New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-11
HIS SECOND SCBRENDER.


The same trouble is Just now brooding over
Mr.. Cleveland that made the last days OF his
Administration unhappy. Between 1854 and
1888 he had devoted himself to counting Mug
wump favor, and had turned his back in the
most positive and offensive way on the lead
ers of his own party. 1t was not until about
the time of his denomination that 1t began 10
dawn on him that his coddling of the Mug
wumps and tOploftical treatment OF the party
workers had alenated the men whose support
he most needed in the campaign, while bring
ing him nothing in return but the sweetened
wind of small contingent OF pompouS per-
sons. who strutted round as best thinkers and
leaders of public opinion. When he saw the
true situation he began to hedge. The crowd
that had been clamoring for offices, but mad
been put off with civil-service reform excuses,
got hearing The barriers were thrown down.
and, to the horror of the Mugwumps, the Offices
were distributed upon the old plan of spolls
TO the yictors. 1t was too late to remedy the
mistake already made. The Mugwumps were
disguised, and the old leaders and political
workers were not won. SO that at the close
of Mr. Cleveland's Administration the cloud
rested on it of having thrown overheard all It's
professions in favor Of civil-servlce reform
without profting at all by the transaction. The
leaders did not trust him. Being defeated, he
fell again into the embraces OF the Mugwumps
and for the last four years has turned his back
on the leaders and workers.
And now il appears that he is about. TO re-
peat the experiment of 1883, and undertake
TO conciliate the men who hate him and whom
he despises. There is no patronage in hand to
be divided, but there are lots OF Federal Offices
in the distance which Democratic success VIII
nut at his disposal He knows very we'll
knows it better now than ever beioIe-that
Messrs Murphy and Sheehan and Croker and
the rest are not so mady IN love with
him. or so ardcntly devoted to the principles
or the cause he represents, as to roll up
their sleeves and go to work for his cleo
ton unless they have some positive assurances
concerning the distribution Of patronage in the
event of his success. For these gentlemen
make politics a business, and It is business with
them all the time. Nothing is more notorious
than that the Democratic canvass has Jagged
and the whole party in the State has been list
less and apathetic simply because the Tammany
Leaf ers had not come to an understanding with
Mr.. Cleveland as to the distribution of the
Offices. III HAS DecH Soiu ~ 'O'''N
ones that there would have to be a definite
arrangement not merely verbal promise but
a written contract. with Mr. Cleveland on this
subject before the Tammany organization would
exert itself effectively in his behalf. But it is
dangerous to put such things in writing and
there is no doubt that the dinner given by Mr.
Cleveland to leading Democrats the other night
was Device suggested perhaps by Mr.. Whit
ney, to avoid this difficulty.
There have been no disclosures as yet OF
what took place at this consultation, but one
thing is certain that the dinner meant bust
ness. and that the business was to reach an
understanding by which Tammany Hall, in CON
sideration of the Federal patronage, is to take
hold and whoop up the Presidential ticket
When Mr.. Cleveland sent out his invitations
to the Tammany leaders it was surrender on
his part to the machine Talk as he may about
his aversion to machine methods he knows
they are necessary to his success, and If he
should be elected it will be, as 1.-THE sun
saws, "because he represents the methods of
Senator Hill, Mr.. Murphy, Mr.. Croker and the
Democracy of the State OF New York. 1t IS
his second surrender to the machine Whether
clinched by written documents or not has not
vet appeared 1t might as well be, for the
conviction that bargain was made amounts,
with or without written proofs, to certainty
in the public mind. And this, we take it,
eliminates the civil-service plank from the
Chicago platform.