New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-23
NEITHER USEFUL NOR REPUTABLE

There are hippant Democrats who persist in
saying "Of course the President is ferocious-
y assailed in a political canvass Neverthe-
less. every honest man knows that he has been
an upright President in his motives and has
given the country useful and reputable Adj
ministration.' Motives never enter into po-
| litical canvass. The President is known by his
Administration, and that has been neither use
full nor reputable. A survey of the Cabinet de-
partments will prove this.
Q) The State Department has neglected to
uphold the dignity Of American diplomacy and
to vindicate the rights of American citizens
| There have been two instances of bullying of
petty States the Cutting episode in Mexico
and the fantastic performance in the Barbary
States Neither Of these hysterica displays of
energy was creditable The abandonment Of
American fishing and commercial interests and
the negotiation of treaty surrenderng Amer
can rights were equally discreditabe and UNI
necessary In craven spirit the State De
partment has condoned long series Of out
RACES on the Dominion seaboard without Sc
curing reparation for private wrongs or
National dishonor.
(2) The Treasury Department, instead of de-
voting the surplus revenues to a sweeping re-
duction Of the National debt, as Republican
Administrations have done, has declined to
order purchases of outstanding bonds On a large
scale, its excuse being lack of authority. II
has allowed a surplus to accumulate unneces-
sarily in order that it might avail itself of
dishonest prctext for assailing the industrial
interests of the country and overthrowng the
protective system. At the same time il has
been lending millions upon millions from the
Treasury vaults to the National banks without
interest when there was no adequate authority
for the transaction. These banks are lending
the peoples money to their customers and max
ing handsome profit The Government re-
ceives no benefit from these questionable fnan-
cial operations. The National debt is not
scaled down. The surplus is converted into an
artificial menace to American industries.
(3) The War Department has made an i'll |
timed and injudicious attempt TO return the
rebel flags captured by the Union armies dur
ing the War-a proceeding that exasperated the
loyal North and caused painful and wholly |
revival of sectional feeling.
(D The Navy Department began operations
Nlun 'ioltHt pdTllStlI NdTldIt upou II hcpUDU-
can shipbuilder, whom it succeeded in driving
into bankruptcy and bounding to his death.
1t continued this assault upon American ship
building interests with systematic attempts to
discredit the vessels ordered by the previous
II has ended by purchasing
abroad, by discrediting Ameri-
can designers and engineers, and by contract
ing for the construction of an English Ameri-
can feet of cruisers.
(5) The Department of the Interior has dealt
with the soldiers, gnolantly and
with the Indians, and cruelty and
'apaciousy with Western settlers. The PEN
'ion Bureau has been conducted in spirit of
ulen hostility to the veterans and their sur
7ivors. The Indian service has been democrat ,
zed; benefcent reforms which had claimed
he sympathy of leading religious denomna-
ions have been abandoned and ignorant. =,
ecdy and incorporate political hacks have I
zen substituted for experienced and sympa- a
hetic officials.
(6) The Post master Generals office has been q
he headquarters of that extraordinary rabble n