The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-17
The Great Scandal OF Cleve1andism.

Ino GreaC scandal OF SIeEeIAHuISH.
For tho benefit OF Democrats with short
range memories we review on another page
the astonishing history OF the suit which
Mr.. CLEVELAND began. ut the instigntion OF
DR.. ROGERS and in the interest OF the Pan
Electric gang to break the BELL telephone
patents. The story Is long. but we think It
will be read. 1t Is not necessary to be In
sympathy with the BELL company or to
caro- two cents about the prosperity OF that
money-making concern to appreciate the
Significance of this practical illustration Of
the maxim that public Office is q public
trust. 1t Is not necessary to be juris-
consult to understand tho audacious and
pernicious character Of the course which Mr..
CLEVELAND adopted when tho alternative
before him was to confess the scandal and
purge his Administration OF the scamps. or
to shoulder tho scandal and lend his Admin
istration to their detected designs. The
affair stands unparalleled in american his
tory. 1t Is unique. 1t overtops the Credit
Mobiier scandal. In pi"turcsQuencss and in
epic completeness it surpasscs any OF tho
great scandals that marked tho period Of
corruption following tho years OF the civil
war. The Democrat who is not informed as
to the facts elsewhere narrated in connected
and interesting form. is ignorant Of dis
tinctive feature OF the Hon. GROVER CLEvE-
LANDS Administration. ard incompetent
to pass upon the professions OF superior vir-
tue with which that politician accompanies
his modest request for another term in the
White House.
There are certain incidents in tho career
Of Mr.. GROVER CLEVELAND upon which the
promoters Of his ambition prefer not to
dwell. They put their fingers to their lips
and look the other way. They change the
subject. and invite attention to the beauti-
full sentiments which no has expressed from
time to time in his speeches and writings
This Pan-Elcctric episode Is one OF the
things unmentionablo. It Ia one OF the
things to which politencss would hesitate
to refer In Mr.. CLEvEAAED's presence
either at u political banquet or IL
tho greater freedom of unrcstrained socia
intercourse over n brandy bottle anc
two tumb!crs. 1t is for TINT very reason
that we choose this time for reminding
Democrats. sensitive MS to the honor o
their party, OF the circumstances attending
the surrender OF tho Department OF justice
to the telephone spectators and blnckmu!l
ers by a Democratic President seven years
ago next September. Tho question thi
week. OF all weeks. Is not whether courtes,
requires that Mr.. CLEVELAND should b
spared the revival OF a Illuminating recol
lection. but whether he Is to DO taken at hi
own appraisal rs proper custodian OF tn
honor and future OF tho Democracy. tn
party Of honest government.
Is there high-minded Democrat, protec
ZIONIST or free-trader who has forgotten
the burning shame no felt ut the frs
astounding disclosure OF tho relations be
tween officers high In Mr.. CLEvELAND'
Administration and the ridiculous ROGER
and his Pan-Electric crew a shame deepen
ing into disgust and sense Of personal dis
grace when Mr.. CLEVELAND deiboratel,
elected to make tho scandal his own and hi
party's own. Risk no more Pan-Electrict.
In the White House. gentlemen That crisi
was the test OF a character. The way il
which tho crisis was met was a revela
ton OF character worth million pom
derous phases. 1t was like sudden hasl
OF lightning over an unknown landscape
It showed the man. The man who decided
to back ROGERS and to brazen out tn
shame OF the scandal; the man who In
vented new method of prostituting pub
lie Office to private interest: the man VIII,
adopted the plot Of the Pan-Electric con
spirators as the distinguishing feature o
his ADMINISTRATOR policy up to the tim
when he turned to free trade: this Is not tn
man that New York offers to the Democrat
OF the country at Chicago assembling.