The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-04
The President and His Party.

During Mr.. Cleveland's first term as
President there was lack of harmony
between him and the democrats in con-
gress, If the democratic leaders had
/ been consulted he would not have been
nominated for either a second or third
/ term. His nomination came from the
democratic masses. Mr.. Cleveland under
stands this very well, and he has always
depended upon the people rather than the
politicians for support.
Since the beginning of his present term
| the differences between him and his party
in congress have become so marked as 70
attract very general notice and excite
comment. A very small proportion of
the democratic members Of the House
and still smaller proportion of the
! democratic senators are in sympathy with
| the administration. just why this is so
is due to a number Of things. The presi-
dent has not tried to make friends. He
has not sought advice from congressman
and has not received it graciously when
it has been offered him, BY his indiffer-
! ence to the wishes of both senators and
representatives he has estranged many
who would have been glad to give him a
cordial support.
The consequence is that he finds it diff
cult TO get assistance from congress when
his administration needs it. While it is
probable that his course in the Hawaiian
affair will be sustained because he acted
from high sense of justice in all that he
did, still there will be no enthusiasm in
defending him from the attacks of the re-
pubIicans.
Congress ought not to have forced the
secretary to resort to the act of 1875 for
authority to issue bonds to protect the
credit of the government. 1t ought to
have authorized a bond issue, and it is
probable that it would have done so if
there were'a kindlier feeling for the ad-
ministration. There are other things
which show that there is lack Of har-
mony between the administration and the
democratic majority, but the two to which
attention is called are sufficient for the
| purpo Sc. = ,6t
One of the reasons why there is not
more sympathy between the, President
and the democratic leaders in congress is
the fact that so many republicans who
are not protected by the civil service law
| stillremain in Office. 1t is alleged that a
great many who are offensive partisans
are holding important places in all the
| departments. In fact, if reports are to be
credited, in the treasury department alone
has there been systematic attempt to
| put democrats in charge of desirable
| positions. In all the other departments,
| it is claimed, republicans, who boast of
their allegiance to the Republican party,
are permitted to hold on to places that
| ought to have been given to democrats
long ago
Another thing of which democratic rep
resentatives and senators complain is that
they receive no more consideration when
they call at the white house than the av-
erage office-seeker. The President makes
no special effort to give them anaudience,
and it often happens that senator does
not get TO see him after waiting an hour
or so for that purpose.
The President is undoubtedly satisfied
that he is doing what is right, and that
| public sentiment will sustain him, but is
he not depriving himself of the strength
| that is necessary to carry out the policies
his administration may consider neces-
sary for the welfare of the country2 He
cannot maze his administration success
| full one unless he has the support of his
party in congress, and the way
to get its support is not by ignoring it's
wishes He succeeded in getting the
Sherman silver law repealed because the
common sense of the country demanded
its repeal, but neither the sentiment OF
his party nor of the country favors keep
| ing republicans in Offices that should be
! given to democrats. The country be-
lieves in. civil service reform, but that
reform does not require the keeping of
republicans in Office who are not within
| the jurisdiction of the civil service law.
| Democrats all over the country would
like to see harmony between the Presi-
dent and the democrats in congress.
Theyewill stand by the President as long
as he is right, but they would like him
to be in accord with the democratic sena-
tors and representatives.