The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-12-10
The Presidents Omission.

The Baltimore .Stn, commenting on the
omissions of President Harrison in his
message to Congress, presents some facts
not at all creditable to the Presidents can
dor. The message was to the people as
well as to congress, and should have given
full information upon the subjects treated,
instead ofpartial and misleading statement.
The President seemed more intent upon
lecturing the people for not continuing
himself and party in power and in recount
ing the glories of his own Administration,
than in discharging his constitutional duty.
After aluding to several omissions by
the President the SIN says:
Another curious omission is suggested by
the glowing eulogies which the President
bestows upon two of his cabinet officers. 10
his former and, perhaps, future law partner,
Attorney General Miller, he gives what would
be regarded in any profession and in any part
Of the country a first rate business advertise
ment.' He omits to explain the Attorney
General dismal failures 10 enforce the anti
failure, to institute any of the prosecutions
under the civil-service law and regulations
specially recommended by the ciyl-service
commissioners.
His panegyrc upon Secretary Tracy, with
all due recognition and respect for the real
services of that official, is spoiled by the omis
sion to give one word ofcredit to Mr. Cleve-
land $ administration or 10 Secretary Tracy 5
predecessor, Mr.. Whitney, for any Of the
results which have been realized since Mr..
Harrison has been in office. "When the
present Secretary entered upon his duties,
says the message, 'only Three modern steel
vessels were in commission. The vessels since
put in commission and to be put in commits
sion during the winter will make total of
nineteen during his administration OF this
department. During the current year ten
war vessels and three navy tugs have been
launched, and during the four years twenty
five vessels will have been launched And
in the same generous spirit in which he eX-
presses the hope that the tariff legislation OF
the next administration will not send the
country straight to the ''demniton bow
- ows.n Mr.. Harrison concludes bis references
to the new navy by saying 81 earnestly
express the hope that work which has made
such noble progress may not nor be stayed.
One would suppse that President Cleveland
and Secretary Ohitney had never existed,
and that all good works began, as they must
necessarily end, with President Harrison.
The fact, which the message omitS to mention,
is that of the nineteen vessels launched dur
ing Mr.. Tracy administration SereRtecn were
authorized while Mr. Cleveland was President
and Mr. Whitney was Secretary. Here are
their names: TeraS, Maine, Monterey, Nem
York, Newayk, San Francisco, Olympia,
Cincinnati, Rdicigh, DetroH, Montgomery,
Mn,Jlehead, ColumJid, Concord. bennington,
Machias, CdstiRe, BdncroH and Gushing
all but two authorized during Mr.. Whitney's
term. one. the NeJrdrk, during Secretary
Chandeliers term. and only Que during the
term of Nr. Tracy. Of the nineteen ships
launched up to date Mr.. Tracy has commits
stoned fce-the Neioark, .Sa, Francisco,
Coacord, BENNINGTON and Cushing. To Mr..
Whitneys. that is, to Mr.. Clevelands, admin
istration also belongs the credit for the
Baltimore authorized August 3, 1886, Phit-
heIDhia, March 3, 1887, and the TeSuriHS,
August 3, 1886, to say nothing of the appro-
prtiations required to complete the Terror,
fmphityffe, WjdRf0ROmoh, M0RddnOck, and
Puritan. According to an editorial summary
in the New York Times, during Mr.. Cleve-
land s administration There were authorized,
built or completed ttrenty-eigM warships,
aud during the present administration nine.
SO much for the comparison which Mr.. Har-
rison's wllfu omission TO do justice even to
the work of preceding Democratic admins
tration invites.