The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-04-25
GROVER CLEVELAND.

d
which do not make for its honor, nor the
true interests Of the country. With many
excellent men, in many respects, within
| It's ranks, it Incorporates with them in
large proportion nearly the whole axmy
/ of rumsellers, and host of their devoted
patrons. We can hardly look to such a
party for great reforms.
4 As to the man, be stands at present on
level with his party. When he was
nominated and elected he was hailed as
great political reformer, who would lift
his party to a high position and give the
country an improved system OF public
service. What has he done to fulfill bis
l.own pledges and the expectations OF his
original Mugwump sponsors?
lie gave solemn pledge that the gov
eminent should be conducted on sound
business principles. Men were to be re-
tanned in office for competency, expert
ence aud faithfulness, regardless of par
tisan efficiency. This pledge has been
constantly, conspicuously and recklessly
violated.
He gave his solemn pledge that fitness
aud not partisan efficiency would be the
condition of appointments TO Office. This
pledge has been trampled upon in a
countless number of cases.
He declared that public Office is pub
lie trust" What meaning has his decla-
ration in the light of his administration
He laid down the rule that office-hold-
ers must not become perniciously active
in politics. Within few months there
after he suspended and restored District
! Attorney Benton. of Missouri, for taking
the stump, while District Attorney Stone,
of Pennsylvania, was suspended and re-
moved for doing precisely the same thing
in far less pronounced way. Benton was
a Democrat, Stone a Republican. The
rule as thus modified would seem to apply
| to Republicans only.
He said public employees have the right
to insist that INERT and competency
shall DO recognized instead of party SUBJ
servency, or the surrender of honest po-
| litical belief" Out of over Sc, 600 offices,
about 43, 900 were filled with Democrats
in the first two years of the Administra-
! ton. Thousands of competent and faith
full employees now know, @their sorrow,
that "merit and competency are seldom
If ever, found outside ehe Democratic
party He has simply fallen back into
the arms Of his party, than which, before
his election, he was said to be SO much
better.
His pledges were magnificent; his per-
formances disgraceful.
His scheme of civil service was fine; its
fulfillment farce.
He set out to lift the Democratic party
he ends by letting down the Government.
lie began as conspicuous reformer;
he is ending rs a conspicuous failure.
What are his claims on the suffrage of
/ Ita try MT of nj
pointments, not patriotic unpartisanship
He elevated an ex- Confederate to the Su-
preme Bench; he ordered the return of
the Confederate flags, which cost the pre-
cious blood of million patriots; he al
lowed the Stars and Stripes to be placed
at half-mast over Government buildings
in honor Of member of the Confederate
government; he has treated the country
to freet message, practically advo-
eating tariff "for revenue only" with.
out proper regard to the principle of pro-
lection; he has made glad all England by
giving the laurels to Canada on the Fish
cries treaty; he has lowered the tone of
the Indian service and interfered unwar-
rantably with religious matters in the
mission schools among the Indiaps-with
which matters it is simply impairment for
him to NEEDLE; he has allowed, and we
believe now allows and firmly intends to
allow political circulars to issue from the
government departments in Washington.
Such are his passports to the confidence Of
the people.
1t may not be thought wise or proper,
at the present crisis, for the people of this
great nation to inquire much about the
moral character of their candidates for
public office. They should do so, OF
course-and forty thousand Christian pull
pits should instruct them to do so--when
a house servant, or an office boy or bank
clerk is wanted. In the case of Grover
Cleveland, happily, nothing need be said
now in that direction, for his record was
given to tho public four years ago and
was finally commented upon by our neigh
Dor, The Eceaing Post, as follows:
"Chastity Is a great gtrtae but eoery
man knosOs an his heart that IL is not the
greatest Of etrtues =; that otsnses against
Il hare been consistent 'cith tie possession
Of all the qualities sohicA enn0bte human
nature, and dignity human life, and
make human progress possible
The above, written and published in
the special defense of Grover Cleveland,
is all that need be said at the present
time.
We do not believe the people now want
man for President who is not great
deal better than Grover Cleveland.
One thing more, President Cleveland
has refused to use the authority, actually
given to him by law, to reduce the sur
plus by buying Government bonds. He
knows this, and every banker in New
York and every cross-road country law
yer in his own party knows 1t.
Still another thing, President Cleve-
land has practically aud dishonorabiy
eaten his own utterances, given at his in
auguration 10 allowing for an instant the
use OF his name for second term. Was
u NOT ~ nis letter Oh acceptance thaS ne