Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-20
PATRIOTISM avn pARr,slNSpIp

The European press quito generally
and also u number Of public men whose
opinion has been obtained have eX-
pressed the view that the stand taken
by President Cleveland In the Ncuc-
Zucla matter Is designed for political eff
feet This is nj least suggestive and n
like view must have occurred to n great
many people In this country. Ii viii
have to be admitted that If Mr.. Clcvc-
land desires. as Is commonly believed.
another presidential term. he played a
trump card when he sent the message
TO congress urging the maintenance OF
the Monroe doctrine. Before he did
this he was asSaicd on all hands as
being utterly devoid of American senti-
cign policy of the administration was
as vigorously denounced by democrats
as by republicans. Mr.. Cleveland was
declared to be in this respect the weak
est president the country ever had.
The fact that he went away from
when the reply of the British prime
minister to the Eotp of Secretary Olncy
was on its way to the seat of govern
ment was cited as conclusive proof of
the Indifference of the president TO this
most important issue. He had very
feeble hold upon popular confidence
The note of Lord Salisbury gave Mr..
Cleveland the opportunity to rehabili-
tate himself in popular confidence and he
embraced it eagerly. The immediate
result. in the matter of popular ap
plausc. was all that he could have eN-
his own party who had long been In
cnmity toward him and it Is hardly
questionable that he is stronger at this
time with his party than ever before.
or at any rate since his first election to
the presidency. Perhaps few will
convention were held now Mr.. Cleve-
land would have no difficulty and prob
ably no opposition in securing n renom-
nation. If he wished 1t. That he can
secure 1t six months hence is highly
probable and in the event of war or
certain. with the chances greatly in
favor of his reelection.
Are not the republicans in congress
contributing to Mr.. Cleveland's political
ambition. assuming that lie still has
such ambition. by their precipitate ac-
quieScence in the most radical sugges-
tion of his message and their proposal
TO vote an enormous appropriation for
increasing the military armament? We
do not question that this was prompted
by pa atriOtic motives. but we do doubt the
wisdom of the haste with which the ma
iority in the house gave its endorsement
to most extraordinary proposal of the
chief executive and it is most crafty
ing to find the senate disposed to pro-
cecd in this matter on more careful and
conservative lines. The measure au-
thorizing the president to enormously
increase the military armament and ap-
propriating $10O,O0O,O0O for that pur-
pose will. If it become law. place at the
command of the administration a
power which could be used to the
greatest possible advantage in per-
petuating democratic control of the eX-
ecutive department of the government
and undoubtedly would be so used
A patriotic desire to uphold the dig
nifty and honor and maintain the rights
OF the United States is common to the
whole American people and is to be
fostered and encouraged. Whenever
and wherever the honor of the stars
and stripes is to be maintained on land
or sea republicans will not be found
wanting in loyalty. But republicans
will insist that their patriotic impulses
shall not be made subservient to the
ambition of Il democratic executive.