New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-05
PRESIDENT CLETEEANUS INAUGURAL

PRESIDENT CLETEIANUS INAUGC RAL
If President Cleveland is the capable and
strong man the Nation especially needs at this
emergency, his private judgment OF his in
augural address will be more severely critical
than that of any opponent. lie must then
realize that its strength is not of the satisfy
ing kind and must kecnly depore the condl-
tons which have prevented Il more definite
disclosure of his policy. His address on this
occasion must be excused if it deals much in
gcncIatics. Yet he must have realized that
an emergency calls for something more. With
q sincere desire to find in his inaugural all that
Americans can heartily support, TIE TRIBUNE
cannot avoid the feeling that it fails to give
the business and the labor OF the Nation light
which is sorey needed.
| The inaugural is strong statement OF prln-
cirlcs which the President thinks should gov
ern the action of his party. Well he knows
the need Of emphasizing the pledges which he
wished observed, and he deserves honor for
declaring that nothing is more vital than n
sound and stable currency. and that the danger
| of depreciation in wages paid for toll should
net be deemed remote because Of the Nation :
strength and resources. Not even these. he
urges, will permit us to defy with impunity the
incxorable laws Of finance and trade, and 1t Is
gratifying that he promises to exert all powers
| LosseSScd by the Executive to maintain Il sound
| currency. But there is net even hint OF the
means by which he hopes to avoid dangers
which the business world only too clearly rccoG-
nizes What he can do, if anything. whether
he will call an extra session. or for what action,
he does not suggest. Not n word appears about
free coinage. or State banking, or the RISKS OF
continued purchase Of silver. Most anXlouSy
the business world has waited for the policy
of the new Administration, but there is not the
slightest disclosure.
Not less anxiouSly the business world has
waited TO know what kind Of changes in the
tariff will be favored. With great Emphasis
the President states his belief that necessities
CT revenue alone justify taxation. and reminds
the party which he frankly calls "my party"
of its pledge in most positive terms to accom-
plish tariff reform lie goes a step further,
and declares that changes should be made with
out vndictvencss not for punishment, but
for rcctification of wrongs" Yet there is not
line or a word which casts distinct light On
The question whether the President means to
uprOJt all protection. without regard To the
great sums invested in manufactures and the
livelihood Of millions depending upon them.
Whether he will propose pccemcal reform or
complete reconstruction Oh new principles.
blow at one industry after another or exposure
of all alike to new competition, he does not
suggest The millions who know that their
future depends on the policy of his party have
only the warning that its principles must i'll the
end expose them to unrestricted competition.
With similar strong generalicS, and the
same avoidance of particulars. the President
speaks of combinations to limit production and
fix prices, denouncing them in language which
all will approve but which might also be used
by President Mcleod or the chiefs Of the Sugar
Trust His declaration of war against boun-
ties and subsidies d3ubtlcSs means repeal OF
the sugar bounty and destruction Of the new
ocean mail service; and when he speaks Of
"Wd and reckless pension expenditures" vet
Grams will feel that his spin! is scarcely favor
able 70 them but By what process or how far
he intends to push these ideas remains 10 be
seen. lie denounccS in warm and praiScworthy
words wastofu appropriations, but the present
Democratic Congress docs not think Itself
wasteful in approprating more money than any
other Congress- The horde OF OiIice-sc
who want "rcwards for partisan activity" will
hardly abandon Washington in despair because
Of his earnest approval Of civil service reform.
1t is an inaugural full Of promise. If the
President works faithfully up to the lines he
has marked, he will deserve honor as a brave
and conscientious man. even though the trial
of Free Trade results in disaster. But the
peculiar circumstances Of the time called for
more definite information about the methods
to be adopted to save the country from serious
dangers, and about the nature and extent OF
the industrial revolution to be expected; and
it is misfortune for the country as for the
President himself that he was not able to give
such information in more definite form.