The herald., 1893-09-15
THE NEW CLEVELAND.
[san rraneisco Examiner. sept. 1s.l


now he has succeeded in alarming and
incensing it; or rather that best portion
OF it which believes in republican
form Of government--the rule of law.
He is no longer the same man who
earned the admiration and confidence ol
the people by the sturdy democracy oi
his first term. Apparently he has
ceased to be q Democrat, and proved
that he is not even Mugwump, by be-
coming Republican. Such disclosures
of his purposes and OF his conception oil
the scope of his official powers as he
has vouchsafed since be reentered the
White House six months ago cause him
at present to stand Tor:
~ The maintenance OF protective
tariff;
(2) The maintenance OF the single
gold standard;
{3) The perpetuation of the spoils
patronage to bribe and coerce congress-
men into obedience to the executive ;
and
(4) Capitalization OF power in the
hands OF the president to an extent that
no other chief magistrate has dared to
attempt.
The Democratic party feels that 1t has
been cheated. Mr.. Cleveland indorsed
its national platform. and as he had
himself created anew the tariff Issue it
was aBsu med as q matter OF course that
he would lead in the work Of reform.
Everybody believed that. The monopo-
list, when CIevelsnd's election was
achieved, expected no mercy. They are
in different frame OF mind now. how
ever. Had Harrison succeeded himself
they could not have been more impudent
and scarcely more hopeful.
Instead of calling an extra session Of
congress Immediately after his inaugur-
alton for revision OF the tariff on DEM
ocratic principles and in accordance
with the Democratic promise, Mr..
Cleveland devoted his whole time to the
relatively tr;fling work OF distributing
the offices. No spokesman of Tammany
could have given more exclusive atten-
ticn to this work than did Mr.. Cleve-
land, who at one time was supposed to
be an enthusiast in the cause of civil
service .as we'll as OF tariff REFORM By
his failure to afford his party an oppor'
tunitp to keepits pledge, he has placed
it in the position>pp to date of being re-
eponsible for the maintenance of the ut
terly indefensible Mckinley taxes. A
party which does not repeal bad law
when it has the power to do 30 is logi-
cally and justly held to blame for it's
existence. Omission in such case is
in its practical effect equivalent to COM
mission.
AS to Mr.. Cleveland's financial views,
it is just to say that no change has oc-
CURED in them. His party was aware
of them when it renominated him, and
go were the people when they cast their
votes for him. Such as disagreed with
those views and yet gave him their suf
irages did so in consideration of his
other supposed virtues.
But as O centralizer and spokesman
Mr.. Cleveland is an astounding instance
of change. His bestowal OF patronage
and use of the threat to withhold 1t, as
means OF bringing cLngressmen to the
support of his policies. have become
perfectly open. His assumption of sn-
preme authority over the legislative
branch OF the government and his ignor-
ing of the judicial arm testify to hls
contempt of the constitution and his
carelessnees OF the obligations of his in
augural oath. Ii the occupant
of the British throne were to
arrogate to herself such imperial
plertirrde OF power, the. throne
would be overturned in day. sfkefe'fs
scarcely any constitutional monarch Of
Europe who would dare to trampie npon
the safeguards Of popular liberty IN like
manner. Mr.. Cleveland's extehsi6nL Of
the presidential prerogative to- thelpoint
OF deciding what laws shall be sex ecuted
and what laws shall be renderedi inoper-
ative would better betit royal Tud9r, or
Stuart than the chief official servant of
9 republic. His refusal to execute the
Geary law, an act OF congress-, the con-
of which has been affirmed
by the supreme court. would result in
his impeachment were the object OF his
conduct not agreeable to the wishes OF
numerous and powerful elements of the
population who would rather have what
they regard as right thing done in an
unlawful way than not to have it done
at all. Liberty is not safe when people
tho government. They, with the
stake principle which is of higher con-
ccqucuCS tuhu tuo qucobiOa VI Ouiucfo
i'm migration, important as that question
is to this whole country. By nullifyingr
q law at his sovereign pleasure, Presi-
dent Cleveland has dealt the American
system blow that never should have
been delivered by Democratic hand
no, not though by its withholding every
brainless pulpit in the land had been
draped III mourning. Fancy what sig
niticance this outrage upon Republican
government would possess had the
country recently emerged from war and
the offense been committed by sue
cessful soldier in the White House. The
Democratic president has set prece-
dent that rot impossibiy may cost the
people war of self-defense sgainst
in time to come.
II Mr.. Cleveland in his desertion OF
tariff reform and civil service reform
were moved by new convictions, and If
mis- seizure OF royal power were due to
the arrogance of bold and dominating
nature, one might retain respect for his
candor or admire his strength Of will,
while deploring it. But his course sug-
gests q yascillatiou and fear OF censure
that are exceedingly diecreditable. He
was eager enough to be known as hostile
to the Chinese when he fathered the
Scott law in 1883. Then he was can
didate for reelection. Now he shrinks
under the whips OF the preschera and
their equally sentimental and Him
formed allies. He violates the spirit OF
civil service reform and is applauded by