New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-15
A PLEA FOR CLEVELAND.
HE MAKES IT HIMSELF AND IT SHOULD
BE SATISFACTORY.
DENYING THAT HE WAS EXCLUS1vE-coN.
GRATULAT1NG THE DEMOCRACY on ITS
HOPEFUL oUTLooK-No ESCAPE FROM
TARIFF REFoRM-CIvIL SERVICE
AND THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
AND THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.

]
giving review Of President Cloveland's Admnlstra-
lion based upon conversations with tho President
Less than three weeks of President Ceveland's
luur years occupancy Of the White House remain,
ana the record OF his Administration is practical
made up review Of the salient features Of the
Administration. OF what It has accomplished and
sought to accomplish. and OF the difficulties with which
" has had to contend IS therefore, appropriate at
this time and not without value to the country at
large.
The keynote Of Mr.. Clevcands policy from the
beginning has been the determination to give the
people practical business-like Administration, IT.
respective Of personal considerations No one who
has talked with Mr. Cleveland who has observed tho
perfect candOr and openness Of his language on this
point, and has watched the animated play Of his
features when discussing IT, as the writer has done,
fail 10 be convinced of the caIncstncss and sin
certy Of his purpose, his high sense Of public duty
and his devotion TO the best interests of the people
There IS probably no American IN public life who
has deeper, more genuine sympathy with the
people, and there has never been
President moro accessible, one who surrendered
much Of his time to crafty the natural curiosity
and interest Of the bone and snew Of the land in
their Chief Executive, than has Mr. Cleveland In
conversation with the writer to-day he remarked with
feeling that his afternoon receptions, or handshakes"
IS he calls them, the plcasantest Incidents OF
his Official life. He derives a genuine enjoyment
from meeting people who come from every section
/
favor 10 ask, but merely for the sake OF exchanging
pleasant word or two with the President
WORKS AS HARD AS A CLERK.
The close Of Mr.. Clcvcands Administration finds
him as busy and perhaps even buslcr than when he
was inducted into Office There IS now mass OF
work before him which will tax even his robust ener.
giles 10 dispose Of before Inauguration day He works
as hard as any Department clerk because he IS not
content 10 take things for granted but insists upon
informing himself to every question he Is called
upon to'declde. The pressure Of official and social
duties throughout the day IS so great that he Is sell
dom able TO address himself to the documentary work
and cores pondence which is accumulatng upon his
desk almost every hour until o'clock at night, and
he IS seldom able 10 retro before or o'clock in the
| morning. He is in his Office again by haltpast
! o In the morning, and from 10 to IS
| busy receiving members Of Congress and their
| constituents. Much Of the tm/ IS consumed un-
necessarily by the want Of consd 'lon displayed oy
Congacssmen I'm introducing persons who merely call
! to pay their respects. The afternoon receptions were
set apart for this class Of visitors but 1t often happens
that an influential constituent bobs up at the Capitol
| and the member from "vayback' or some other
district wishing impress his importance or influence
upon so valuable supporter or 10 tickle the latters
vanity, says:
@oh come along; III take you up to see the Pres
idento and does so during the hours set apart for
official business The President never complained
If this incons!dcrate treatment, but he was greatly
cratihed and impressed by the conduct of the LATE
Representative Burnes Of Missouri, who always pro
scnted bis constituents, who merely wished to see
the President, at tie public receptions
Notwithstanding his patience under these eNaotohs'
and the fact that almost hs entire time during the day
hes been given up to the public the President has been
criticised for being exclusive and the complaint has
becn frce!v made that he would not give the representa-
tive men OF his party the opportunity OF consulting
freely with him.
.T The-e has never been a timo,7 said the President
on this point, when l have not been willing ana
anxious to talk with members Of Congress and leading
men I'm the party
II f. known TO his friends that the President feels
acutov the charge that he has held aloof from men
| whose character and position emitted their oph.ouS
to weight and has been disposed to take the DiV Dc
tween his teeth and act on his own rtSpohSioIS' i0
has all along be animated by nigh ana serious
sense Of his duty to the people, ana thls ha' oion
prompted him to a course Of action In opposih0o 10
ttc wishes or opigions Of personal fri II IS the
secret too of his laborious devotion to matters oil
routine lie expresses himself very modestly on the
latter poInt and shows no disposition whatever TO
exploit his Industry. ,,
at may be because am awkward at IT, nc Sa'u
TODAY lngcnuously. that have to work SO hard
7, NAV he stated that the President IS thoroughly
sa,,.eed with the practical outcome OF his AdminStra
ton and ifs effect on the fortunes of the Democratic
marty He IS very earnest in predicting great
future for Democracy and in asserting his unqualified
dcv oton 10 the party.
IT IS a grand party" said he. and was never In
better shape than IS at present "hen we cohSler
the condition It was in before the Tariff issue was
! formulated the want Of nnanimity. the wide diver
rence Of views on many points and the hearty. united
srpport It gave NE during the campaign VINO can
doubt that its status has been improved and that It
has glorious future before IT,
The President is as firm now as he ever was ln
the onnion that tariff reform is the great living issue
! for tho Ucmocracy He regards II issue in
arnonv with the spirit and traditions Of the part3
| and ono involving enormous benefits 10 the people
lie believes that, sooner or later inc toihE masses
| will be thoroughly reused 10 an indignant perception
Of the burdens un!ustly imposed upon them By the
tariff laws and OF the fact that the taxing power
Of the Nation is being rcckessy used Tor the beneh
| NJ a favored few lie does tolerate the idea that
the Democracy was beaten on the taHh issue last
| fau.
Had certain conditions been eliminated from tho
campaign he says, we would nave WI" o'''s''0
| victory
80 far As he IS individually concerned he has no
rorros I'm !e,in, down his trust He thinks tho de-
feat Of the Democracy IS TO be depored because OF the
injury resulting 10 the public Interests but personally
he experiences profound sense OF rcIei az ,He ptos
poet Of speedy release from the oHeal 10 "hch h'ldS
been eyposed during the past four years Inc strain
and rugged virility could have Withs'oou It,
THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN WISH AND DUTY.
One Of the most trying features Of his position
has boen that IN the discharge Of his official duties
he has been called upon frequently to offend per-
sons whose friendship and good opinion he valued
Mr. Ceveland's sympathes ars warm ana easily
reused The lnsen,Jiii;y Of which he mas 50 o''h
been accused IS a supposed trait OF chaI ac'er "nou
a.. 40 ,.,tst.,ce lie has often hrs.tatcd between his
pcrsonal nclna,ions aud his sense Of what was eA-
acted Of him by the dignity Of his pos"on
tho interests OF the public and his oa'n op
Office He has had to fight for the right a' a'Hios'
every step OF his official progress ana ne Is pa'uias
tired Of the nuous aad tear Oh the oocs''
I, s an omen secret that he accepted the Democratic
nomination last summer with genuine reluctance ana
after earnest efforts evads H. His snppo'eu po'''
ca ASPIRATIONS for the future do not exist lneio d
no rivalry Oh his part between himself ana ahSOous
else.