The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-03-19
From Harpers Weekly
The First Year of the Adm niss
tratiOn.


The first year of the adm nistration does not
et d amid the enthusl asm of the successful party
Undoubtedly the party is at heart diss pointed
The year has not recovered for it any of its old |
and it will hardly be asserted that |
thus far the administration has dwBrfed its |
predecessor in public estimation There were
two points upon wni general attention was
hen the campaign ended in Re
publican success-protection and civil service
reform The platform declarations were un-
mistak able upon both questions. and the Presi-
dent was equally explicit Yet the important
fact of the year in regard to protection is the
demand of New England Republicans for great
er freedom of raw mat rials, and in regard to
reform the significant fact is the reported re-
mark of the Assistant Postmaster 6 General,
rem ark in enti accord with his official action:
II have changed 81 600 out of .55, ,OO1 fourth
class postmasJers and expect to change 10000
more before finally quit 1 expect before The
end ef The month to see five-sixths of the Pres
idel tial postmasters changed. Then can par
aphrase old SIMEON. and say. Let thy servant
depart in peace ;"
This is probably the most s'ornful and true
ulent violation oil a solemn engagement with
the country that party through one of Its ex-
ecutive officers ever made Perhaps Senator
HoAR would say that the clean sweep of post
Offices has nothing to do with civil service re
form and shat those who allege the contrary
are the cri iminally foolish friends of reform who
do the cause more mischief than its worst enc
mics Ifthe course of the Assistant Postmaster
General has received any emphatic rebuke in
Congress, or from any large and influential
portion the party press. the fact has escaped
our careful attention. The civil service law
has been. so far as is known, honestly observed
But the declarations of the platform and the
pledges of the President went far beyond that.
The same law was as honestly enforced, and the
scope of the classified service was largely ex-
tended under Democl attic control. and in view
of the facts the first year of the administration
has enectually disposed of the Republican claim
to be distinctively the reform party Besides
these significant facts. the opening of the Con
gress elected with the President has been sig
nalized by the adoption of a code of rules which
reversing the uniform practice of a century.
destroys the fair rights of the minority So Tar
as the new rules secure the House against wan
ton obstruction by flibustering, they are ap-
proved undoubtedly by ali good citizens But
in denying the minority the right to hold the
majority to an Affirmative expression OF their
responsibility. they outrage fair play and wise
precedent. The two chief incidents IN our
foreign relations are the Samoan and Iii gllsh
treaties, the latter OF which is an admirable
enlargement of the list of exLradItable offences
but the former is at variance with our tradl-
tionsl policy.
Whine the party action during the year has
not deepened public conf 1ence or respect, and
has not been conformed TO the best Republican
tradition. the situation has not been improved
by the personal impression OF the President up
on the country. The personality of Mr. LEvE-
LAND was the real strength OF his administra
tion. His party had been long distrusted But
his integrity and his force of character had az
marked an influence upon his party as upon the
country at large. However strong might be
difference of opinion with his views and policy
there were few men of any party who did moi
agree that he filed adequately and impressively
the Presidential office. This consciousness was
of immense service in bringing to his support
those who held many of his views. but who could
not trust his party. n Massachusetts, it led to
reorganization of his party under new leader
ship. and his personal force has made him il
reti ement the most conspicuous American cit
izen and the chief representative of polite l.
progress and reform. This kind of personality
Is wholly wanting in the President. AS hi;
predecessor constantly grew in public estima
tion it would hardly be denied by candid he
pubIicans that the President constantly shrinks
Mr.. CLEVELAND was stongly opposed by a con
siderable bod of his party, but he was sustained
with the utmost pride and enthusiasm by anoth
-sr portion -Rut what group of Republicans i.
enthusiast C for the President, or feels that hi
is iu himself bulwark. of his party? Wha
Independent voter. intent upon honest politics
turns to him as ieaderf Indeed it is with
certain painful sympathy that one contemplate
the office and the incumbent as the first year o
the admins ration ends.