The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-26
AN IDOL SHATTERED.

FN'H ~ = SlNfN ! ~ A-'
The leading article in the April Fo-
rum consists Of u critical inquiry into
tho actual results Of Mr. Cleveaud's
second term. Written proirssodly by
AN Independent, by man who. one
year ago. was pyo,uss in his laulStlop
Of the present executive aS the greatest
figure in American politics since Lin.
coin, aud who even now cOuleSsaS that
there "hSd never been q president since
Washington who wen. into oth,l with
SO clear pur0Qso purpose that no
had himself formulated for the people
nor 50 free FROM personal. partisan
or sectional obligation" --thos3 pur-
poses Of course, being tho destruction
OF protection aud tho enforcement; Of
civil service aud fiscal reform-:ho 70.
view is keyed thyoushou: to tone Of
regret, sadness aal disappointment
truly lamau;nu,e and pathetic. It's
notes are not Jne full. round notes Of
praise, but rather the mUillJl caro-
mates Of pain, grief and wos; aud i.
is with the hsay!usSS that comes
i,ru hearing . digSe. aud no; ta9 &C
stacy that inspires the listener 70 @
paeau. taat we arise from tina pe;USl'
Our mugwump celtic is 40: so; pre-
pared 70 cast uls idol overheard en-
ti-ely. He still prs:snls 60 believe, for
dsceucy's sake, il excuse for the pas;
blind worship tbs: M, Cleveland is
remarkably strong Is td5 lea lar Of o
great party ia the opposition Bas he
d not corrssponi,usiy s;cols rs tae
executive OF a victorious party. Ia one
role he l. heroic. in .l3 o:lsr common.
place An idol commonplace? Perish,
thsn. the IDOL Bu-, O: COURSE tbs
ic9nce,asm cAnao; J' affected in q
breath. Va nr9 assured with 4 brave
fort 70 keep M gb, Old rlith which
his II It much Of ia, suggestion of
0atlls, iht- tina Il3, deals muster.
fully with men in large masses, that
ia 'hls proved himself very Srsa:
leader in lr-e ssra-ge for
supremacy ;lls 40 IS like JsE.rs0l
in his clear djic=cluslt Of great
principles a1l in his Snowflake Just
when % proclaim them with supreme
feet" that, to sum 1?. he "ly the only
man now in ogr public Ike who has
made q chapter in our political history
that men Of the next generation will
recall, meaning thereby, o: course,
tee chapter 9t an unsuccessful assLu
unon the economic policy waicl for
thirty years hal given u5 career Of
national prosperity unprecedented in
ile history Of CIVILIZED naa1.nl.
Bu5 against thess credit entries
the fnal.y-awaksled Ialagauieut
.lapsoIistis is now constrained TO make a
series Of debit counter sn.cias tlai
have in them sonsthins Of the som Der
expression Of tragedy somsthias OF the
sitting sense Of disappointment, cha
grin and loss which comes to all men
upon the destruction Of an ull5,ol,
upon the disruption OF aa ideal Thus,
we are told that Mr. Cleveland deals
iu. G.ctualiy with individually" he "has
a strange way Of pjck.nf u2 men quiz.
o.icall7.' "a vitua3s Gresham, Hyks
Smith aud O,ney; be ".Acks magma
ti5n;" he 'Is a piolliag msn' who
cannot SEQ dramatic effects, cannot
play the game Of s.atecraf5 when the
iime comes for him TO move man on
the board % 'canno; measure the effect
Of iadividualitias on public opinion" 4"
lie is a drudge in small matters; q
man Of almost stolil density. devoid Of
personal magnetism AMI giving wiy,
under irritation, TO patulance, invsc-
tive and dispair. Ia brief. from hay
ing enisrsd ofics one year ago with the
largest, most sjgnidclas and most won.
derfuI popular enl0rsam ant ever given
to political organization, or a poIiti-
cal candidate in tima Of p3scs, th4
Democratic party and its Dlmoccltic
president haYs in only little more
than twelve months reached a conl l..
ton wherein, as onr ln1epaudsnt friend
mouTnfu'lY bus necessarily cOnFe.ses,
II national election were 10 be held
tomorrow no shrewl observer doubts
that the Democrats would be defeated
in every Northern state and perhaps in
more than one Soutnera state
Grover Cleveland was right when he
recently told friend that he ought not
to have become president second
Ame.