The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-12

| orato interview with Hon. "o"o' " !,
Of this city. in which the Judge goes over a"u
sums nm and cnforces tho Arguments as"'n''
Tho Democratic party nominating MI oie'o-
I'D wo shall. as fully as may be done WITH
in tho limits of a newspaper "uc'e' no''''
the points that the Judge makes
Irdco Staples frankly admits Mr. Cieve-
,.nds ronularity with the masses. but he
arrues that it is not always safest 10 hoiiiin"'o
tho man who is the most popular menioei ..
the party. instancing Henry Clay VINO couiu
,ovor secure an election. Notwithstanding MS
overwhelming popularity in his party. In our
oninion the Judges argument wholly iaiis NJ
this point IL seems TO us that II IL DO con-
coded that Mr. Cleveland is the most popular
IN his marty of all living Democrats, the dis
cussion should end at that point. Ihat Is
inst tho man whom we are secS-
inc Nor does the supposed analogy
betwcon the cases of Mr.. Cleveland ana MI.
Clay exist. Mr. Clay was three times voted
for for the Office of President. in lo2i' lo5Zanu
| lsil but he can hardly be called the can
didate of his party except upon the last occa-
sion and then special reasons for his defeat
existed The present form OF party nomna-
tions had not been adopted in 1924. and was
only coming into vogue in 1892. In 1924 MI
Clay was put in nomination by the Legisls-
tnro of kentucky. and voted for all over
tho Union by such persons as thought
him best suited for the Office. In
this election he was ono Of four candidates
Jackson. Adams Crawford and Clay and the
l. Lo could
cure plurality amongst 80 many popular
men, though be might possibly have beaten
any one In 1882 he was put IN nomination
nv a convention that assembled in Baltimore
styling itself a convention OF National Re
publicansn lie was defeated IN the election
by the overwhelming popularity Of General
Jackson with the people. No living man
could have beaten Andrew Jackson at that
time before the American people. In 1871 he
was the regular nominee Of the Wing Con-
vention. but was beaten because he opposed
the annexation Of Texes. and no man on
earth could have Leeu elected President OF the
United States in 1s41 who opposed that. a
Rebel" bragadier with Confederate flag IN
his hand had rs well try now 10 De elected
Governor Of Massachusetts.
There IS. therefore, absolutely no analogy
between the cases of Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Cleve-
land. If It be insisted that Mr.. Clay was
party nominee in 1882. then 1t is enough 10 say
that General Jacksons popularity was bound
10 beat him or any other man in that election.
and in the election Of 1844 any man whatever
was foreordained to defeat who opposed the
=. 81
popular idol like Andrew Jackson to oppose
Mr.. Cleveland Hecomes nearer being himself
the popular idol than any other living man. Be-
sides. Mr. Clay was a Wing. not Democrat,
and it was not on tho programme that the
Wings should rule this country in Dir. Clay's
time.
Judge Staples has brought forward several
considerations which may mean only that
MIR. Cleveland thereby hurt himself in the
election Of 1883. or they may mean
that he hurt himself then. and as
causes of injury to him they will con-
tinue TO injure in November next. For
instance, he says that he hurt himself in 1888
by failing to turn Republicans out Of Office;
that he hurt himself by showing a want of
In his estimation a man of merit
who had done nothing for the cause had
equal claim to any Office in his gift with the
man who had done everything is the Judges
language. and that he hurt himself by precipi-
tating his tariff message upon the country.
Now. so far as these matters pertain to the
election of 1858. they are no better than last
years BIRDS nests. That is ended and done.
How are they likely to affect the election OF
1892 is the material question.
1t is useless for US to discuss the matter OF
removal of Republicans from Office. The
whole question of civil service reform is in
voved in that and there are the most honest.
earnest and serious differences of opinion
upon that subject in all classes and parties.
1t is enough for Mr.. Cleveland and his friends
to say that he found the civil service act Of
Congress upon the statute book when he
came into office; that lie swore to maintain
that along with all the other laws of the
United States, and that he upheld and main
tanned it according to its letter and spirit as
best lie knew how. If it was a crime for him
to respect his oath and this act Of Congress,
then he will have TO take the cOnse. uences OF
his crime
In respect TO the next count in Judge
Staples indictment he will find that many
persons differ with him. He will find that
many persons who are in favor of party
fealty absolutely repudiate the proposition
to carry it to the length which he suggests
We insist that there are many cases in which
members of party most deserving of ap-
pointment to Office are persons who have been
wholly unknown to the active contests OF
politics. For instance. in appointing Judge
we insist that the lawyer who has confined
his whole life TO the study and
practice of his profession is far TO be pre-
ferred t. the partisan who has spent
his life on the stump in the contests of the
political arena. In appointing foreign min
lister the student who has devoted his life 10
Vatte and Adam Smith is greatly to be pre-
ferred to the noisy demagogue who has most
necessarily harangued the public concerning
our rights in Behrins sea, of which he knows
absolutely nothing. The list which the Judge
suggests will not do. The people do not want
President who subordinates every consider
alton to activity in politics. If this is to be
ba law IL.