Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-23

Some time ago The STAR, on excellent au-
thOrity, announced the program which the ad-
mnistration will endeavor to have Congress
carry out. Among the great mass of democrats
there will undoubtedly be satisfaction with the
lines laid down, and II is these-the multitude
whom the President wants to please. Hitherto
Mr.. Cleveland has-believing himself to be the
better judge Of what was good for the denoc-
racy-sturdily done that which pleased him
most, and IL his actions resulted in qualification
for any one else the enjoyment was merely Incl
dental but now he seems determined to play q
serious game of politics in which every move
will have an object. That any OF these moves
can work to the personal advantage of the
President is far from probable, if not
impossible, bat the chances are that
he will be content to retire from the chief
magistracy if he has during his day of power built
up harmonious voting structure. against which
the waves of repubhcanism and populIstic fury
may not prevail. The difficulty now most
pressing is as to place of beginning in the re-
formatory efforts which are billed to commence
next winter III the democratic platform and
democratic ante-election promises were honest
the first assault will be on the tariff. but as a
matter Of fact the tariff will hardly suffer
ul.lurD3nce- ne lineage cOuVenLlOn
loudly declared: 1--WE denounce republican
protection as fraud, a robbery of the great
majority of the American people for the
benefit of the few. We denounce
the Mckinley tariff law enacted by the
Fifty-frst Congress rs the eliminating
atrocity Of class legislation and yet
there are those among the leaders of the demo-
cratic party who asser. that neither the Fifty
third nor even the Fifty-fourth Congress will
seriously mutilase the Mckinley law. That
some changes will be made is certain, but the
few steps that are to be taken will be
trolled by extreme caution. And while the
tariff is being tinkered over and frightened up
in spots arrangements will be made which must
result in the repeal of the sherman act Of $780,
referred to in the democratic platform "a
cowardly makeshift. frauSht with possibilities Of
danger in the future which should make all Of its
supporters. well as its author, anxious for its
speedy repeal" Coupled with what will almost
certainly be a successful effort to repeal the
Sherman law will be legislation by which the
tax state bank issues is to be abolished
This is for the avowed purpose of settling
the silver question by providing the peo-
pie generally with more money. At frs.
glance this would appear to be blow at
federal control of banks, but the promoters
of the rehabilitated idea purpose using the
general government to the extent of making
it responsible for the tremendous food of
promises to pay which may be expected if
state banks permitted the privileges which,
to the national detriment. they once enjoyed.
Then. as if to apologize for the introduction of
federal ideas, the administration will smile
blandly upon any and all Of the enGeavors
which may he made to wipe out all semblance
of federal election law. To build up the
treasury balances much dependence is going to
be placed upon an income tax which is to bear
most heavily upon the wealthy. If any section
OF the country or of the democratic party has
not been duly considered in this program the
evidence of neglect is not easily visible. The
methods by which President Cleveland has
achieved success have been departed from and
there IL considerable justifiable curiosity as to
wha. the results of the experiment will be.