The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-15
Mr.. CLEVHLAND TALKS,
In an Interview he Attempts to
Defend his Administration,
A BID FOR DENOMINATION
In lsOa-He Does Not Think his TaFlG
Policy Caused his Dowumn-IIc
Worked Hard aud Got Little
Thanks, so he Says,

Thanks, so he Says,
BALTIMORE, Feb. l4,-The Sun To-
morrow will publish the following spe
Clal dispatch from Washington, giving 4
review Of President Cleyeland's admin,
lstratioR based upon conversations with
the President; Less than three weeks
Of President Cleveland's four years oc,
Cupancy Of the White House remain,
and the record OF his administration ia
politically made up,
The keynote OF Mr.. CIeveland's policy
from the beginning, has been the deter
mination to give the people q practical,
business.like administration, irrespec.
tive OF personal considerations. Noone,
who has talked with Mr.. Cleveland,
who has observed the perfect Candor
and openness OF his language on this
point, and has watched the animated
play OF his features when discussing 1t,
as the writer has done, eau fail to be
convinced OF the oarnestness and sin.
Cerity Of his purpose, his high sense OF
public duty, aud his, devotion to the best
interests OF the people,
In conversation with the writer to-day
he remarked with feeling that his after.
noon receptions or handshakes, as he calls
them, were the pleasantest incidents OF
his official life.
The close OF Mr.. Oleyelnnl's adminis-
trahon finds him as busy, and perhaps
even buster than when he was inducted
into office, He works as hard as
any department clerk, because he
is not Content to take things
for granted, but insists upon informing
himself rs TO every question he Is called
upon to decide. The pressure OF official
and social duties throughout the day, is
so great that he Is seldom able to address
himself to tho documentary work
and correspondence, which is accum.
ulating upon bis desk during
almost every hour, until 0 o'clock al
night, and lie is seldom able to retire be.
fore . or 3o'CloCk in tho morning. Much
OF the time is consumed unnecessarily
by the want OF consideration displayed
by Congressman in introducing persons
who merely call to pay this respects.
Notwithstanding his patience under
these exaCtiOns and the fact that almost
his entire time during the day has been
given up to the public, the President
has been criticised for being "exclu.
sive."
"There has not been a time" said the
President on this point, "when / have
not been willing and anxious to talk
with members Of Congress and leading
men in the party" "Itmay be because
! am awkward at IT," he said to-day,
"that / have to work SO hard"
1t may be stated that the President is
thoroughly satisfied with the practical
outcome OF his administration, and itsei-
feet on the fortunes OF tho Democratic
party. He Is very earnest In predicting
a great future for Democracy, and in as.
serting his unqualified devotion to the
party. at Is a grand party" said he
"and was never in better shape than It'll
at present, and 1t has a glorious future
before II"
The President is MS firm now as he
ever was, in the opinion that tariff re-
form is the great living issue for the De.
mocraCy. He does not tolerate the idea
that the Democrats was beaten on the
tariff issue last fall.
"Had certain conditions been elimi.
mated from the campaign" he says, I'VE
would have won decisive victory"
So far as he is individually concerned
he has no regrets at laying down his
trust. He thinks the defeat OF the De.
moCracy is to be deplored, because OF
the injury resulting to the public inter
ests, but personally, he experiences q
profound sense OF relief at tho prospect
Of a speedy release from the ordeal TO
which he has been exposed during the
past four years.
1t is an open secret that hc accepted
the Democratic nomination last summer
with genuine reluctance, and after earn.
est efforts to escape it. His supposed
political aspirations for the future do
not exist. There is no rivalry on his
part between himself and anybody else.
"l am in no ones way" lie said; ~
shall DO delighted to be relieved OF the
cares Of tho Presidency On the 4th Of
March next, on purely personal grounds,
there will DO no happier man in the
United States"
With reference to the civil service
system, he Is us firm and decided as In
his views on the tariff question. He
believes that civil service reform has
come 10 stay.
The President recognizes fully the feel.
Ing OF the great mass OF Democratic
Office seekers, who expected place
and recognition and dSappolnt-
ment and irritation, which resulted
from his inability to satisfy
them, is matter Of deep regret to him
that he could not do SO, but he had a
higher public duty to periorm-the pur.
ilCation and elevation OF the public ser.
vice, and the elimination from party
politics as far as possible Of the degrading
use OF patronage" aud evil, which had
grown TO gigantic proportions and was
steadily increasing,
The President Is especially gratihed at
the effect Of his administration on the
prosperity and happiness Of the Southern
people, both black and white. He be.
IieVcs In making no distinction between
HHy VI tLlu btGtluhni uAh ho uouoIhtup
strongly the revival OF animosities, which
were supposed to be dead and buried.
lip sppAks In terms Of grateful appre.
citation OF tho hearty and united support
accorded him by tho members Of his
cabinet. Tho administration, II nustb be
conceded, will 60 down In history %
unique, lii the fact that all lis members
have pulled together from beginning 10
end,
In view Of the jobbery and schemipg
that pormeated every department OF the
public service under former regimes,
and which seemed 10 have become d
permanent feature Of official life In
Washington, no moro honorable epltaph
could be applied TO tho administration
now drawing 10 a close than the Gin.
phalic declaration OF the President 10
The writer, "We have nothing 10 hide"
Tho Yorktown Success.
WASHINGTON, d. Gu Feb, i4.--A tOlo.
gram was received at the Navy Depart
1