New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-04
iTHE ISSUES.

voters VINO COnSClenUOusly ueSlre 10 w iiBHo
as the hour for action draws near carefully re-
view the issues of the campaign in the light OF
its events and discussions. They ask them
selves, Has the Democratic party, now in
power, made good its pledges as to reform Of
the Government, as to loyalty as to foreign re-
lations, or as to home industry and taxation
President Cleveland was elected by pledges
to reform the Government. to carry on and
complete Civil Service reform so that the pub
lie service should be non partisan, and to give
the people better and T1ore honest government.
His denomination was in itself proof that his
intention had changed, that Civil Service re-
form had been abandoned. and that he and his
party were willing openly to rely upon the des-
perate energy of a hundred thousand Office
holders selected for partisan service. In anxiety
to take the most effective Democratic workers
decency was often forgotten, jail-birds and
scoundrels in great number were chosen and
for four months past the whole Civil Service
has been at work unblushingly as Democratic
machine.
Better government was promised but worse
government has resulted. Partlsanship muir
dered Roach by false charges and unfair re-
ports. Demagogism in the Land Office in
suited and plmdered honest settlers. Cab
met officer took stock as gift, and promoted
the company by using all the power of the
Government to enrich it.. Scandals have
abounded of which Controller Durham's is only
the latest. The National Treasury has been
openly used to interest money markets, spec
ulators and banks in partisan victory. The
postal service has become disgracefully unre
Ill l. I L.. L.. l<o-
lated for partisan ends.
The Democratic party promised to prove its
loyalty. 1t has made its rank disloyalty of
spirit as plain as it was when copperhead
leagues and draft riots helped rebel armies
Many thousand men have been picked out for
posts of influence or honor, for no conceivable
reason except their conspicuous service or then
offensiveness as disloyalists. Rebel flags were
ordered to be surrendered. The memory of
Jacob Thompson honored by the Interior
Department A Southern rebel and Northern
copperhead have been placed on the Supreme
Bench. Loyal veterans have been insulted in
many vetoes, and denied pensions from an over
flowing Treasury.
Disloyalty in the past has been rivalled by
defeat of laws to secure honest elections At
the South no citizen of either party expects
fair vote or an honest count. In spite of the
powerful growth of protective sentiment there
Democrats make no effort to influence people
by argument, but rely with absolute confidence
upon the count and the return of votes. AT the
North Democratic. crimes have almost or quite
deprived the people in several States of self
government. The only hope of Democratic
managers now, the only fear of Republicans,
is that fraud in Northern cities may give Grover
Cleveland the power to pardon perpetrators, if
ever convicted
The temperance issue has beer used by Dem
Ocratic managers to draw away votes from the
only party that has sought to restrict the liquor
traffic. At the same time the vetoes of High
License have enlisted the liquor selling interest
in open and organized aid of Democracy
In foreign relations the Administration has
served foreign and disregarded American in
terests. It's Extradition Treaty, contrived to
suit British wishes, its surrender of the rights
Of fishers at the suggestion Of Minister West,
its refusal for years to use powers of retaliation
granted by Congress, and then its palpably in
sincere threat of retaliation, at which Canadians
laughed and which Minister West characterized
as political trick has brought disgrace upon
the country.
President Cleveland pledged himself to favor
the protection Of labor. Instead, he has placed
himself and his party in such an attitude that
every Free Trader, however extreme, here or
in Great Britain, passionately longs for his
election lis message is openly hailed as a
declaration for free trade. The bill he favors
is everywhere supported as the longest step
toward free trade that it was possible at present
to take. The tariff issue has been discussed
until thousands of Democrats seeing that sue
cess of their party involves the overthrow of
the protective policy, have declared for Har-