New-York tribune., 1891-12-23
MR.. CLEVELANUS IDEALS.

~.
The position of ex-President Cleveland as a
candidate for a second nomination at the hands
of his party, and as the representative leader OF
what was supposed to be up to the late Speaker
ship contest the dominant faction OF the party
lends unusual importance to all his public utter
ances. In his situation it requires something like
what goes by the name of the courage OF ones
convictions to put himself on record in either
written or spoken words ON public occasion.
For the one thought that must be continually
present in his mind as candidate for pubic
favor is that his critics are lying in wait Tor
him at every corner; that he is shadowed and
watched is under constant surveillance, and that
he cannot afford TO relax his vigilance for mo-
ment or let slip word without careful considera-
ton of its possible effect. Then, too, he has to
consider that he is peculiarly situated as to his
special frien1s anu followers. For they are not
the average sort of politicians. The men upon
whom he has to depend for present prominence
and future promotion have put all their eggs
in his basket A great many OF the most active
of them would simply be turned loose with no
where to 90 if he should not be nominated In
1892. He knows, of course, that these men
watch his movements with nervous anxiety lest
he should say or do something that would either
disturb his general popularity or furnish his OPP
ponents inside the party with arguments against
his nomination. In his circumstances it is GER
tainly safer to keep silent than to talk. We
give him credit then for the courage OF his con-
victons when he consents to appear and speak
on such occasions as that OF the New-Ensland
Dinner in Brooklyn Monday evening.
We take pleasure also in commencing the
sentiments to which he gave utteqance In the
Brooklyn speech. His presentation OF the idea
of "a true and distinctive Amercanism" was
earnest and forcible, and appropriate to the oc-
casion. No one will dispute his proposition that
"every transfer of allegiance from another GOV
ernment to our own should signify the taking on
at the same time Of an aggressive and affirmative
devotion to the spirit of American institutions"
nor is it likely that any one will specially or
strenuously object TO the Interpretation Oh true
and distinctive Americansm, which makes it
mean that zone fills place in our citizenship
unworthiy who regards it solely as vantage
ground where no may fill his purse and better
his condition." and I" that our Government is not
suited TO selfish, sordid people, and that in
their hands it is not safe.n These general propo-
sitons are so hattering to our sef-love as
people, and withal hold up SO high an ideal OF
citizenship its meaning, duties and responsible
tiles, thai so far from questioning them We &C
cept them as trlisms. "Its true" we all say,
true as preaching; and,>having said this we
treat it as we do other preaching and other
preachers; that is, having approved the beauti-
full sentiment and applauded the eloquent speaker
who has given us such lofty ideal of citizen
Il. Il oEA At1tx fOrno
to inquire whether, upon the whole, these i'm
pressiye phrases are in the orators mind and
our own anything more than weal-selected words
prettily strung together; whether they have for
him and for us actual force and meaning. From
the simple but sublime altrusm of the Sermon
ON the Mount no human being ever utters a
dissent Only he who breaches it must take the
chances of being asked when he steps out OF the
pulpit to what extent he governs his own con-
duct by it,
Mr.. Cleveland has given US lofty ideal OF
American citizenship. But does he, when he
sits down to the "se self-examination and self
correction which he so. earnestly commends to
others. believe it has ever been attained or with
his views of political methods and practices is
attainable? What does he actually mean when
he says that one fills place in our citizenship
unwmthily who regards it solely as vantage
ground where he may fill his purse and better
his condition.? Or what by saying that the
transfer of allegiance from another Government
to our own should signify the taking on at the
same time of an aggressive and affirmative de-
votiOn to the spirit of American institutions? :?
Does he forget that the party to which he owes
80 much has only been kept alive by accretions
from the classes who transfer their allegiance
from another power simply and solely to fill
their purses and better their conditions? Or
that the men in control of that party in this
town to 90 no further, when he can see for him
self their animating purpose, are so notOritsly
and confessedly using their citizenship and their
politics Z" to fill their purses and better their con-
dition," that to credit them with any other motive
would stir sc0mful mirth in the best of them?
These men are practical politicians, to be sure,
but what is Mr.. Cleveland, when, knowing their
methods, he seeks their aid when, with full
knowledge of their low ideals and degraded
standards of citizenship, he lends himself to the
promotion of their plans? If "our Government
is not suited to a selfish, sOrdid people" as Mr..
Cleveland says, it certainly cannot be suited to
the PEOPLE with whom he chiefly consorts, to
whom he owes so much already, and from whom
he expects so much more.
1t is to be feared that Mr.. Cleveland is mis-
leading himself. He mistakes words for things.
lie neeis to dvest his mind of can't.