The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-18
Intended as a Rebuke to the President
for Interference in Legislation and
BulldOZing Methods.
MR.. WILSON'S FIRST DEFEAT
Free Wool Schedule to Go Into
Effect with the Tariff Bill.
Ex-Hoosier Made Minister to Argentina
-Harrison's Nomination Rejected
The Hawaiian Inquiry.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, JAM 17.-President Cleve-
land now has on his hands probably the
bitterest fight from members of his own po-
ltical party ever waged against chief
executive. The rejection of the nomination
OF Hornblower to be an Associate Justice
Of the Supreme Court means vastly more
than the simple refusal OF the Senate 10
confirm the nomination it's merits. II
is true that the judiciary committee agreed
to an adverse report upon the nomination
largely the demerits of the case 10
was presented, and it is true that many
OF the Senators who voted against
firmation did so because they believed
Hornblower to be unfit for the position,
which requires not only the highest order
of legal attainments. but the best possible
private as well as public character.
The Hornblower case upon the prima
facie presentation. stripped of all its politi-
cal entanglements. did not warrant favor
able action at the hands of the Sem
ate. According to the statements pre-
sented by able honest. and disinterested
lawyers and business men. Mr.. Hornblower
was not good enough lawyer or good enough
man to occupy life position upon the bench
of the Supreme Court of the United States
His associations had not been such as TO
recommend impartial and judicial action In
all classes of causes which might come be-
fore the bench. All of this aside from the
many political entanglements involved in
this complicated case There is no question,
however, that the motives which inspired
much Of the opposition TO Hornblower's
nomination and which really effected the de-
feat of confirmation involve political con-
siderations of an important order. There
has been formed in the Senate
combination between certain Demo
cratic and Republican Senators.
for offensive and defensive work. which
threatens the stability of the Presidents
prerogatives in filling offices. Every DEM
ocrat who voted against HOrnblower's
nomination feels that the President has
not only disregarded his wishes in the mat
ter of making appointments TO federal Off
ces in his State, but has shown a DISPOSE
ton to compel him to support legislation
and policies in opposition to the interests
OF those he was elected to serve. The
fight upon the President is not merely
one to discipline him in the matter OF max
ing appointments; TO compel him TO shell
out the offices to Democratic Senators who
are responsible for appointments within
their own State. 1t is a movement intended
to resent the 1mpeT1OuS anu III
reference of the President and his Cabi'
net officers in the matter of legislation.
When the bill proposing the unconditional
repeal Of the silver law was brought forth
there were many Democratic Senator'S as
we'll as Republicans who conscientiously be-
lieved that their long position in favor OF
a large use of silver was not only best fof
the country but was the position of their
home constituents. The President ostra-
cised them socially, cut off all patronage
from them and threatened to defeat local
legislation proposed by them if they did not
support his bill. Some of them weakened
and advocated the administrators policy.
Many of these Democrats have had the
sword of wrath suspended over their heads
by the administration upon the Wilson
tariff bill and the proposition to create
new bond issue. The President has
badgered and hampered them in every di-
rection, determined to drive them under
the lash in support of his policies and
against the interests Of those at home
who gave them the offices they hold: The
President, in spite of the bitter ana uni
versal unpopularity of his Hawaiian pol
icy has cracked the lash in the face OF
many Democratic Senators, commanding
them to trample. the flag and patriotism
under their feet in order to strengthen his
own weakness. 1t has been one series or
interference, dictation, bulldoZing, intimi-
dalton ana command upon democrats III
Congress ever since Grover Cleveland
entered the White House. At last the
straw that broke the camel's back was laid
on, and the time for rising up arrived. The
Hornblower case marked the new epoch.
Heretofore these Democratic Senators
have been humbly and covertly antagoniz-
ing the administration in a quiet way,
hoping that they would be relieved of tho
yoke of subserviency, but despairing or
this they have thrown down the gauntlet.
come out into the open, and, barring their
breasts, have struck the blow fair in the
face of the chief executive, and now the
war is on bitterly. The Republicans who
have given support in this fight believe in
the principles which impel IL, and they feel
that they can afford to encourage this split
in the Democratic party, hoping that IL IL
does not actually defeat the Wilson tartn
BILL IL will insure many desired modihca-
tions of that disastrous British measure.