New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-05
IN CONGRESS-.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNEJ

people of confidence in and approval of President
Harrison's stewardship Is impossible until the
next election it will do no harm probably to
stimulate public recognition Of the efficiency VIII
which National affairs are now being conducted
10y calling attention to a few of the achievements
of the present Administration, and comparing
them, incidentally, with what its predecessor ac'
complshed in a similar direction. In discussing
this subject The Tribune recently said:
The President did not enter the White House with
voccrods declarations Of his superiority to the rest
Of mankind. lie never pretended that he possessed
monopoly Of civic virtues, and that wisdom would
die with him but, having taken the oath OF once,
he forthwith began the great work OF raising the
standard Of public service demoralized by four years
of Democratic incompetence and pcrversty. 1t was
not a task which could be suddenly accomplished but
there has been relaxation Of effort, and already
striking transformation has been wrought. KnowI
edge and energy and discipline have taken the place
of ignorance and sloth and confusion. and the Ole
spirit OF loyalty to duty has been kinded in every
branch Of the public service. foreign policy which
upholds National honor without turbulence and en-
larges National influence without timidity postal
service which is constantly embracing new territory
and accelerang established communications; naval
administration which is already famous at home ane
abroad Department Of Justice which is alerA
economical and unsmirched by Pan Electric or othcs
scandals and a financial management which Is i'm,
the first fruits Of Republican restoration.
An impartial critic of the Administration here
must and does know that every word Of tho
above is founded on truth. He will also cheer
fully acknowledge that those results are largely
due to the personality of the President his energy,
conscentiousness and determination of purpose,
and TO the wisdom he has displayed in the choice
of his advisers. It was not To be expected, Of
course that the President would escape criticism
in every quarter; especially not in quarters where
disappointed ofice-seekers are won't TO ventilate
their grievances At the same time it will be
conceded that he has forfeited the respect OF ne
one not even Of the bittercst malcontent. Can
as much be said by President Harrison's preds-
cessor?
The general policy Of an Administration must
he found in the records made by the different
departments. These presented, appropriately
classified, further on. IL is desirable. however,
before proceeding thereto TO refer briefly to some
of the more important appointments made oy
President Harrison, inasmuch as upon the men
chosen to execute the law and carry out the plans
of an Administration depends much of its success
Unfortunately for Mr.. Cleveland. and greatly to
the annoyance of his friends doubt, COM
parison between the appointments made Dy
President Harrison and his predecessor
has been invited recently by Democratic and
Mugwump organs The present Administration can
do 10 better than accept such an lnvltauons
which seems to have been extended with rasn-
ness characteristic only OF certain people whe
rush in where angels fear TO tread" By all
means let the comparisons be made.
Compare or contrast, the present Cabinet with
Mr. Clevelands Compare Mr.. Bayard, whose acts
and policy were more than once rpudiated by the
leaders of his own party in Congress, ard often
sharply criticised as well by leading and infuen-
tial Democratic newspapers as BY an overwhelmine
public sentiment-wth Mr. Blaine. Compare NJ
Fairchild. whose free-trade vagaries and financial
mismana cement the hearty disapproval oa
leading members of his own party as well as q
the country. with Mr.. Window and his firm and
consistent policy. Contrast the aristocratic Sn
Endicott. author of the notorious flag order" and
approver of the circular making war on women
and children on account of their political opin-
ions. with General Proctor the practical man OF
affairs whose ears are open TO the cry for justice
from the private soldier as well from the man
of epaulettes and stars. Compare Mr.. Whitney
with General Tracy-the one pursuing an Ameri
can shipbuildcr, discreditng his work ana driv-
ing him into bankruptcy and the grave, The otheS
in good faith accepting the uncompeted Work OF
his predecessor and carrying it to successful COM
pIetion without trying to disparage IL for mera
party's saAc.
Contrast Mr. Garland, who wrote official
decision to order, gravely stating that
contract made in pursuance of law, and tho
conditions OF which had been observed In good
faith was not n contract at all whose Pan-Eleo-
trc spccuatons were intimately interviewer
with the official trans lctions of his department.
as to bring down upon him, as well as upon Mr..
Cleveland the condemnation of honest men, ire
and ,uhoi arIp w
weakened the laws to protect the ballot-box-con-
trast Mr. Garland with his successor. Compare
MIR. Villas, who virtually nullitied the will Of Con-
crcss as expressed in law and Mr. Dickinson, whs
Gemorazed the Postal Service, especially the Rail-
way Mail Service by making it party machine
compare them and their acts with the present
Postmaster General and his acts. Contrast Alx.
Lamar who lowered the Stars and Stripes to
honor the memory of the traitor and con-
spirator, Thompson, who upheld subordinate In
expressing and slandcring thousands OF honest
and innocent settlers upon the public domain, and
VINO strove TO whitewash the Pan-Electrc speou-
lators-contrast him with General Noble. Com
pare Mr. Clevelands choice for Secretary Of Agri-
culture with General Rusk.
President Cleveland appointed one Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court Mr.. Lamar-a man
who maintains that jefferson Davis was not
traitor, man WIN nttle experience as u law
yer and none judge, man whose judicial
temperament was fairly illustrated by violent
and vulgar personal assault committed In a United
States Court when he assumed to be acting a.
counsel for certain Ku-KluX defendants man
who had been political beneficiary OF the Missis-
sippi shotgun plan President Harrison has
appointed one Associate Justice. Mr.. Brewer-e
man of long judicial experience, whose onicial
integrity has never been clOuded by Q breath ~
suspicion, whose private character is unstoosed.
and who is universally conceded TO be in every
respect qualified for his high Office.
President Cleveland filed the Office Of Mnisos
to Mexico by the appointment Of General Henry