The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-19

the Hills, the Murphys, the Sheehans and the
Crokers these essential principals not only
could not win a lasting triumph. but were
liable TO defeat; that the Democratic ma
chine of New York was a more dangerous
enemy OF true Democracy than the Repub-
lican party.
He should have taken the leadership Of
his party. Those who fought for his nom
tnation and won confidently believe that II
he had he might have revolutioniZed the
organization of his party. and made 1t truly
representative of its promises and OF the
principles which had triumphed in his cleo
told Murphy and Croker that the selection
or the former without consulting him was
an outrage. He knew, for he was consulted
and advised with, that the men who had
made the anti-snapper movement q success
were ready to make a contest against Muir
ply. He was urged to a the lead and
to make an Issue, not in his own behalf,
but for his principles. Some of the men TO
whom he wed most pointed out his duty
to him 1t Is fair to him to say that at
first he was inclined TO heed their counSels.
He more than half promised to drive the
crew of bosses out of politics. But here
once more the malign influence or whitney
came In, and this time he was seconded by
Secretary Lamont. There was a time when
Murphy might have been defeated.
SAL DISAPPOINTMENTS.
Mr.. Cleveland asked Whitney to make a
contest for the seat. He was told plainly
that the anti-snappers preferred Murphy,
the man who was frankly bad, to the man
who wore a mask; the man who fought in
the open, to the man who drove the knife
between his brothers ribs from ehind
Whitney declined the honor and the labor,
although I am told, on authority whose
right to speak would not be questioned by
anyone, that even with the declination on
his lips he ntimate to Croker that he
would like to be the candidate of the ma
chine instead of Murphy. When Mr. Cleve-
land finally made his declaration of oppo-
SitiOn tn NIrnhV III WAS too late. and
Whitney was right, perhaps, in thinking
the publication a blunder. A person of I'M
usual activity must sometimes be right.
The Murphy incident passed, Mr.. Cleve-
land became petulant and intolerant. de
did not consult with his friends. He
seemed to regard their advice with sus-
picion. He intimated on one occasion TO
several OF them that they were presuming
on the sacrifices they had made for him,
and was bluntly told by one OF them in re-
ply that they had made. no sacrifice for
him, but for the cause which they had sup
posed that he represented. When he made
up. his Cabinet there was further disap-
pointment, and when he declined to make
Mr.. Coudert ambassador to France the
men who had sacrificed their political pros
the machine realized that they had ac-
complished nothing but the election OF
heart-the regeneration Of their party in
New York, the reorganization OF the party
In such a way that 1t might represent
economic and administrative reform--had
not. yet won its victory nor found Its
leader.
From the time that Mr.. Cleveland went
to Washington until now he has been en-
gagged in strengthening the machine In this
State. Tammany and the State committee
are the only organizations he has recog-
nized. He made Mr.. Dayton postmaster
because he is a Tammany man. He has ap-
pointed an~ti,sna9pers to office: but he ma As
ers. He has tried to conciliate the ma
chine on the ostensible theory that he need
ed Hills and Murphy's aid to repeal the
Sherman act. as If any New York Senator
would dare do otherwise. His tone toward
the men who made his nomination possible
has been peeviSh and inSolent His old
friends did not ask him to use his patronage
to build up a machine. but to show his
sympathy with what was best in the party,
and to make 1t clear that he believed that
his principles and not his personality had
won, that the principles he represented
We're enduring: that they were for the well
fare of the Republic and OF humanity. and
that he wanted the usurping bandits driv-
en- from the high places in the party. be
cause the. impure administration OF the
party affairs was inconsistent with Its high
purposes and professions.
Grover Cleveland failed to understand the
greatness of his opportunity. He has placed
himself In the control of weak and insincere
men. He has turned his back upon the
men whose work for reform made him pos
sible. He has deliberately sat down with
those who have made the Democratic party
a. by-word and reproach, and who remain
his enemies. II It had not been for Grover
Cleveland's weakness Maynard would not
have been nominated, Murphy would not be
be the sport of the New York machine.
In my opinion it Is Grover Cleveland who
has made possible at this late clay of dis
appointed hope such an article az that on
1.-THE Failure of the Democratic Party"
If he were the leader he might be, if he
had followed the dictates Of his own better
Judgment, light would have long since
DEMOCRAT.