The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-13
THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 49,

picked with questions OF ethics. Such
men have steady poise of judgment that
saves a world of words. The right path
way is never obscured or hidden. With
them the doctrinaire has hard time of
it, for instead of chasing a princi-
pie through all the mazes of posi-
bilities for the sake of the hunt, they hold
the dogs of dialectics in leash and,
with unerring clear sight and constant
good nature, whip them all back to the
true scent. / was always struck with
single sentence in the second volume of
Carlisle's French Revolution" which,
after these two volumes of bloody chaos,
announced the arrival of Napoleon. The
purport OF the sentence, as l now recall it,
is that a man having now come upon the
scene events began TO straighten them
selves out And l suppose that when
ever events become chaotic and life gets
into confusion that it is absolutely neces-
sary to have a man at the helm. And his
tory shows that it is the executive man,
equipped with convictions and endowed
with courage who assumes the chieftain-
ship in moments of public doubt. Dis
tracted on everything else, the people are
willing to rest their issues on indubitable
strength of character, capable OF both rep
resenting and of leading He NAV not
bring any new truth with him or q more
brilliant method, but the trust is that he
viii with clear eye, pure heart and strong
hands keep the columns in close order
along the approved path of safety and
advance"
With the possible exception of Lincoln
no president was ever confronted with
such an array of obstacles as was Grover
Cleveland when he took the executive
chair. A large minority of his party had
accepted him as the partys leader with
anything but good grace. The senate was
controlled by the opposition; the house
had a democratic majority, pOrtion-and
a considerable portion at that-of which
was not in sympathy with the views of
the president. The machine" of his party
demanded the immediate surrender to it
OF all the federal offices. Meeting this
situation the president was slow and care
full in his movements. Many of his APP
pointees, cabinet and otherwise, were
comparatively unknown. A great clamor
arose in the democratic party. But Cleve-
land knew he was right and pursued
the even tenor of his way,
his temper apparently unruffled by
the turmoil about him. Time justified the
wisdom of his appointments. Slowly but
surely the civil service was reconstructed
the welfare of the service and the dem
cratic party being constantly keptin mind.
No public or party interest was in any de-
gree sacrificed.
Then came the crucial test on
pension legislation. Hoping to gain a
political point the republicans passed
all manner of pension bills. Mr.. Cleveland
signed the meritorious and vetoed the
meretricious. The pension agents and
tIofr o11 Thu.
people discussed thesituationa ndapproved
the presidents course.
In the matter of public building bills
Mr.. Cleveland was equally just and i'm
partial killing jobs with the veto, whether
Endorsed by republican or democrat.
For years democratic platforms had de-
nounced the administration of the land
office. Mr.. Cleveland's attention was
early turned to the correction OF the
abuses and injustices in this bureau, with
the result that up to the present time the
democratic administration has restored to
| the public domain 100000 of acres
wrongfully withheld from home-seekers
/ by railroad and other corporations. The
land sharks, the railroad attorneys and
their horde of followers raised a tremen-
dous howl, but to no avail.
The tariff question and the accumulat-
! ing surplus called for prompt and decisive
/ legislation. President Cleveland made
these topics the sole text of his last annual
| message with the result that the issue is
now clearly defned-the democrats stand
/ ing for a reform of the tariff and the re-
| publicans for a continuance of war taxa
ton in the interest OF monopoly.
! In minor matters which might be cited
almost without number the president has
shown himself not only an astute politi-
/ clan, but a practical statesman. His
administration has been without blum
| der and time has demonstrated the
! righteousness Of all its acts.
He stands to-day endorsed not alone by
his own party, but by the history OF his
] time.