The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-08
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER S, 1890.
GROVER CLEVELAND.

Grover Cleveland has the satisfaction oil
Knowing that the American people have
again endorsed the principle oftarif reform
of which be is the greatest and aDiest OK
moment. The success Of that principle has
directed the eyes Of the country TO him as
the possible Democratic President IN lo'2.
This is gratifying TO THE TIMES, which has
never cayered in its belief that, however
unpopular Cleveland may be personally, lie
is the man who best represents
stern unbending honesty and integrity in the
Democratic administration Of the Govern
ment for the people. Apparently he, en-
gagged in a lucrative law practiye, is both
ering himself very little about 1892. But
those In the Democratic party or not in IT.
who fear and hate him on account oil ms
honesty and power, are very much woI-
ried. His enemies in the Demo |
cratic party are constantly bringing the
charge against him that his position
upon civil sevice reform and tariff reform
is responsible for the defeat Of the Demo
critic party in 1883. Such charges cannot
be substantiated by facts. The civil service
reform act, fathered by Democratic sena-
tor. Pendleton, Of Ohio, was passed by Con-
gress in 1882. IL was response TO the p0pu-
lar demand, which could not fail 10 innu-
ence either party. Before that time
Grover Cleyeland's position was well
known, as on october 7, 1882, in hi
letter accepting the nomination for Gov
ernor of New York, he wrote "Public OIL
GERS are the servants and agents OF the
people 10 execute laws which the people
have made" From that time until to-day
his course in dealing with civil service re-
form has been consistent and honest, and
ON the line enunciated in his letter to the
Senate during that famous struggle of 1886.
"Neither the discomfort Of party friends
nor the allurements constantly offered
of combinations of appointees, condl-
tional upon the avowal that suspensions
have been made on party grounds alone,
nor the threat proposed in the resolutions
now before the Senate that no combinations
will be made until the demands OF that
BODY be complied with are sufficient TO dis
courage or deter me from following IN the
way which am convinced leads TO better
government for the people" 1t was his
well-known and consistent record upon this
reform which compelled Cleyeland's nomi-
nation in 1881 upon platform in which
1.-the Democracy pledges itself TO purify
the administration from corruption" And
in carrying out this promise Cleveland act
ed merely upon the platform of his party,
which had given that party success in 1884
Though such policy did not please some
of the rank and many of the file of his par,
4" platform which reafiirmed that Of
the preceding campaign. In 1884 De
mOcracy had said: "All taxation shall
be limited to the requirements Of ecc-
nOmical government. The necessary reduc
tiOn IN taxation can and must be effected
without depriying American labor of the
ability TO compete successfully with foreign
labor, and without imposing lower rates Of
duty than will be ample to cover any in
creased cost of production which may
exert in consequence Of the higher rate of
wages prevailing in this country. Sufficient
revenue to pay all the expenses Of the Fed
eral Government, ec0n0mi cally admins
tered, including pensions, interest and prin-
cipal Of the public debt, can be got under
our present system Of taxation, from custom
house taxes on fewer imported articles,
bearing heaviest on articles of luxury, and
bearing lightest on articles of necessity"
This was iterated in 1888, and with the
battle-cry Of the leader, unnecessary tax
alton is unjust taxation" Democracy en-
tered upon its contest. That Cleveland had
not mistaken the popular demand was
proved by the fact that he received 96,65S
more votes than Harrison, an increase OF
81 1850 votes over his plurality Of 1884. That
he was not elected may best be explained by
Waramaker, Quay and Dudley, and some
others. The vote in New York, where the
votes for Harrison, 650.33S, and the
vote for Hill, CSC, AGA, were within 126 of each
other, and where Hills majority was 49,
sis, and .Harrison's 1887. is, TO say
the least, rather suspicious. But
the electoral vote Of Indiana and
Illinois would have been given
10 Cleveland had 1t not been for the fraud
and corruption practiced upon voters. Had
II not been for Quay, the collector, Wanna
maker, aud others, contributors. and Dud
ley, the distributor, it would not have re-
quired the vote Of New York 10 elect Cleye-
land.
These few facts, carefully considered,
should silence talk Of Cleyeland's unpopu-
larity as a representative Of Democracy in
the past.
AS to the campaign of1s92, all conjectures
would be rash. The only thing certain, and
for this the people of the country devoutly
thank God. is that New York city will not
control II. Here are some of the indica-
tons: Connecticut gains two Democratic
Congressman, Illinos seven, Indiana one
Iowa five, Kansas five, Massachusetts,
five, Michigan four, Minnesota four,
Nebraska three, New Hampshire
ten, Ohio nine, Pennsylvania six, and
Wisconsin five. These Congressional gains
are due to the acceptance by the people of
Cieveland's cry, Unnecessary taxation is |
unjust taxation" They mean that the
North will be practically nullity in the |
Presidential contest of 1892, and that the
West and South will be united. New
York being ruled out as an impor-
taut factor. Hill is also removed, as the talk |
OF his nomination was merely question of
political expediency, and the people will
look 10 the man who combines in remark
able manner the breadth OF the statesman
with the skill and sagacity of the politician.
Another fact must be borne IN mind. james
G. Blaine was the only man of prominence
in the Radical party who succeeded at all
Ia feeling the popular pulse ON
the tariff, which Grover Cleveland noted I
70 distinctly three years ago. This means
that the Radical party, II IL has an organi-
zauon at all in 1892, will probably be obliged
20 take up Blaine again Ms a Presidential