Huntsville gazette., 1892-12-31
CLEvELAND's DIFFICULTIES.
Obstacles in the Way OF Perfect Demo.
cratic UDity.


cratic Unity.
The newspapers inform MS that Mr..
Cleveland is greatly worried by the
pressure of democratic politicians, who
are eager to commit him to their par
ticular schemes. He is said to be es-
pecially annoyed by the persistence Of
the anti-snappers in their efforts to ar
ray him against ''the Tammany
crowd" and it is intimated that if the
pressure becomes too severe he may
show his ugly side and break with the
virtuous gentlemen who are undertake
ing to run him in furtherance of their
personal revenges.
1t is not surprising that Mr.. Cleve-
land should resent the effort to control
his action IN these particulars. What
ever may be the fact as TO his campaign
pledges to the Tammany organization
and it is only fair to say that while
on the one hand he is declared to have
entered into positive engagements, it
is, on the other hand, alleged with
equal emphasis that no such pledges
exist-it will obviously be very diff
cult for him to steer between the Scyl-
la and Chary bds of these contending
influences. Then, too, Mr.. Cleveland
realizes more acutely than many of his
advisers the difficulties which will con-
front him and his party upon assuming
control in all branches of the govern
ment. He has already expressed him
self on this point with characteristic
candor. In some remarks at recent
dinner given in his honor, he said:
''When I consider all that we have to
do as party charged with the control
| of the government, | feel that our CAM
| paign, instead of being concluded, is
| but just begun. If we see nothing in
our victory but license to revel in
| partisan spoils we shall fail at every
point. If we merely profess to enter
upon our work. and if we make appar-
ent endeavor to do it a cover for seek
ing partisan advantage, we shall invite
contempt and disgrace"
| In these words Mr.. Cleveland dis
closes the exact difficulties Of the situa-
ton in which he is placed. The great
| body of his followers construe the
party victory merely as an opportunity
to seize the spoils. Many of the lead
ers have no thought whatever, now
that they have acquired power, of car
rying out the pledges made to the peo-
pie on any of the subjects which were
in issue in the recent canvass. On the
other hand, there are some influential
men in the party who are intensely in
earnest in their demand for the over
| throw of the protective system, and
will insist upon attacking it at once
without regard to rhyme or reason.
The presideDt-elect understands this
clearly and distinctly. He sees that it
| will require almost superhuman power
to bring his party to consistent per-
| formance of its engagements, and that,
with the dissensions which already
exist as to some vital questions of pub
| lie policy, no coherent scheme of legis-
| ton can be hoped for. And if the party
| promises are not kept as to the tariff
and the currency, what then?
Then, too, in addition to the trouble
from these questions of policy, peril
looms ominously in the agitation as to
special session of congress. 1t is not
probable that such session would be
convened merely to take up the tariff
and current issues. But the exigencies
of the treasury may compel an extra
| session. The largely increased appro-
| priations of the present democratic
house have 50 exhausted the revenues
| that deficit at the close of the pres
ent fiscal year seems now to be un-
avoidable. Calculations, moreover, as
to the remoter future must be based d
on uncertainty. In the expectation of
reduced tariff, importers of foreign
goods are likely to postpone their
orders just as long as possible in order
to secure the benefit of lower duties
If this course shall be pursued, the
revenues from imports during the next
year may be seriously diminished. If
| in obedience to this emergency, an eX-
ira session shall be convened, can the
more impulsive wing of the party be
restrained from precipitating con-
| fict as to other issues, and SO bring
new perils upon the ruling party?
Mr.. Cleveland's anxiety as to the
| future is certainly justified by the facts
of the situation. He speaks the simple
truth when ne says that the campaign
| of the successful party is only just be-
gun. 1t will prove infinitely more diff
fcult to use wisely the victory achieved
| than it proved, in the peculiar state of
public opinion, to acquire ascendancy
in the government. .-Harper's Weekly.