New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-14
NO LONGER A MUGWUMP.
PRESIDENT ELIOT DROPS THE NEEDLESS
MASK OF HIS DEMOCRACY.
HIS VIEWS AS FREE-TRADER-coNDEMN
THE ATTITUDE OF THE INDEPENDENTS
OPINION ON PENSIONS.
(Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TBIBUsEI
Boston, Oct. 13-The Democratic poww0w under
the auspices OF the Bay State Club on Saturday
evening was made significant and interesting by
the presence Of President ElloS of Harvard University
This not Mr.. Eots first love feast in the Demo-
cratic circle, but he has hitherto posed as Mug
wump, and has usually taken position rather more
exalted than the one he now occupies Now he
drops the mask and announces himself a fulhedged
Democrat His speech on Saturday night Will be a
pretty good Republican campaign document. He
says thai Mugwumpery has excuse for existence
81 think that conscientious citizen should choose
between the two great parties Of the country, and
should habiually act with that which best pro-
notes the principles which he holds. The position
Of a man who hangs between the two and votes
now with party and now with the other seems to
me very unsatisfactory, unless it is avowedly tenn
poray and PROVISIONAL
President Eliot is equally candid on the question
of the tariff and forgets, like the leaders OF his
new-found party, to any ambiguous sentence TO
cover up his real opinion. He said:
IN the first place, though brought up first Whig.
then Republican, and almost a Protectionist, came
believe that the Protectonst principle IS false and
delusve and that the industries of the United states
crippled and their natural development prevented
by the heavy taxes maintained under tho name OF
protection The protective duties sOcaled. protect
capital perhaps, but not labor, and believe that this
protection. The protective duties, so-cslled, protect
in the long run. Now, between the Republican policy
as regards the National taxes and the Democratic
policy there is clear choice the two parties beng
sharply divided upon this subject, and every man
who holds my opinion with regard to protective taxes
must in good conscience Join the Democratic party"
Doctor Eliot became amusing when he treated on
the Civil Service reform question and applauded Pres
dent Cleveands efforts In this direction. He says ::
" believe that the reform Of the Civil Service IS a
vital issue In the country that the perpetuation Of
free institutions depends upon that reform; for no
Government endure the public, unreproved appca-
ton of the total Of all the Government salaries
as a bribery and corruption fuhd. This is precisely
what the spolls system means. On the complete
destruction OF that system depends, as believe the
permanency and success OF our free institutions Have
We not seen the single Democratic Administration of
the twenty years past tho best of all Anne lean Al
minstrations during that period in this respect! No
intelligent will place any reliance upon the
professions of party when its public performances
necessarily contradict them We must rely upon the
public acts of the men who represent the respective
parties'
President Eliot takes advanced ground on the
pension question, and puts even Tanner in the back
ground of phanthropsts, and Is so far ahead OF MS
newly acquired pol tical associates as to cause them
to listen to his doctrine with amazement
Il am firm believer I'm the justice and expectancy
Of pension system paraeulariy unuer % @ repnoGaa ta
Institutions, where public othce should be open alike
to the poor and to the rich. believe in pensions
not only for soldiers and sailors but judges. teachers
fremcn, policemen and all public servants
who have deserved well Of the country,
and hold it to be a hlde0us
wrong inflicted upon the Republic that the pension
system Instituted for the benefit Of the soldiers and
sailors of the Unite dstates has been prostituted and
degraded by the whole series of Republican Admin
istrations. As things are, gentlemen, one cannot
tell whether pensiOner of the United STATES was
brave soldier or sailor or a cowaTty deserter. one
.cannot tell whether rensloner OF the United States
received honorable wound In the Dat-
tle or contracted chronic catarrh
twenty years after the close of the war One cannot
tell whether a pensioner OF the United stateS
Is disabled soldier sailor per1uTed pauper who
has foisted himself upon the public treasury Gentle
men. II had other motive for changing my party,
would do everything in my power. by word and act TO
the chance 10 vote again for Grover Cleveland for
President because he bravey did what he could TO
the pension system of country 10 the honora
BILE respect of its soldiers and its citizens"