more nearly resembles Ireland than q
peaceful American territory. Torn by
Democratic factions il is beyond all ques.
ton the worst hassassed territory this
side that unfortunate land. Mr.. Cleve-
land has not only made personal HON
age and unquestioned obedience to all
his demands the first qualification for
public Office in the territory, but given
all officials to understand that public of.
| fee in the territories is no longer to be
regarded public trust, but to held and
conducted solely in Cleveland's own in
terest, and use the places as only re.
wards for the cringing servility of those
he appoints from other states or tern.
tories.
But this promise to the people of the
territories was not more solemnly made
to the people of the territories than was
his pledge to the people that he would
not ask or accept nomination for q
second term, nor has it been more
shamefully violated and trampled under
his feet. 1t is true that there are but
few men in the Democratic party that
the intelligent portion of the party
would risk, and the very men that
ton it has been his special business to
dispose of in some way and place where
they could do no harm to him. Thurman
perhaps the best of all the barnaclet
that cling for sake of the name, has
been effectually snubbed OIL
put upon the retired list. Pendle
ton, of Greenback fame, has been ban
ished to Berlin. Bavard, trying to fill 9
niche in the temple of fame much toe
large for his calibre, has dropped out o.
sight on the banks of Newfoundland
His last exploit in Strengthening possible
rivals, has just been accomplished in the
burial of Gov. Dave Hill, under burden
of aqueduct of corruption from which the
Democracy can never resurrect him
It is not very wild or visionary specu
lation that the hand of Cleveland pu
the writing on the wall that sent pOol
Hill to the shades. The man who be
trayed the Governor and revealed thu
crooked methods by which campaign
funds were filched from the public treas
ury, is one of Cleveland's most subservi
ent followers, and it is not impossible
that his revelations were instigated by
the big boss, to put the only rival h,
seemed to fear beyond the power o
harm. But time and space are precious
and this theme so interesting to Mr.
Cleveland's friends must be closed. Blu
who wonders that Halstead calls hin
the white elephant of the Democracy
But it will be greater wonder if they
don't find him very heavy black Jumbo
by the Ides of November, yet he is the
nominee and platform of the Democ
racy.
OLD REPUBLICAN.