The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-02-15
THE APPOINTMENT OF eREsHAM.
A New and More Glcrious Evoiuticu OF
Democratic Politics.

Gresham as Secretary OF State is q political
conception ~ great and refreshing originality.
from which will como consequences OF far
reaching and permanent importance in the
evolution and development OF American poll
tics. To my mind 1t Ia evidont that In taking
this extraordinary step Mr.. Cleveland IL adj
vnncing to ;hc accomplishment Of n com plete
political Transformation according to u plan
which is vol matured In his mind.
BY choosing Judge Gresham for the chief
plncc In his Cabinet. the rremiership. us IL has
como to be called so inconsistently. Mr.. Cleve-
land tnkcs from the Republican marty one OF
Its greatest lenders. u man who has been con-
e%picuous In its councils throughout the whole
history Of war and peace. No Republican can
depreciatc Gen. Gresham or question his po-
litical integrity without casting reproach on
the Republican party which honored him and
confldcl In him 40 long and so signally. IIc
has been not only n Republican. but n stalwart
Republican. whose stcadfastness was tested by
the supreme proof OF advocacy Of u third term
for Gen. Grant. 1t Is perhaps not too much to say
that nextto Mr.. Blaine he has been of recent
years the foremost man In the Republican
party. anil. moreover. lie has represented its
moro radical wing, while the greater liberalism
OF Mr.. Blaine was u principal cnuse Of That IL
lustrious statesman's defent in 1884 at the
hands of the Republican clements OF
which Gen. Gresham's unfinching support
OF the third term movement hnd made
him the fitting aud sympathetic exponent.
In 1898 Gen. Gresham was appointed Post
ma~ster-Gcnera ~ President Arthur. and in
September. 1881. Just on tho eve Of Mr.. Cleve-
lands first election as President. he Was ap-
pointed Secretary Of the Treasury. really tho
first place In the Cabinet. so far as power and
Importance 20. to succeed Judge FolGer. who
had been beaten 80 disastrously by Mr.. Cleve-
and in tbn nlapftrn -. - ~ W.T.
In 1881. and who had died n few weeks before
Gen. Greshnm'S appointment.
Thus. ut the time whom Mr.. Cleveland's name
was altogether unknown in Federal politics,
Gen. Gresham WAS already n veteran ltepubli-
can lender OF national fame. and OF the stall
wart variety. esteemed by President Ar
thur. In December. 1884. after Mr.. Glove
lands election over Mr.. Blaine. President Ar
thur gave him n permanent place rs United
States Circuit Judge for the seventh circuit.
thus confirming his strict Republican ortho.
doxy on the very eve OF Democratic ascend
ancy ut Washington. A judicial appointment
is usually regarded us shelving n man politi-
cally; but such WAS not the case with Judge
Gresham. Though on the United States bench
he remained a chief factor in Republican
politics up to tho time OF tho nomination Of
President Harrison last year for a second term.
and his selection rs tho Republican candidate
for the Presidency was not only possible but
even probable. 1t was certainly q distinction
toward which Jndoe Grosh.m ,ootod to,vard
with ro,son,blo 80 ma un,r..tin,.h a.
sirc. Ho MIGHT have hner NJ, ,7Ia..,.,d,.
comnetitor In 1898 mud even In 1909 Mr.
CleyeInnd's choice ~ him ma Sacret,rv -
STINT. is nccordingIr eruiy,lont irtr,nsino,iv
TO the nnpointm ami If n Jefentad .dversarv ~
the contest for tho Presidency.
Therein consists the oririnalitv of Mr. r1ev..
lands course. by reason of which tho onno,nt.
ment Of Judge Gresham fink as on the character
OF a new departure in politics. from which. TO
my thinking. the most i'm nortant and the most
valuable results will come: for IN r%ecitino
these facts o, tho p~olitIcnl history ~
Judge Gresham I have no purnose Of ~nnttinc
them forward MS suggestive OF his p~oliticnl in
eligibility for the plnca. 1t seems to ma rather
that in the pres.nt condition NJ nolittca tbov
constitute his highest recommendation for
so exalted an Office in Mr.. Cleyeland,s Cabi-
net. and for a Mace which brings him 20 mar
as an adyiser of the Democratic President
Afurther and a very strong recommendation
is the favor with which Judge Gresham Is re-.
garded by the Populist party. so that at one
time his nomination by it for tho Presidency
was probable. It is evident that Mr.. Cleveland
rightly interprots the political o~verturn OF last
November as not merely a triumph OF the
Democratic party. but more significantly as
the beginning OF u new err in our politics
In which he has the opportunity to
win lasting distinction and deserve the
popular honor and gratitude by lifting notifies
to q height to which narrow purtisanship alone
can never attain. He ia asking ma to mount
with him to an elevation where tbe %nolitical
atm osphere will be purer and more elevatinp
He means to be the embodiment and the con.
seryator of the hest and most natriotic aenti.
ment OF the Union without regard TO no~rt,san
birotrv. His amLition is to rive N. nom. -,
. ' '"o nn"o y.
the democracy to the highest. broadcast. most
liberal and most enlightened political conyic-
tion ami asniration Of tho neonle whotaver
may have been their partisan ant.eedents.
toke it. too. that in tho appointment of
Judge uresnam nc VIII give an lhdication OF
tho consistent policy he is to pursue as to the
ali - mnort.nt a,,hounh - ,h.
III ,ihpor'ah'' a.houen hno" that as con-
Quoted by its ~fanatical advocates 1t has been
ridiculed, and Justly ridiculed, by The SUN.