The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-29

: ton in the face Of his assertions on this point
l II SO. the present political condition furnishe
: it. There could he no phase OF sell seekin
t possible. beyond graspinr for third norninH
ton. except tho desire for u dictatorship or
iifc tenure OF the Presidency. And tho mo
united by "a zeal born Of benefits received an
fostercd by the hope OF fnvors yet to come.
who rallied about him four years ago. ar
pushing on his fortunes now. No man ero
made the Federal patronage so distinctly
personal perquisite. His self seeking is s.
unnatural that It sets aside even the obliRa
ton OF party loyalty. To the Democracy o
this State he owes what fortune he has wei
and what distinction he has achieved. l
made him Sheriff. Mayor. AMI Governor. an,
1t presented him twice to tho Democracy o
| tile nation as its choice for the Presidency: bu
the moment it declared n preference for an
other candidate he flung himself into move
mcnt to discredit. disgrace. and disrupt 1t
Sclf.sccking so gross hardly preserves about
1t the decency OF ordinary human sellshness
CONCLUSIONS AGAINST THE CLAIMANT,
These discussions OF special points lead me
TO certain sot OF general conclusions.
| 1t Is claimed that Mr.. Cleveland should be
| nominated once moro because he Is an availa.
bio candidate; but his defeat in 1888 proved
| that he was not an available candidate thcn.
| anu he has done nothing whatsoever since
beyond making q few labored attempts at
after-dinner spcaking-the oratory OF insin-
| certify and display. He won by a fiuke In 1884
he lost in 1888 and is weaker now than ever
| before. There is NJ reason whatsoever to sup
rose TINT he will win this year single state
that he lost at the last election. and lie will no
doubt lose several close States that he carried
| then. 1t Ia confessed that the Democratic
party can hardly succeed In the nation with
ont winning in New York and with him rs a
candidate the regular Democratic orgnni2a-
ton OF the State will have to be over.
turned and nero faction set In its
plnce. so that victory hero will be out
Of the question. In 1879 he had the Federal
patronage to sustain him and "a horde Of
offlceholders" ready to aid him with money
and trained political service" this year he
has the same horde. discredited by defeat aud
unpopular for their intrigues. In 1888 the
Republicans wern lisheartcned and doubtful:
this year they are full .; old tme hope. cour-
age. and determination. In 1888 the fight on
tariff reform took them somewhat by SURPRISE
this year they are ready at all points. and not
an available argument or plausible soihistry
will be lacking. In 1888 there was surplus
accumulated: this year there is none worth
uuarreling about In 1888 there was IN old
tariff law to attack. whose workings were we'll
uuuelstoou' tniS year tnete Is n new law, Tor
which full trial will be demanded. In 1888 the
Democrats made compact with calamity and
threatened us with disaster: this year the Re-
publicans have national prosperity for their
ally. In 1883 there was weak Democratic
Administration. neutral at home. cowardly
abroad: this year there is n strong Republican
Administration. successful ut nearly all points
save the management OF tho Pension Bureau
and singularly brilliant in its foreign policy
The task OF attempting to vindicate Mr.. Ceve-
land Will be more hopeless than ever.
1t Is claimed that Mr.. Cleveland should lie
renominated because lie represents the move.
ment for tariff reform but in this matter he |
was long laEGard aud never leader. There
are scores OF Democrats more entitled to DO |
identified with that policy and Rbler to ex-
poundit TO make tariff reform depend upon |
his fortunes is TO leopard its success: for the |
man Is by no means so strong In popular favor |,
as the policy. Hc gains votes through 1t and |
it loses votes through him. And granting
that he might win on TINT issue. what guaran-
tee is there that he would carry out tho policy?
He abandoned civil service refOrm ho may
n5andon tariff reform. II he were elected this |
year he might lind it convenient to try neither
issue for 1885. possibly the exclusion OF Euro
pea n immigrants, which has great promise OF
becoming u fashionable political fad. The
worst traitor to tariff reform is tho man who
advocates it simply to help Mr.. Cleveland to q
1t is claimed that Mr.. Cleveland should be
'enominated because he is in some mysteri-
JUS and general way Il Performer" Genuine
eform OF any evil is q desperate and danger
Jus task: and tho real rcformer is commonly
man OF suffering self-sacriEco and unre-
yarded labor. 1t Is fair TO assume that he who
'rospcrs on reform" is n fraud. Mr. C!evc-
and has talked reform" a great deal and
made II the sourcs Of profit and power. but
'hat did he ever reform? lie has the faculty
t taking up Il cause that has been won al
eady and awaiting himself OF il prestige; but
o has neyer originated or even carried ont to |
successful issue any beneticent policy
lis career In important public Offices has
cen fairly tested hy time. and what
re the results Of it? He was Governor
New ork for two years: the commissions
Iat he anpointcl have proved WORTHLESS $ and lao
ut less depression on the state Administers
on than any Of the summer hrce2cs that blow
yer 1t in S84. HIS most notable act the veto }
the Iivc-cent JaIe bill On n rlea that a
iange in tho charter Of corporation by n I
late that granted 1t violates tho United States
and on tho plea that the elevated :,
threads OF tho metropolis could not afford to {
'duce their rate OF fare. was rendered ridicu- !
US during his Presidential term blythe action ,
the ra!oad companies. which reduced the 5
re Of their own accord. Samuel J. Tilden 5
rs Governor OF New ycr! Tort years. and :
, changed tbs whole spiri; and method OF /
ir Htnte Administration. aud left several i'm q
'rtant reforms embodied in the State Consti- !,
tion. 1t might be said almost that the shad- Il
w hand OF his spirit is still on the holm Of 2
o commonwealth. No greater contrast could \
presented between the man who brings
ings to pass and tho man who merely bab-
es about bringing them to pass. Mr. Il
orcland was President Of the Cnitod "
ates for four years. and he did "
thing worthy OF hi, great opportunities. s.
> did not leave an idea or IN achievement. g
hind him. The civil service reform policy !,
which he was elected he betrayed. Tho "
venue policy no advocated at the last e
oment no could not carry out The treaties Il
negotiated were rejected: and the i'm n
rtant measures that ho vetoed became laws "
or his retirement from Office. Tho tax on "