The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-07-10
THE FREE TRADE HAND SHOWN.
Significance OF the Overthrow OF the
Protectionist Democrats.
cleveIand's Administrator and the
Tendencies OF u.
Mr.. Reeds ForcIbIe Remarks on the
st. Louis Convention.

long be interested In the details Of the con-
vention at st. Louis. History will hardly
Iinger over the well-wrought phrases Of
Daniel Dougherty, or the courageous as
iumptiOns Of Patrick Collins, or even over
The bright speech Of the brilliant Mckenzie,
)f Kentucky.
The candidates and tine platform alone de-
serve attention. OF Mr.. Thurman / do not
purpose to speak, for the situation Is one Of
some delieacy.
1t would be unkind to the President to say
that Mr.. Thurman was nominated because IL
was needful TO have somewhere on the
ticket great name not obtained by acci-
dent, but earned by years Of public service.
1t would be equally unkind TO Mr.. Thurman
to point out that this rounding up Of his
career was only another instance Of that
ingratitude Of Republics, which so often
delights to abase the worthy in order that
the exaltation Of the unworthy may become
more marked. However, things which are
mislaid are not always lost, and II must add
a two-fold glory to any barbarian triumph to
have noble Roman. however aged, or how
ever doubtful his Roman citizenship. at the
chariot wheels. OF Mr.. Cleveland do not
intend 10 speak words Of reprOach. On the
contrary, the first sentence Is one Of COM
The Treasury Department has
been carried on, In matters relating strictly
10 finance, In those respects where cOmparf-
son can be made, In the same way in which
Il was carried on by Republican Secretaries.
None Of the wild and foolish things which
his party announced have been done. Not a
single Democratic Grafton delivered before
election on the floor Of the House has been
realized. On this the country Is 30 be con
gratulated The truth, Of course, Is, that the
principles on which the Republican party
bad based its Treasury action we're so funda-
mental that nothing was left TO their sue
cess0rs but TO continue the building on the
same foundations. Whether, however, the
loaning OF sixty millions Of dollars 10 the
national banks without interest when bonds
could have been bought and interest saved
was wisdom and sound policy, leave 10 the
Democratic orators In the next campaign,
only asking them TO use about the transac-
ti0n the same language they would have
employed had John Sherman been Secretary
Of the Treasury. l think already feel the
GOODNESS the discourse will throw
over Democratic meetings. Mr.. Cleveland
has done one other thing which, II rightly
understood, may be Of incalculable adyan-
tage to the country. He has recognized the
tendencies OF his party, and has brought
them TO the clear light Of day. He has re-
yealed the real masters Of the organization
The House OF Representatives has been
organized so as TO show both the dominance
and the determination Of the governing
power. but the country has paid little heed
10 the fact, because the practical results
we're prevented. IL must now take notice or
'uffer. Much has been said OF Mr.. Cleve-
and's courage on the tariff question, but 1t
requires very little courage TO throw your
self into the arms Of the vast majority of
your own party. Whoever knows anything
q the dangers 70 his political ambition in
MS own State OF New York can have little
loubt Of the wisdom Of politician who by
lne message secured to himself the sure
Eotes OF the leaders Of his party.
Some OF the friends Of Reform who
thought that grapes could be gathered from
pointed that no recognition Of them or their
aith was made at st. Louis. They are now
Engaged In turning with child-like faith
rom Platform to Candidate. III | were to
elect the plainest instance in all history
where good men have been trided with,
hould select this gentle dalliance with Civil
service Reform. Mr.. Cleveland's first
nanmuvres committed every civil service
eformer to his side. They could not say too
much. After such loud cOmmittal, very
hame has made them first apologize and
hen keep silent Meantime the end Of Mr..
)leyeand's term finds him with enough
'fficials In Office to run conventions, and
nough offices out Of which he can yet turn
republicans to make free raw material
which will be very useful In the manufac-
ureS OF the campaign. If Mr.. Cleveland
we're not already fixed in our minds as an
tteriy guileless man, the sole object Of
whose creation was TO show how much bet
er man could be than his party, somebody
would suspect him of being politician. In
act Mr.. Cleveland has been in this, as In
lis tariff utterance, controlled by his party.
Vo man, however near his head may be to
us shoulders, can long resist the people he
lilies himself with, especially II during his
Whole career he has thought their thoughts
nd been bone of their bones.
1t may be a fine thing TO be better than
our party. 1t certainly Is a very profitable
hing to appear to besO. The world is avery
'usy world, has no time TO examine shops,
'ut will read advertisements II the print
e large and the headlines emphatic. Hence
Vh en- MIR. Cleveland loudly proclaimed his
opposition to silver, the world thought him
xed In the faith, and has never noticed that
10 has coined more silver than his predeces-
ors. The increase II slight, but worth no.
icing. BY rewarding the postmaster of a
reat city, whose devotion to civil service
eiorm had been useful In the election, he
established so high reputation for clemeney
hat he was able 70 benead all the rest with
lue regularity and reasonable despatch. The
lescent from the high moral elevation which
eemed to signalize the appointment Of Mr..
to that scene In the PENNSYLVANIA
onvention where the offieeholders Of puri-
ed administration dragged down Mr. Ran
all, the ablest Democrat In public life, may
% very great indeed, but the grade was easy,
or the road was winding and there were
many loops. The French historian, Lanfrey,
Gems TO have been right when he said that
title eharlatanism Is needful TO move masses
Il men. Mr.. Cleveland S administration does
lot seem 10 lack the needful motive power.
But the effort to make out Of Mr.. Cleveland
parsonage apart, distinct from his party
m QNnfh a haxr INN nfr
Shere they are weak, intelligent where they
re Ignorant, has been brought TO the test OF
cal life, and to-day no skillful diyider Of
airs can tell where Mr. Cleveland leaves of
nd the old dominant and domineering wing
( his party begins. They twain are now
islbly one flesh.
The victory in the convention secured by
ir Watters0n over the Maryland Senator,
ghom he dragged afterwards openly behind
is tTiumphal sulky, was not the victory OF
ir. Cleveland over the convention, but the
ecOrd of the fact that the majority OF the
arty as of right had taken possession Of
9th Cleveland and convention. For years
his dominant faction has kept itself In the
ackground pushing forward to the public
lew their protectionist brethren, whose use
III feet were shod with swiftness as they
ped to New York, to Ohio, to New Jersey
nd Connecticut, TO assure those Of like faith
hat Mr.. Cleveland was as good protection
i Democrat as II all the Industries of the
United States were localized in his native
illage
But this dominant faction is no longer in the
ear. Encouraged by the election Of 1884, they
ave taken the front and are now openly in
ontrol. This Is situation long expected by
bservant men. Most party men have hoped
Or 1t, but most business men will regret to
ee committed to the hazards of political
ampaign the entire business interests oi
he country. But those interests can no lon
er be kept out Of politics. They have been
Orced into the next election and must take
eed to themselves unless they welcome
rreparable loss. The danger Is not that the
eOple Of the United States have failed TO
Understand the causes Of that great pros
erity which has enabled US 10 face war and
ebt and even unwonted extravaganza of in
ividual luxury with national growth un-
aralleled In the history OF the world. The
anger is that under deceitful twisting Of
mbiguOus words men may be tempted 10
etain their party fealty In fOrgetfulness Of
cal interests at stake. Party feeling and
arty tealty nave no quarrel with. They
9th bind men together and help make the
Forld soyernable. No man ought TO leave
ne party MS Judgment upholds except for
rave eausei and he will not If he is wise,
OF u means disruption Of friendship and the
Of ties, the strength OF which no
lan knows until they are broken. Hence
aen keep with their party on the slightest
retenees. But parties cannot remain sta
lonary. Their real majoritles may blde
heir time, but they finally take control.
Whoever examines the proceedings and the
utc0me OF the st. Louis convention can have
10 more doubt that the free trade wing has
AIKEN the reins In hand In the nation than
hey can doubt that they have done IL in the