New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-04
ONE YEAR OJEH.

! plc fairly intoxicated with n prosperity which
seemed too solid to be disturbed by any error
! and exceeded their widest dreams, rcckOncd II
| an immutablc law Of Nature that labor should
be fully employed at twice the wages paid
across the sea A year has rolled by, and the
same party ashamed Of its proved Incompetence
and dsgusted with its leaders, sits in the
shadow of defeat scarcely matched in the
history of the country for completeness or mag
nitudc of adverse majoritcs. The people are
noby struggling amid their losses to provide
| relief for the suffering. and watching for
! signs of recovery from the worst disaster for
| half century.
4 dispasSiOnac review of the first year or
President Clc,elands Administration will show
that. though held mainly responsible for this
unparalleled reverse by his own party. he has
been To a large extent the victim of conditions
and circumstances which he could not control.
Yet he began with surprising error in select
ing as Secretary Of State man warped by
vindictivc feelings toward President Harrison.
who never had the sympathy of Democrats and
had forfeited all sympathy of Republicans.
There quickly resulted IA decision against the
Hawaiian treaty. The hauling down Of the
American flag and policy which has been
humiliating to the country and dsgraceful 10
Gus was the selection Of Mr.. Quincy. whose
shameful disposition Of consulships mortally
offended earnest advocates Of Civil Service Re
form Secretary Carlisle has added much 10 the
offence by the appointments in his department,
and he did not bring 10 the Administration
the confidence of the financial world. He had
been known as the author Of bond reso-
luton which caused sudden and serious
banking panic as Free-Tradc thcorist. and
as an advocate of silver coinage. Chosen. it
may be assumed, TO pacate Western and SoutN
crn antipathics. he did not seek the confidence
of bankers, and by his uttcranccs regarding the
redemption of Treasury notes in silver prccp-
tated the great disasters which began last
spring.
For these disasters the party rather than the
President was primarily responsible. Distrust
Of it's dangerous relations with POpulists and
its zeal for free coinage Of silver and dread
of its extreme FreeTrade policy. had caused
Withdrawals Of gold from the country within n
month after the election Of 1892. which con-
tinued until the Inauguration. Anxiety was not
allayed by the Presidents inaugural. and was
much increased by his decision not TO call an
extra session Of Congress in the spring. 1t was
felt that the President would have given the
country speedy relief from anxiety about silver
in Congress- and 10 restrain its dangerous ten
denotes. His proposal TO give the country IAN
object lesson was emincntly calculated 10 In,
crease apprehension. Delay of action on the
tariff, il was felt. must cause throughout the
year an uncertainty perhaps even more injurl
Gus than the final decision Of Congress. The
assembling of Frcc-Tradc theorists as experts to
frame Il tariff which the Administration would
fbroIp as,J NJ
prehcnsion but saved 10 time nor did it faci
tate harmony in action. Ill Judgment by the
President in these matters was largely rcspon
siblc for the disasters Of last summer
1t not in the Presidents nature TO put |
himself on the right ground regarding the sill |
yer question. Right in opposing free coinage.
he should have known the impossibility of de-
fcating the evil tendencies Of his own party OK |
cept by inviting aid of Republicans Instead |
he sought the favor of Democrats and POpuiSts |
in a crusade against the Silver Purchasing act. |
the plea that this Republican measure WAS
the cause Of all financial trouble Neither this
disingcnuous plea nor long delay has enabled
him TO control his own party, but both did
great harm. When repeal came, but not the
promised revival Of business. the gloom became
deeper than ever. Frank and candid devotion
to the public interest would have moved the
President when disaster bcfell last spring. TO
declare that the country was in no condition
TO endure tariff agitation that his party plat
form promised a revolutionary change which
would be fatal. and that he would not approve
any change Of tariff until business had revived
and the people had more definitely indicated the
kind Of revision they wished. Instead he again
sought 10 thrust his own ideas upon n Darty
incapable Of any good patriotic thing. To
capture the support of extremists he suggested
an income tax on corporations. but thus encour-
aged instead of restraining the most dangerous
elements with which he had 10 deal The result
has been an agitation Of which no one can see
the end. uncertainty which has Frustrated in
lustrics for eight months already suffering and
want for thousands of homes, and crushing de-
Feat for the President and his party
The President has not shown himself wise
lurng the last year. IIcadstrong as vain men
ire apt TO be- lacking sympathy for the suffer |
ngs OF the people or the anxictics of business
men. absorbed in a desire 10 impress his own
IDEAS upon the history Of the country. Mr. ,
,leveand has alienatcd great proportion OF
lis political friends. At the same time his want .
II American feeling. his hostility TO an Ameri.
AN industrial policy. and his incaDaciy even to