The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-12-03
MoRGANTowN, VIRGINIA, SATURDAY. DECEMBER


For Principles, not Spoiis.
Mr.. Cleveland's public utterances
seem to gain in weight and wisdom
as they improve in sententiousness.
His two latest speeches are among
the briefest that he has ever. made,
and yet it would be difficult to find
two speeches by any public man Of
this age or generation more pregnant
with solid thought, more suggestive
Of wise counsel. They we're naturally
brief because they were dinner-table
speeches, made in response to the
kind greetings and Fluctuations Of
personal political friends. But not
even the festive character of the &C.
casion or the convivial surroundings
could divert Mr.. Cleveland from that
grave and serious habit Of mind born
Of deep sense Of great responsible
ties and the conscientious desire to
discharge them Alright, which seems
to distinguish him prominently
from most public men of the day.
At Mr.. Wizards table on Thurs
day night, in comparatively small
asssnblags Of personal and political
friends, to whose warm welcome he
was called upon to respond, and
again on Saturday night, at the more
public reception given him by the
Manhattan Club, there we're COM
pressed in the few felicitious seaten-
ces uttered by Mr.. Cleveland on each
occasion world Of Political wisdom
and whole code of political moral
ity. Discarding distinctly and en-
phatically the doctrine Of the politi
cal spoilsmen and place-huaters, that
a change of parties means solely or
even chiefly change Of Office held
ers, "a new DEAL" as it is called, Mr..
Cleveland said to MI. Wizards guests,
off we see nothing in our victory but
license to revel in partisan spoils,
we shall fail at every point; if we
merely profess to enter upon our
work, and if we make apparent en-
deavor to do it, as cover for seek
ing partisan advantage, we shall in
vito contempt and disgrace"
At the Manhattan Club Mr.. Cleve-
land enlarged upon his text of the
evening before, and said: "The Amer
lean people have become politically
more thoughtful and more watchful
than they were ten years ago. They
are considering now vastly more than
they were then political principles
and party policies in distinction from
party manipulation and the distri-
button Of rewards for partisan seryi-
ces and activities. In the present
mood Of the people neither the demo
cratic party nor any other party can
gain and keep tho support Of ma
jority of our voters by merely prom
ising or distributing personal spoils
and fayors arising from partisan SUI
prcmacy."
These were wiAs and timely words
for the great democratic leader to
speak in the very moment and on a
public occasion of partisan jubila-
ton and exultation, and in the pres
eHce, perhaps, of some WHO might be
more inclined to associate the idea Of
democratic victory with new divis-
ion Of the spoils and fresh opportu-
mites for loot and plumber than with
the Introduction of economical re-
fsrms, the practice Of frugality and
retrenchment in expenditures, and
the enforcement Of . rigid official re-
responsibility. II Mr.. Cleveland can
not succeed in converting to his way
of thinking and raising to his own
high standard Of duty and RESPONSE
bility the msb of selfish and mercen-
AIRY politicians who always flock to
the front and seek to monopolize pub
lie attention, after presidential cleo.
tion has been fought and won, at
least he has given them timely warn
ing that his ambition is higher one
than to be nero purveyor of Offices
for hungry democrats. There are
party pledges to be kept, great re-
forms to be inauguratcd and prose
cuted, and while Mr. Cleveland will
doubtless know how to invoke and
secure the assistance and support in
every department Of the government
of men in sympathy with his own
high purposes and with the pledges
Of the party, it will be upon the con
dition, as he himself expresses it, of
'stern labor" and Of "the utmost
good faith in the redemption of those
pledges by giving the people wise
policies and honest government"
| Ia the same spirit in which the
President elsct views the nom sntous
task which he sees awaiting him,
when he shall resume the dutiea OF
the high office to which he has again
been chosen, every sincere and
thoughtful democrat should learn to
regard the political situation which
confronts the party. 1t is possible
so wisely to shape and order the pol
| icy Of the government that for years
to come, az for whole generation
before the war, the country shall
grow and prosper, and peace and
contentment prevail under democrat
ic ruls. 1t is possible SO to neglect
sad nismanags the opportunities
which the present situation offers ~
to CAUSE 4 great reaction against the