The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-02-23
Grover Cleveland and Democracy

He has turned about and addressed
the American people who have poti-
fed him that they have had enough
of him, telling them that they have
made a grevious error, and that he
ought to have been reelected. This
interview, which is a semi.official
message to the eOuntrY--a rtofvale.
dictory is one of the gravest and
most serious brays in modern history.
At the same time we are glad. on
general principles, that Mr.. Ueye.
land retires in a happy frame af
mind. He has not been an ideal, or
even an average President, and all of
us, including even the Democratic
Sun, are glad that he is leaving US,
There is no reason why our 10y sha,lld
be tempered by the vain reSfssy&
the defeated, even 'if thoselrIrfts
should be caused by the Pr6fdents
recognition of his failure
No one who has workd so hard
over the routine duties @ his office
could possibly be an ACCEPTABLE Pres
ident. Mr.. Cleveland )ut it out of
his power to properly perform his
larger duties by looking too closely
after details which sh)uld have been
left to the charge of clerks. He struck
the true explanation of the necessity
for his to lsome four years when he
said to the reporter of the Sun: ut
may be because I am awkward at it
that I have u work so hard" He
was awkward at it because he had
not been framed in national affairs.
and his four years. career as Presi.
dent demonstrates that no man, how
ever generally intelligent he may be,
can cope successfully with the larger
classes of questions which present
themselves to the President. His
tariff policy is an indication of Mr..
Cleveland's lack of special fitness for
the Office which he has held for four
years without giving satisfaction to
anybody. He started with the theory
that free trade is Democratic prin-
ciple, and that he ought to be free
trader. But he did not know how to
be until he was instructed in the art
by Mr.. Carlisle, and then he burst
upon his astonished countrymen with
all the zeal of new convert.
But Mr.. Cleveland is satisfied with
his performances, notwithstanding
the labor to which his awkwasIeess
has put him, and he believes that at
some time. even if not Immediately
his Acknowledged will appreci-
ate him at his own valuation. He
still thinks that his conduct of the
civil service has been in the direc.
ton of reform and has strengthened
the competitive system. He sneers
little at the idealists among whom,
four years ago, he was the chief. He
is sure that he has steered cleyerly
between the impractical theorists and
the spoilsmen. In word, he Is as
inaccurate and as wrong.headed as
he can be, as the Civil Service Re-
formers will doubtless inform him
when they meet in convention In the
city in which the valedictory ap.
pears. With all his zeal for Civil
Service Reform, and in despite of
Gov. Hills success. Mr.. Cleveland
still clings 70 adly to the Democratic
party, and says that it is a grand
party. party that has accomplished
much and will accomplish more
whenever the people give it another
chance. He points to its present
sOlidity in favor of free trade as ev.
idence of the grandeur of its princi.
pie and of its sincerity. a solidity
which a wise minority. we fancy,
would be very happy to dissolve.
Nevertheless he is right in saying
that the Democratic party must here
after stand for what he calls tariff
reform, but which people who be.
lieve in calling things by their right
names call free trade. The party Us
been forced into its proper placs-At
Mr.. Cleveland's own obstinacy, and
represents something at last. 1t may
be wrong, but it is better to be sci.
tied than to drift, and it is better to
be honest than double faced,
1t is strange, in the face of this
bOastfui interview, this self.gratu.
latory yaledictory. that. in the very
issue in which it appears. one of the
leading organs of the party published
in this city should declare that "Mr.
Cleyeland's administration has arriy.
ed at the very eve of its demise, and
the general sentiment Of the Democ.
racy is one of relief and thankful.
ness" So great are differences Of
opinion on such subject. Mr..
Cleveland loves the Democratic
party because he has made it like
him. and yet the Democratic party