New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-08
THE PRESIDENT And HIS PARTY.

The question is asked: "What could Pres
ident Cleveland have done to prevent financial
trouble? He found a bad law in force, learned
that Congress would not repeal it. and was
compelled to wait. How is he responsible?'
The statements do not conform to the facts.
The President has found that he could not get
the Sherman law repealed, nor any other imam
cial change accomplished by the votes OF
majority of Democrats in Congress but ne
has had power at any time 10 appeal TO the
Republicans and minority Of Democrats. and
be has refused to do so. The TRIBUNE is not
aware that he has ever made the slightest
effort to ascertain whether he could make such
An appeal with success. On the contrary. he
appears TO have set himself uDyicldlngly
against any such policy from the first because
it would tend to divide his party and throw
n norton of it into close utilization with Re-
publcans
The responsibility clearly belongs to the
President, if he has refused to try the obvious
means of getting legislation that he judged
necessary, no matter what his motives were
Whether it was more important to keep Dem
ocrats in the humor to act together on the
tariff question men may doubt. But there can
be no doubt that he deliberately took upon him
self the responsibility. when he refused to find
out whether the Republicans and part OF the
Democrats could act together for the financial
safety of the country. 1t is no justification 10
saw that he believed no such combination could
have been formed. or believed that IT could
not succeed There is no evidence to warrant
him in such q decision. Without such evidence,
without making any endeavor in that direc-
ton. he decided not to appeal to the Repre-
sentatives of the people without distinction OF
party, and not to throw upon Them the re-
sp0nsibility for the consequences which mac
ton or wrong action might produce
There is common impression that the Pres
ident was anxious first to fill the more impor-
tant Offices with men of his own party. and
believed that he would hardly be free to do so
il he should 90 outside his party To ask support
in the first and most important measure he had
to propose. But this impression probably does
Injustice to Mr.. Cleveland. Events may here
after indicate the presence OF such motive IN
his mind but il seems more natural. IN the
| light Of fac's thus far known to conclude that
he was extremely anxious 10 save his party
from any rupture on fhe silver question in the
hope that he might yet cOntsive some sort OF
compromise which. after some months OF bust
ness depression, he could get it to adopt and
pass.
The President has some snguarly silly
friends who load him with praise on all cca-
sions. fit or unfit. and who are lust now trying
TO find in his latest statement an appeal to the
people without distinction of party. There
could not be more unfounded pretence llad
the President chosen, he could have made an
appeal of that mature in March or April. and
with excellent chances Of success. He Wi
knew that it would Please the Republicans -
give lin hearty support in any proposed mta'-
IRE against the evil tendencies Of majority
Ct his own party. lie did not mean to give
them the chance and does not intend TO do it
in September il any sort Of compromise can
meanwhile be contrivel which the Democrats
can be persuaded to take>jn lis entirety as a
party measure. Instead of relying upon pub
lie ntelig nee he is coun ing upon Dem cratic
necessity. Instead Of appealing to the people
without distinction u party. he is trying to
fird prttext for claiming that the Democratic
party, by settlement Of the money question,
has rescued the country from disaster.