New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-04
WHO Is II TIE SiDDLEi

Nomlnallv the Democratic party rides in the
polltica saddle and will continue TO do so as far
rs National affairs are concerned for the next
twenty months In the last twenty-eight months
the party In power has experienced number OF
bad falls. but rcverscs appear not 10 have taught
n wisdom The leaders. from President Cleve
land down. apparently believe that the American
people or the ma j0rlty OF them were born very
recently and are not gifted with common sense.
Their most recent exploit clearly proves this
statement II there WAS any political question
over thoroughly discussed In the United States
# was the tariff question In 1892. The battle
was fought ON ne law OF 1890 as II had been
fought two years before. and the FreeTrade
Democrats headed by Mr. Cleveland believed
that they had woa a great and decisive victory
The Marty was badly divided on the money ques-
ton. bnt WAS virtually solid on the tariff qucs
ton. The law Of 1890 was TO be wiped of the
statute books. and everybody supposed that the
bin referred to with approval in the annual mes
slre Of President Cleveland in December. lSE'
was to become law Everybody was mistaken
bu, no man WAS more bitterly disappointed and
angry than the President At the special Sos
sion of the Lid Congress he had carried his
point on the Silver Repeal bill against the wishes
~ a ms jorlty Of his party In Congress ana the
n.rsona wishes and views Of ~ least three
members OF his Cabinet. The defeat Of the Will
son bin he therefore, and probably justly. re-
gar,lcl as a personal humiliation. The elections
that followed the enactment into law or the Bill
II Sale. however, disclosed 10 the President. who
Is A keen politician. however pragmatic he may
be- as a statesman. that the people were dissatis-
fed and that the passage OF the original Wilson
bill would have been even more disastrous To the
Democratic party than was the enactment OF the
GOrman-Bricc law.
Something had to be done; political diversion
made The President had won one victory on
thn silver question. and that has been again Sc
lcct.,I Will h.. win again? Some OF his most
conspicuous lieutcnants. including the Secretary
Of the Treasury and the Secretary OF the Navy
are not volunteers but conscrpts in behalf or
the cause that they have somewhat ostentatous-
IL. but none the less unwilllngly. espoused. But
II should not be forgotten that that was true OK
scores Of Democrats in Congress who voted for
the unconditional repeal OF the Silver act OF 1870
and against both free coinage and a revival OF
the Bland Allison act Of 1873.
This far the Sound Money" Democrats APP
pear TO have had the better OF the opposing Dem
ocratic factions In this tussle AS they did In the
bitter struggle Of 1893. Whether sham battle
Is being fought is question for the future, but
one which a good many shrcwd and experienced
political observers who remember the greenback
days are already most willing TO answer In the
affirmative There seems 10 BE- no uncertainty,
however. in the minds Of any Of these men that
the President still has a firm seat In the party
saddle. His so-calcd constitutional advisers"
have no vote In the Administration, and advice
from other persons IL seldom tolerated and less
often accepted and followed For whatever Is
crcdiiablc In this Administration. as also for
whatever may b. or is discrcditabIe President
Cleveland must be held responsible.