The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-13
THE ALL-ARoUNp GRUMBLER.

tinacious In his complaints as Addison 3
Tory fox-hunter OF william the Thirds
reign. who protested that there had been
no good weather since theXrpe Of Charles
the Second.
II every act OF Mr.. Cleveland since he
has been In office had been In exact con-
formity with a divine commandment on
that point Mr. Halstead would neverthe-
less have found some ground Of objection
10 each. We recommend to Mr.. Halstead
OF biography OF Judas Iscariot. He will
find there an abundant use for them all.
and II he sees III TO rail at Judas, he viii
at least have secured a subject upon
which he can indulge his natural DISPOSE
ton TO its fullest extent. with an assur-
ance that he has finally obtained a host
OF sympathizlng readers.
When Mr. Halstead has nothing else 70
do. which is most Of the time now, he
occupies his leisure moments with screeds
addressed 10 the New York Herald point
ing out the many failures in administer
Ing the Government which Mr.. Cleveland
IS making His latest contains the fol-
lowing:
II ventured 10 warn the American
voters that they ought 10 Insist on bills
Of particulars. for IL was very easy 10
be deceived as to what sound money was
and what tariff reform meant. Is it too
early or too late TO mention that the
President has since his reelection COM
mitted several serious errors, not count
ing those that relate 10 our foreign
policy?
First he delivered a series OF mug
wump speeches: second, he picked out a
personal Cabinet. with the idea of pro-
viding himself a New York machine at the
bottom Of IT. and he pitched his inaugural
into the clouds; third, he took upon him.
self unusual responsibilities and veXa-
tions i'm the exercise OF the appointing
power; fourth, he did not call an extra
session Of Congress; fifth. he has mud
died the money question and indicated
that ne Is at least as inadequately fur
nished with experience as his Secretary
II statements Of this sort are permitted
TO pass without remark the very fire.
quency OF their iteration secures believers
In them after n while. Let us look at
each one Of them then. and see what just
ground of complaint either contains.
HE delivered n series of mugwump
speeches" Perhaps Mr.. Halstead can de-
fine a "mugwump speech" We are unable
70 do so. We are therefore compelled
10 dismiss this charge with The general
81, 10 VIII r.
meant: but we feel sure. nevertheless,
that whatever a "mugwump speech" may
be. the fact that no response TO Mr.
Cleveland's "mugwump speeches has yet
come from the country proves conclu-
sively that he has at least done no great
harm with them. II. therefore. Mr..
Cleveland has gathered no laurels from
his "mugwump speeches he has GER
tainly earned no curses and condemna-
tons. and the "mugwump speeches" may
simply be charged up TO the account Of
profit and loss.
"He picked out personal Cabinet with
the idea of providing himself a New York
machine at the bottom Of it." Now. does
anybody believe that even Mr.. Halstead
believes this? A great deal has been said
Of his having appointed Hoke Smith Sec
Rotary of the Interior because Smith was
an ardent advocate Of his nomination,
but the country IS fast settling down to
the belief that while that fact undoubted-
ly influenced him (and what President be
fore him has failed to be influenced in
the same wayO, yet he appointed him be-
cause he believed him qualified for the
place, and Smith has not 50 far shown
that Mr.. Cleveland misjudged his man.
As for his other selections. leaving out
those from New York, it is simply pre-
pOsterous to say that any one of them
was made with a view to advancing his
chances of providing himself with a New
York machine" Were the two selections
from New York made with this end in
view? Who is there that doubts that
Lamont was appointed because the long
and intimate association Mr.. Cleveland
had had with him had shown Mr.. Cleye-
land that Lamont was pre-eminently a
man of affairs and well qualified TO be
the head Of a Government department,
and who doubts that his association with
Mr.. Bissell as his law partner had salts
fed him that Bissell was man TO give
the country effective service i'm the Postal
Department Of the Government?
AS for pitching his inaugural in the
clouds" we have heard no complaint of
that as yet from the clouds, and if he
took upon himself unusual responsible
ties and vexations in the exercise of the
appointing power" we know Of no one
that has suffered by it but himself. The
public generally think he was wise. too,
in pOstpOning an extra session Of Con-
gress until September The debased silver
dollar is what causes the trouble the
country is in. The trouble will not end
until the law for that is repealed. Con-
gress will not repeal it until the people
have felt some of its curses, which they
will feel, see and believe by September.
and Mr.. Cleveland was right. therefore, in
postponing the extra session until then.
But, even If he has indicated that he
is as inadequately furnished with eN'
perience as his Secretary" who, strange
as Mr. Halstead may think it, is credited
by the public with much more information
than it assigns 10 him. how can he be
said to have 'muddled the money Ques-
ton? lie has had absolutely nothing to
do with the money question" except TO