The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-21
A Suggestion to President Cleveland.

The address OF President CLEVELAND at
the centenary OF the Capitol was marked
by the sound moral reflections which dis
tinguish his public utterances generally.
On all such occasions he proclaims pure and
elevated principles for the government Of
the course and conduct OF tho servants Of
z the republic.
Such sentiments are honorable in Mr..
CLEVELAND. They show that he has an ex-
allied conception of public duty. for mani
testify they are the expression OF genuine
feeling. The question arises. however.
whether by their constant and emphatic
repetition. by making them the weightiest
burden OF all his public utterances. Mr..
CLEVELAND does not unwittingly produce
on the world the impression. and suggest
the implication. that this republic Is
peculiarly deficient in reverence for
such principles and in obedience to them.
II. for example. he should be frequently
called upon to address the Chamber Of Com
merce In speech and in writing. and always
the theme of his remarks should be the duty
ofhonest and fair dealing on the part OF men
OF business. and the righteousness Of cheat
ing. would not the inference be drawn that
the foremost merchants of New York were
In special need Of such instruction and adj
rnonition?
When. therefore, Mr.. CLEVELAND devoted
his address at the Capitol centenary to the
solemn and warning exposition Of ele-
mentary principles Of political morality.
universally recognized as essential. might
not the inference be drawn by foreign
critics that both public opinion and the
sense Of duty In the representatives OF the
people were signally and dcplorably de-
graded in this republic? If these repre-
sentatives and the people who send them
to Washington do not obey and honor those
principles, the American experiment OF
popular government is gigantic failure.
and the American people are in the depths
OF moral debasement.
OF course this is not the impression Mr..
CLEVELAND seeks to produce. and there Is
no such implication In his mind: but why,
the foreign critic may reasonably ask,
should the President OF the United States
always feel himself obliged to enunciatc,
explain. aud defend the simplest principles
OF ordinary political and Individual morals,
II the moral tone conceptions. and stand
ards OF this people be not peculiarly low
and vile and debased? II tho loathsome
disease be not prevalent. why should the
utterances from the highest place In tho
republic be constantly and chiefly OF a
remedy for 1t II the people need to be
admonished ceaselessly that honor and
fidelity are requisite in their public SER
wants. Is not the necessity proof that the
people who elect them to Office are them
selves base and perfdious
Such questions are sure to be asked and
such differences drawn. II Queen VIoToHIA
never addressed Parliament or her subjects
without preaching sermon on the need Of
common honesty In legislators, we should
all infer that England was in condition of
moral rottenness II President CARNoT
should feel 1t incumbent on him TO address
to the Corps Legislatif such words as these
uttered by President CLEVELAND at the |
Capitol last Monday. would he not justify a |
like inference as to the French republic?
"our celebration 10 chiefly valuable and Significant |
because this ednce designed ed by great
and good place where the principle . FREQ
government should be developed In
patriotic legislation for the bonot of FREQ people II
representatives who here assemble to make laws for
their fellow oountymeu forget the duty OF broad and
disinterssted patriotism and lsgsate in and
passion or In behalf Of sectional and Ishsh interests
the time when tho stone OF Capitol laid
the circumstances surrounding 1t will not be worth
Why should he have spoken thus il there |
were not reason for such a rebuke II there |
were reason. has not the time come already
when the laying Of the corner stone OF the |
Capitol and the circumstances surrounding
t are no longer worth COMMUNICATING
" Trs representatives who here assemble