The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-10
ADAMS ON CLEVELAND.
WHAT CLEvELAyD STANDS FOR.
HIS Sound and Brave Position on tn . Tsrfn
the Currency, Civil Service Re-
form and Pensions.
[Philadelphia Telegraph

'narles Francis Adams Is typical Dlassa-
chusetts Mugwump. By inheritance and as
ISOLATION he is a Republican. His great
grandfather. John Adams, representative
federalist. was the second President OF the
United States. His grandfather, John Quincy
Adams. was elected the sixth President over
Jackson. His father. Charles Francis Adams,
leading Republican in the early days of tho
party. represented the United States at the
British Court throughout the war between the
States. The younger Adams. who was gradu-
ated from Harvard in 1856 and cast his frst
vote for Fremont, entered the military service
at the outbreak of the war and became
brigadier-general Of volunteers. serving with
distinction throughout the struggle. Alter
the war he devoted himself mainly TO railway
interests. being one OF the railroad commis-
sioners of Massachusetts,. and IN 1881 being
elected president Of the Union Pacific.
Throughout this time be has taken lively
interest and occasionally an active part IN
pohtics. and his known ability and lndepend-
enee of character give special value TO an artl-
Gle by him in the Forum for July entitled
What Mr.. Cleveland Stands For"
The question Mr.. Adams proposes TO an
swer is why many like himself. who have
ceased 10 call themselves Republicans but
yet do not CALI themselves Democrats. now
come forward aud earnestly advocate the
election 10 the presidency of the candidate OF
tho Democratic party. His answer IS We do
so simply because TINT candidate IS ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland"
THE IssUKs OF THE CANVASS.
What are the political issues of the impend-
ing canvass? Some Of them are DID, as old
rs the National Government. and likely long
TO continue: others are new and OF passing
character These issues. new and old. may
be enumerated somewhat as follows /. The
economic and commercial system, common
~ known as protective, based upon the
idea that it is the business of government
artihcially 10 foster. or even call into exist
ence. various branches of industry. 2. The
publication and reform of the civil service
or. as Mr.. Carl Schurz once tersely expressed
IL. the dIsestablshment OF the spolls sys-
tenn" the system which the Jacksonian De-
mOcracy introduced. 3. What IS known as
the currency question" now taxing the
form Il a demand for the free coinage OF Sill
yer at the national mint at an artificial ratio
with gold. 4. The pension system.
What is the attitude OF Mr. Cleveland so far
"a these issues are concerned2 He has been
called upon officially TO confront them all.
! aud on 10 occasion. 80 far as know. has he
| failed to make his position understood or 10
! give the party Of which he was the head
| distinct. recognized and creditable lead. He
| has not shuffied or vacillated; his voice at
| loast has. upon these issues emitted no uu-
certain sound. In this respect the line Of
! responsible public action he has pursued has
| been in most agreeable contrast with that
usually pursued By politicians. not only OF
the present but of all time. In high public
/ position he has stood forth a clean-cut polti-
cal chs-acter-a man with the courage of his
convictions.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
Take his course on the question of civil
| service reform that one of the issues emu
merated in regard TO which his record may
seem to be most open to attack. Under The
/ lead Of Grover Cleveland the Democratic
party came back into power In 1885 after
twenty light years of exclusion from it. 1t is
| no exaggeratiOn % say that those calling
themselves Democrats were then simply
| ravenOus for spoils. No more severe pressure
for a general turning ont of officials and r
new distribution OF places was probably ever
| brought to bear upon the head of a govern
| meDt than was brought TO bear upon Presl-
| dent Cleveland. | have not the figures be-
! fore me, nor do care to look them up. but
| think Il will be found that the removals dur
ing President Clevelands administration
were fewer in number and less dictated by
| partisan or political considerations than those
| OF President Harrison. VINO succeeded him.
Ye. President Harrison represented party
which, when Cleveland was inaugurated, had
| been In power for over quarter or
century. filling every Office IN
the git of the Government, and many OF
these officials had held over Notwithstanding
the change which took place IN 1850. Presl-
dent Harrison also represented the party
which claims to be aud which should be
| essentially the party of civil service re-
| FORM Yet so far as the use OF party
power for political purposes IS CONCERNED,
| the admin tration OF Grover Cleveland VIII
have little TO fear from comparison OF IT'S
| .lof -
| may we'll be that in this matter there - little
| to choose as between the politicians OF the
two great parties. but IN view OF the record
| IL cannot but be conceded that Mr.. Cleyeiand
| In the trying position in which ne was placed.
| acquitted himself as creditablv as any man
could have been expected to DO. pon the
| issue OF a reformed civil service ne showed
| himself as much in advance OF both parties
as II was wise OF prudent fOr the recognized
leader OF one OF those parties to be. he may
not have been-pr badly he was not-on the
| eklrmish line: but then general IN command
ID not in bis proper place on the sAirinish me-
THE TARIFF ISSUE.
On the next issue, that OF protection. whe-
ther the critic be protectionlst or otherwise
| he must still admit that President Cleveland S
| course WAS most credltable TO him. Indeed
il NAV well be questioned whether any Presi-
dent in dealing with an important question
| OF public policy ever acted from higher or
more disinterested motives than did
| Cleveland when no took the course be
did in his annual message of 1891 Before
that message was sent IN 1t was generally
conceded that all the President had y
DO 10 secure reelection was silently to bde
the time. The course Of events aud the drit'
Of pu1lic opinion were IN his favor. Inc
terrible results his opponents had so conn
IDENTIFY predicted from return OF the Demo
cratic party to power had not come ABOUT lht
country was at peace and very prosperous
the South was pacifed and loyal; the 1rea
sury was overlooking. All things indicated
popular confidence in the administration
and unwilingness TO disturb il. Neyerthe
less, when President Cleveland. aite
the most thorough and careful IN
vestigation he could make. had con
yinced himself that the tariff system needed
modification. he did not hesitate TO cast al
further Interior considerations aside and boldly
to indicate his opinion. IL is OF no sort OF con
sequence whether bis so doing was goos
politics " as il is called, or " bad politics. l
is no sort Of consequence whether. as ques
ton Of party strategy. 1t was success or
failure: il is no sort Of consequence whethe
by doing AS he then did President Cleveland
showed skll as political leader or commit
ted a serious political blunder. his course non
the less showed character and courage an'
the Anglo-Saxon race has always eylnced
proclivity for men of character and courage
Ii was the same with the question OF sii
yer coinage. That issue was and 10 unmls
takably before the country and mas got 70 %
fought ont Ii was unnecessary for er-fresi
dent Cleveland as he then was, 10 express IL