The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-09-01

tial term with the drapery of official
dignity and character we'll wrapt
about him.
But little later, the popular ciamor
again voiced his selection for the
Presidency.
But the political PRESTIGE Of his
first term was not in his second term
destined to be his.
The Vaccinations Of his political
enemies had ANONYMOUSLY failed to
stay the popular wave that bore
him the second time into the Presl-
| dental chair, but the fierce light that
beat about the throne soon disclosed
a President intensely human.
The drift OF political events, shaped
in divided party councils, soon
disclosed weaknesses of character.
that the more favorable conditions
Of his first term concealed.
Impressed with the confidence
born OF "destiny," he became dog,
matte and intolerant of opposition.
He was greater than and above
his party.
Like Napoleon the First, he came
to imagine he was not amenable tc
the same laws governing human
conduct as other men.
He showed this in 1892.
His party nominated him on one
platform-a free trade vne-but he
repudiated ii upon the alleged claim
of superiority to his party-anc
stood upon another platiorm-tarif
retorm-formulated in his well known
letter OF acceptance of that year.
He came into office, his party
charged with the responsibility o
changing the fiscal and industrial
policy of great nation OF sixty sever
millions of people.
Protection to American industries
had as a political principle, built VI
this nation, but now the experiment
of free trade was to be tried.
There was no difference in kind
but only in degree OF free trade sen
timent between Mr.. Cleveland and
his party.
After long months of patient wait
ing the popular branch of Congress
formulated free trade measure, bu
which the Senate would not accept.
In the contest that ensued between
the two Democratic Houses, th'
President put himself on record a
unequivocally opposing the Senate
bill, which the most offensive mo
nopoly in America-the Sugar Trus
had practically dictated.
When the final issue came between
the House and Senate, the forme
demanding the redemption of Dem
ocralic pledges, and the latter refus-
ing to yield TO the combined demand
of both House and President-ant
the Sugar Trust victory was com,
pleted by the surrender Of the Hous
MIR. Cleveland with all the junction
of a determined (7) nature, de
nounced the act as one OF "perfd,
and dishonor,"
Now this question is pertinent:
| TMat bill is 70katPyeSident CZe0e
land says it is, s0Aat moral or boAihca
consideration that ordinary inteLh-
geuce can eYasb, should haze Pre-
Vented his 0et0 ofH?
We are forced TO believe that h
lacked the moral courage to ris
equal to the political emergency
which four or five Senatorial leader
OF his party had placed him in.
He knew that the people hat
become disguised with the prolonged
tariff agitation, and wanted an enc
OF it.
That the passage of any tariff bill
would afford some business relief
and the restoration of at least some
degree OF business confidence.
That is all true enough.
But what becomes Of the manhood
plea for him. when he fails to exhibi
the courage to kill the bill which h,
so absolutely condemned?
Looking to the welfare of the
people, would the interests OF tn;
country been any worse of under the
| Mckinley law, than under the Cor
man Sugar Trust bill2
His failure to veto the Gormar
bill was clearly an act OF consideration
for the Democratic party and not fo
the people.
The extraordinary letter which
President Cleveland addressed Il
Congressman Catchings on Monday
shows this.
1t is nothing less than proclama
ton to the Democratic party for /:
renewal OF the tariff agitation alonl
the whole line,
The significance OF this defan
attempt to reopen the war agains
American industries is to be founc
in the startling declaration that the
Democratic campaign now must BIZ
waged not only for free raw materials
but that the manufacturers "must
submit to reduction and modifca-
ton of the tariff upon their finished
goods"
This is not startling in the sense
that it is new to Grover Cleveland,
or to the Free Trade leaders of the