The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-13
A GRAND RECORD.
The Story of Grover Cleveland's Splendid
Administration.



brooklyn Eagle.l
Domestic affairs, foreign affairs, finance and
the civil service comprise about all the subjects
engaging the executive department, saving the
latters relation to the two other departments.
The domestic affairs of the nation have been
well conducted. The army and the navy, for
the first time since the days of John Quincy
Adams, have been free from the operation OF
politics and favoritism in appointments. Fit
ness and seniority have been the sole
rule. The construction of a new navy has
progressed on lines OF science, with not
a trace of iobbery. The military forces
have been successful against Indian hosules-
and education and agriculture, with per-
feet honesty, have marked out the lines of
treatment of friendly aboriginees. The post
Office service has been admirably conducted
and expanded The governments policy
toward creditor railroads has been one OF bust
ness prObity and accommodation. More pen
sioners have been added to the rolls than under
any other administration. More union YeteT-
ans have been appointed than under any other:
more acreage has been restored to the use of
settlers by taking the clutch of corporations of
of it, than under all other administrations put
together Pursuant to the presidents recon-
mendatiOnS, the interstate commerce law and
the law creating a department of labor have
been enacted. The domestic affairs of the peo-
pie have been wisely managed.
With foreign nations the relations OF the
United States have been those of justice and of
peace. Adventurous and sensational diplO-
macy has not been resOrted TO. The appoint
ments of ministers, cOnsuls and commercial
agents have been marked by fitness and when
errors have been made they have been cor
rected. Important treaties have been nego-
tiated, which will be capable of consideration
on their merits when the passions of the politi-
cal year have subsidized, The honor and inter-
ests of the country have been well guarded
abroad.
In the management of the finances business
has been able 10 cOntide. If Daniel Manning's
recommendations pushed theory TO a maximum
his management Of his Office and that of his
successor can be said TO have been practical,
conservative and reassuring. With two such
men as Charles $. Fairchild and Alexander
McCue in the chief financial positions of the
republic imprudence or negligence or the
least disregard of sound business principles
is nowhere apprehended. The customs and
internal revenue administration has been hon.
est earnest and considerate. Never was the
credit of the government higher. Never was
the consciousness that favoritism toward none
is the policy OF the government more thorough
" dominant. Even with the license of crlti-
cism accorded to the opposition, not fault has
been discovered in the attitude of absolute
equity maintained by the business side of the
administration toward the business of the coun-
try.
Civil service reform has lost none Of the
ground gained Ii has made some advances.
The limits of the classified service have been
increased. The rules have been strengthened.
There has been little recoil against the merit
system. This is always the case in presiden-
tial year. Politics is n state of mimic war. The
people are not in line with the reformers yet,
but they are overtaking them. Mr.. Cleveland
has done more 10 establish civil service reform
than any other president He has done less
than some of those who regard it as the issue of
issues wish he had, but he has not erred i'm be-
ing moderate. There are other questions.
Party support is necessary to their accomplish
ment. To press one of many reforms TO the
neglect of the rest would have been unwise.
The relation of the executive department 10
the other two departments has been exactly
defined. Excellent appointments to the iu-
dietary and to United States district attorney
ships have been made. The senate's attempt
TO invade the domain of executive prerogatiye
was resisted with q courage worthy Of Jackson.
Both houses of congress have had more inn
proper measures sent back to them vetoed than
all the other presidents put together ever sent
back before. The vetoes have received the APP
proval OF the people. No attempt TO override
them has been made. In this regard Mr.. Cleve-
land has indeed been a president, every inch
of him.
Such are a few of the considerations which
both produce and account for the causes which
have made the presidents denomination inev-
liable.