New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-10
DEMOCRACY AND THE MESSAGE.

President Cleveands message has not thor
oughy pleased his own party. Its great merit
is that. in the main. he stated the case squarely
and truthfully. without regard TO the platform
or the prejudices of many of his supporters.
Men waste their breath who implorc Rcpub
licans to give support to the general tone and
the essential recommendations OF such mes
sage The President plants himself with beth
feet on Republican ground, as respects the pun
pose and nature of the Sherman act, the rca-
sons for repeating the purchasing clause, and
the importance of retaining its other wise pro-
visions Senator Sherman himself could not
have indicated more completely the course OF
the Republicans in adopting this " truce be-
tween advocates of free silver coinage and
those intending to be more conservative"
In spite of its honorable purpose and praise
worthy character the message may nevcrthc-
less retad the cause which the President has
at heart Ii was characteristic but lnludIclol'
for him to repeat the threat of tariff revolu-
ton. Industries are in trouble enough already,
and if the President could net conscentiously
nroposc TO leave them nndisturbed by any
changes of tariff until they had recovered
strength. he might at least have reirained from
increasing apprehension. The same decaia-
ton which tends to hinder restoration OF IN
dustries and trade may tend also TO obstluct
the Presidents policy on the silver question.
For Democrats who have great industries t.
defend NAV feel that long delay of action about
silver will orcn for them the only path OF
safety.
1t was hardly necessary to insist that past
legislation on the silver question. rather than
the fear of free silver coinage, for which the
Presidents part;sans have 80 often voted, IS
the priucipal cause of financial diStruSt. In
thus ion ring the cause second in importance,
the threatened tariff revision being clearly first.
the President has weakened his position with
thousands who are not extreme gold mono
mctallistS, but who nevertheless rcSolutcy OPP
nose free silver coinage by the United States
alone In the last sentence OF the message the
President urgcs that the Government should
" fulfil its pecunay obligations IN money UNI
versally recognized Icy all civilized countries"
Gold only is so recognized. Many who have
bopcd for int irrational agreement regarding
coinage will be rcpclled by the language
chosen. When Mr. Bland says OF the message
that it is plea for a single gold standard
because England maintains it," he does the
Precedent injustice, but nevertheless appeals TO
a prejudice which many Democrats share.
Gratifying as il is 10 Republicans. the Prcsl-
dents truthful characterization OF the present
silver law will be offensive to many OF his po-
lt;ca associates who have been dcnounclng
that act for a year in unmeaSurcd terms and
who aIe even now trying with all their might
TO make it the scarcgoat for all business ills.
H. will not strengthen his hold upon their sym
pathes that he has rcpudatcd the spirit and
even the language Of the National platform of
his party in that particular.
These suggestions bring to light the peculiar
weakness in the Presidents position. He was
elected by and now represents IA party the
majority of which is utterly out of sympathy
with his own financial views. Depending OK
clusivey upon such party, he could not hope
10 do anything good. yet his determination to
lead tariff revolution does not render those
who value protective duties more disposed to
increase his strength.