The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-03-18
EXTRENE ENTHUSIASM,

EAlHEAE ENIdUSld ASH,
Our Democratic cotsmporary Is un-
usually enthusiastic in its endorsement
OF the policy pursued by its party. and
the editorials are thoroughly orthodox
according to the articles of the faith.
But the zeal of our friend has in some
instances led captive his judgment, and
all his staten ents cannot be substanti-
ated In speaking of the Gland Ques-
ton" he says: "Mr. Cleveland's atti-
tude on the lieu land question is well
known to be favorable to the settlers.
Just before the end of his administra-
tion he caused the Gullford Miller de-
cision to be rendered. The railroad
company filed motion for review of
the case, and nothing has been heard
of it under Harrison's administration.
Mr.. Cleveland enunciated the doctrine
that every acre of land granted to cor
porations and individuals which had
not been positively earned should be
returned to the people, and SO vlgor-
ously did he push TINS policy that from
March 4, 1885, to June 8, 1883, 49,
156,O90.5i acres were restored to the
public domain"
The power of the executive in these
matters is very limited, and is not
more effective than that of Queen Vic
toria as regards home-rule in Ireland.
If Mr.. Cleveland used any influence
whatever to warp any decisions of the
courts to his own individual opinion,
he has used the high Office of president
of the United States in an unconstitu-
tional manner. The decision in the
Guilford Miller case was first given by
the commissioner of the general land
Office and afterwards approved by the
secretary of the interior; but has been
made futile by late proceedings. Neither
Mr.. Cleveland nor Mr.. Harrison are
entitled to any credit or censure
for the actions of their appointees, and
if they punish any derelictlon of duty
by requesting the resignation of the
offender they have done all that could
be expected under the circumstances
The forfeiture of the unearned land
granted to the Northern Pacific Rail
road company was accomplished by
congress on Sept. 20, 1890, and the act
was signed by Mr.. Harrison. Demo-
cratic senators attempted to amend the
bill go as to forfeit all lands of the
Northern Pacific from Bismarck, Da-
kota, to Portland. Mr.. Harrison is not
entitled to commendatlon for the Re
publican congress, nor is Mr.. Cleveland
for the decisions of his commissioner of
the general land office or secretary of
the interior. Leaving the executives
entirely out of consideration, for they
influence legislation only by their an
nual messages, the settlers on the pub
lie domain have received all the favors
during the past few years from Re
publican congresses, for at no time
from 1876 to 1890 have the Demo
cra1s had a sufficient majority to pass
any act through both houses. The
forfeiture bills, extension of time in
which to pay for unearned railroad
lands, and other laws for the benefit
of home builders in the United States,
are to be credited to the Republican
party, and not to Mr.. Cleveland or
Democratic obstructive tactics.
Enthusiasts should not make state
ments which carry their own refuta-
tion with them, and this is true of the
in the excerpt from the
Sam. We always make some allow
ance for the ardor>of new converts to
any faith; but they must be careful
that their zeal does not imrel them to
occupy positions on public questions
which are untenable.