St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-10
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS ON
CLEVELAND.

Mr.. ADAMS contributes to the current
issue of the Forum an article in which
he gives the reasons which move him.
federalism. himself Republican at the
birth of that party. a soldier of the war,
TO give his vote this year toward the
election of GROVER CLEVELAND. He
has been asked this question by his fell
low partisanS, and because he believes
that he is one of numerous class who
are moved by like considerations, lie
makes answer. AS he represents Re-
publicans not confined to Massachu-
sets, but who are also to be found in
numbers in Minnesota, his statement OF
the motives which impel him will inter
est also those readers of the GLOBE in
and out of his party who agree with
him. He attaches little Importance to
the mere triumph of any party. His
own party, he thinks, is, as WILLIAM
Nj. EvARTs said during CIR ANTS Sec
ond administration, like an army
the term of enlistme mt of which
had expired" He regards it more a
question OF the character of the candi-
dates than one of the principles either
party advocates. Not calling himself a
Democrat. he advocates the election of
the Democratic candidate, ''simply be-
cause that candidate is ex-President
CLEVELAND" He regards the issues
of the canvass as the p rotective. policy;
the ''disestablishment of the spells sys-
tenn" the currency question, and the
pension system. On these issues he
finds Mr.. CLEVELAND, who, in his for
mer term, confronted them all. open,
frank and courageous in his opinions.
He met them boldly, without shu filing
or evasion. Every man knows where
he stands. upon the issue Of re-
formed civil service he showed himself
as much in advance of both parties as it
was wise or prudent for the recognized
leader of one of the parties to be. He
may not have been probably was not
Oh the skirmish line; but then, a gen.
eral in command is not in his proper
place on the skirmish line"
Mr.. CLEvELAND'S course on the iSsuel
of protection was most creditable to
him. ut may be questioned if any
president, in dealing with an importan
public question, ever acted fro m Il
higher or more disinterested motive
than did CLEVELAND when he took the
course he did in his annual message of
1887" After he had convinced him
self that the tariff system needed modi-
tication, he did not hesitate to cast al
Interior considerations aside aud boldly
indicate his opinion" His course
showed character and courage. and the
Anglo-SaXon race has always eyinced a
proclivity for men of character and
courage"
On the pension issue MIR. ADAMS
speaks with the plainness which his
four years service in the army entities
him to. He feels a sense of humilia
toni may almost say of degradation
in seeing the uniform we once wore
turned into mendicant's garb. and the
garb Of very impudent and persistent
mendicant at that" He has seen 'every
dead beat and malingerer. every bum
mer, bounty-jumper and suspected de-
serter we had ever known Or heard 0 f
rush to the front as a greedy claimant
of public bounty" Son the other hand,
those good and faithful soldiers who, in
the day of trial. had been found in the
front rank in the presence Of the enem y
those men had, since the flags were
furled away, developed, as rule, the
same characteristics as citizens which
distinguished them as soldiers; self-re-
specting and self-sustaining. they were
reluctant to trade on the patriotism of
their younger days as on beggar's
claim" To the old soldiers of this
class the veto of the dependent
pension bill by CLEVELAND came as Il
relief. But Mr.. CLEVELAND paid the
penalty of his act in the virulent hatred
and opposition of the pension agents
who worked for and won his defeat.
The Republicans redeemed their prom
ises. 1.-The protected interests swarmed
to Washington, and in due time the Nc
KINLEY bill was reported and passed.
In it the demands of every producer, so
far as appears. were gratified. On the
other hand. the horde of claim agents
ran riot in the pension Office under
Corporal JOE" TANNER until the
treasury which President CLEVELAND
left only too full babe fair to be empty.
The treasury was looted"
Because of the attitude taken by
President CLEVELAND on all these CUES.
tons, and because of that taken. by the
Republican party and President HAIR
RISoN, Mr.. ADAMS and those Republi.
cans who think with him are willing
"to be accounted Democrats" and 1--WE
certainly propose to vote next Noyem-
Der as SUCH"