The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1895-03-21

aims, while the Senate remained u'-
der the leadership OF selfish political
intriguers, who represent all The poll
teal evils. against which Mr.. Cleve-
lands election had been a protest
The Senators from his own State be- |
longed to this class, and there were
many others reluctant to support him
in anything that would not accord
with what they conceived to be the
drift of opinion among the politicians
of their States, or with their own in
terests. On the whole, the Democratic
majority in Congress was, with very
few personal exceptions, singularly
deficient il capacity of higher order,
and, especially in the Senate, either
without sincerity or without courage
of purpose
When Mr.. Cleveland entered upon
his duties he had at once TO meet
critical state of things The silver leg
islation enacted by the Republicans
was bearing its lruit The confidence
otthe business community was serious,
ly disturbed. The repeal Of the silver
purchase law had become q matter OF
immediate necessity. In our opinion
it would have been wiser had thel
President called sp ecial session O
Congress without delay. He put of
the call, perhaps because he distrusted
the temper Of Congress as to the
required action until it should feel he
full pressure of the stress of circum
stances. Meanwhile he had to de
termine upon the manner in which he
himself would endeavor to make his
influence in Congress felt. Was he to
propitiate Senators and Representa-,
tives in the old spoils fashion by
yielding to their demands for patron
age? Or was he to rely upon the
enlightened public opinion of the
country to sustain him, and thus to
coerce Congress 20 do it's duty, he him
self boldly proclalming his own creed
that the officers of the government
should be treated, not as patronage,
but as public trusts, with sole view to
the public good? Mr.. Cleveland
thought that he could do both things
at the same time; and this was the
most serious mistake of his admins
tration. He might have completely
overawed the spolls politicians in Con
gress by energetic appeals to the public
opinion standing behind him, which
was the true source of his power. Blu
every concession he made to spoil
: politics weakened him in that publ,
S opinion, and everything that weaken
ed him in public opinion strengthened
:. and emboldened the spoils politician
inCongress who were openly or secret
y hostile to him
He succeeded in driving the repea
: OF the silver-purchase law throug1
It Congress, not by odr0'' manipulation
y OF the patronage, but by standing wit
s inhexible frmness by that which tn
q public interest manifestly demanded
Il And for this indomitable fidelity
can not receive too much credit. O
the other hand, whatever he did
} the way of political management {
/" the lower sort served only to Jesse
'e his prestige and power. He did nj
j. win any reliable support among I'll
,e spells politicians, because he did M
70 give them enough. And because /
gave them too much, he lost much
thessupport Of that public opinion b
" which he might have ovcrawed an
- coerced the spoils politicians. Hist
is Auence with Congress dwindled fro
e, day to day. He became almost cor
d. pletely isolated. 1t seemed to be
sportive amusement to his Democrat
enemies to spite him, and hardly ar
President has been 80 feebly defendt
Is by his few friends. With regard
the tariff bill, his repeated efforts
.. impress his opinions upon Congre
al utterly failed of success; and whe
y recently, he called on Congress to
'e its part in saving the country fro
10 financial disgrace and disaster, it
'S most appeared as if his appeals serv,
III rather to provoke than to abate opp
le sition.
I'D The sterling qualities of Mr.. Clev
IN lands character stood forth most stri
ey ingly when he had occasion to a
he upon his own responsibility. His co
he duct of foreign affairs has, as to
mt questions of importance, been patriot
'p fair, and courageous. His positi'
IN, with regard to the Hawaiian affa
m, although somewhat marred by c,
lie ;ain clumsiness of management, W
nd based upon principles of justice al
to good faith, from which the count
er- can not depart without dishonor Al
sts incalculabIe harm to its best interes
nia | AIth1n u,bo., >u,n,.oonoI .:1L "a