The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-04

the superficial humanity of Mr.. Cleveland.
increased the geniality Of his manners.
and lifted him to q higher level Of social
morality.
Mr.. Cleveland is not only . better man
morally than he was in March, 1885, but
he is far broader man: he has ceased to
be q mere masterful, narrow, provincial
politician; he sees clearly, If his party does
not. that he was not elected president be-
cause of his personality; he sees, il his
party does not. that the socialistic discon-
tent and revolt Of labor. represented by
trades unionism in the cities and manu-
featuring districts. defeated the Repub-
lican party, who lost the day not because
OF protection but in spite OF protection.
Mr.. Cleveland knows that on q square is
sue between protection and tariff for reve-
nue. only the tariff plank of the Chicago
platform would become guide board to
the grave of the Democratic party. We
say that Mr.. Cleveland knows this,
because the composition of his cabi-
net proves that he knows it.
Mr.. Cieveland's appointment of Judge
nouncement that Mr.. Cleveland in his adj
ministration contemplates a realignment
Of American politics. Gresham is not q
Democrat; a. late as October q, 1892. he
wrote that he ''could remain q Republic
can and yet vote for Cleveland" He 10
not free trader. or "tariff for revenue
only" shouter; he is q revolving, hyper
critical Republican, a new recruit in the
Mugwump camp. Gresham is an ex-
Union soldier; his presence in the cabi-
net 10 virtually a pledge on Cleveland's
part that n honest veteran need fear the
loss OF refusal of a pension; it is further
pledge that no legislation in contempt Of
the sentimental or materialistic blessings
won by the war for the Union
will be approved by Mr.. Cleveland. The
appointment of Judge Gresham Is not
only that of Republican who has been
an oificeholder for twenty years, but a Re.
publican who had been offered the Popu-
list nomination for president. Mr.. Gresh-
ans appointment is practically bid for
the confidence and support of the Popu-
lists, as well as of the Mugwump and Re-
publican discontents and malcontents.
OF course, if Mr.. Cleveland had believed
that his victory was won simply on the
question OF the tariff. he would not have
deemed it necessary to 60 outside of the
Simon-pure Democracy for . secretary of
state. From the standpoint of Mr.. Cieve-
land, his appointment of Gresham is saga
cious politics, and marks an increased
breadth of vision compared with that
manifested by Mr.. Cleveland in 1885,
when he omitted Thurman from his
cabinet and accepted Bayard. The 40.
polntment of Gresham is not approved at
the South, and yet Mr.. Cleveland had in
dependence of mind enough to make it.
knowing that it would not be approved
by strict Democratic partisans. The ap-
pointments of Carlisle and of Herbert are
excellent; the only serious mistake ID the
appointment of an unknown. inexperi-
enced man to the interior department. An
able Western Democrat should have been
appointed 10 q department whose affairs
relate mostly to the West and deal with
surveys, irrigation, land laws. railroad
grants, territorial administration and In
dian affairs.
Mr.. Cleveland has a great opportunity
to make . great president: he evidently
feels that he does not owe his election
altogether nor chiefly to the Bourbon
Democracy: he probably has no thought
OF third term. and he Is in . position to
act with an eye single to the public good.
L
they probably will refuse to enact the anti
silver coinage views Of President Cleve-
land; they probably will insist upon tariff
for revenue only, but if Mr.. Cleveland
stands by his guns he will smother free
silver in the wet blanket of veto message
that will be worthy of a statesman, but if
he abandons his sound finance and con-
sents to approve the re-enactment of the
Bland law of 1878 as a compromise he will
greatly suffer in the estimation of his
most intelligent and thoughtful admirers.
Men OF brains. intelligence and candor
may differ about the tariff, but men of
brains. intelligence and candor agree that
the suspension of silver coinage is sound
finance; that the enactment of free silver
is born in bedlam and sucked by knaves
and fools.