New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-08
THE PRESIDENTS TASK

Ont of all the confusion e ouinions and tbe
fog of theories which besct he existing DO
litical situation one thing clear 70 the
common mind, and that is that Serythine de-
pends upon the ability of Preside Cleveland
| to control the Congress that was cActed npon
the same platform with himself. aT is SUD
posed to have the same views of finace that
he has heretofore expressed. What aretbeyp
lie will make them known to-day. That's to
say, he ought to make them known. FOl he
has called Congress together in extraordinary
session with the avOwed purpose of taking som
action TO remedy the financial difficulties which
beset us, and il is only reasonable to suppose
that he has some remedy to suggest. The
remedy he will propose has been in some meas
IRE discounted 1t is the repeal of the silver
purchasing clause of the act of 1890. Both he
and the party which elected him are committed
to that action by the terms Of the resolution
on that subject adopted by the Chicago Con
vention 1t is clear and explicit 1t admits Of
no qualification. The terms of the resolution
of the Chicago Convention on the subject OF
the Silver Purchase act are absolute and pre-
else. They demand the repeal Of the silver
purchase provision. The question now is. not
whether the party that made this promise will
redeem it. but whether the fgurehead Of the
party has influence enough with his followers
to compel them to decent regard for the obi
cations they have incurred.
The burden of proof for the honesty of the
Democratic party rests at this moment upon
President Cleveland. lie has 60 verify its
promises and make good its contracts. BY
r
his proclamation and by all his utterances on
the question which compels the attention of
the country, he has signfied not only his as
sent to the doctrines and principles laid down
in the platform of his party, but his confidence
as well in his ability either to compel or per-
suade the Congress behind him to Formulate in
law what he believes to be the true financial
policy of the country. Can he do it? What
eX-President Harrison said Of his having team
of wild horses to drive may be dismissed by
his friends as "A partisan expression but any
one who looks over the situation at Washing
ton this morning will recognize its truth and
it's force. For no President within the memor,
of man has ever called into extraordinary sos
sion Congress ncminally of his own party
whose views were SO widely divergent from his
OWL. Leaving dsiuc 'hc 'diii question, upon
the one issue which has been made by crcum-
stances most prominent before the country the
President cannot calculate upon the support
of the majority of his party. Confessedly he
has to use the Government patronage and to
avail himself Of the support of political op-
ponents to succeed in the polio, which he has
set out to maintain. Can he do it,
Mr. Cleveland is undoubtedly great man.
lie has had an extraordinary career lie has
been the leader of his party to degree that
none of his predecessors-nOt even jefferson or
Jackson-cvcr approached. For he has in con-
spicuous instances led-nay, even drven-his
party against its will and contrary to its pur-
poses. No Democrat was ever such an auto
crat as he. lie has in all the years in which
he has been prominent been the master Of his