Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-26
WILL BE A SURPRISE
Hints Thrown Out About the Pres
ident's Message.
His GENERALSHIP OF 1887 RECALLED
Existing Conditions Are Greatly
Different From Those Then.
MAY. BE DIS DIN TING

The Lint has here end there been thrown
out that the Presidents message will be
surprise of some kinda document present
ing but one topic, and treating that most
vigorously, or else an Unexpectedly strong
summary Of the W hole situation and sug-
gesting unexpected remedies. Reference
undoubtedly is to the tariff message of 1887,
when Mr.. Cleveland, then in his first term,
pitched the coming presidential battle on
the ground Of tariff reform. With existing
conditions, can Mr.. Cleveland repeat that
generalship, and select the issue now upon
which his party must go to the country
next year?
Existing Conditions Different.
1t is pointed out that existing conditions
are very different from those he had to deal
with in 1887. Very different, as affecting
both him and the party.
In 1887 Mr.. Cleveland was acting both for
himself and for the party. His renomina-
ton was already assured To deny him a
chance for a second term would be for the
party to confess failure under him during
the first. To put him up again carried with
it, of course, much authority He should
be permitted first of all to sound the key
note for tie second campaign. This he did
with his tariff message, and inasmuch as
with that deliverance he touched reSpon-
sive chord in the bosoms of nine-tenths
Of the members of his party, the play he
made was, in party sense, very happy
ore, and insured him a loyal support. 1t
is true that he lost the election, but 10
tGrin refoI mer ever conceded that it was
because of that message. Moreover the
dc mocracy was at that time in a majority
in the House, and the tariff bill-the Mills
bill-passed by that body the next spring
was drafted on the lines of the message;
ard so the party by that. as much the
to a revision of the principles of taxation.
Not to BE Put Up Again.
Now. as is suggested, the horse is of
another color. 1t is not conceded that Mr..
Cleveland is to be put up again. A large
number of democrats hold, on the contrary,
that third term nomination would be
fatal to the party. In the minds, therefore,
OF these men Mr.. Cleveland's public life
and his leadership responsibilities are
drawing to a close. His career is already
practically finished. AS they argue, there
Is no call whatever for him to undertake
to commit the party for next year to any
thing. He should coniine himself to rec
concentrations merely for meeting
emergency. The treasury is empty, gold is
again leaving the country. and uneasiness
prevails in business centers. Let him ad-
dress himself to formulating suggestions
Tor the moment, and put out of his mind
any notions about surprises. keynotes and
all that sort of thing. So far as next year
is concerned, the party will cross bridges
as 1t comes to them, and inasmuch as he is
not expected to be showing the way, then
any errors committed will be charged to it
and not to him.
Will Address Republican House.
Then Mr.. Cleveland this time, will be ad-
dressing a republican House, with a presi-
Dental candidate in the chair, and an over
whelming majority on the floor Would
not mere surprise message be an idle
demonstration? The House and the Presi-
dent it is pointed out will not be so far
apart on certain matters if each will act
more with regard to relieving bankrupt
treasury than making party capital for next
year. And the Presidents responsibility
here is very great He goes first and by
judicious recommendations can do much to
compel judiciouS response. On the other
hand If he leads with politics, the other
side will follow with politics, on the prin-
clple that trumps call for trumps, and the
country will have to stand by, watching
anX!ously with beads of perspiration stanl-
ing out on its hulging brow. until the game
is played out. sometime next June, or later.
A Complete Surprise Difficult.
A complete surprise would be very diff
cult. Every topic has been SO widely ex-
amined and discussed. The currency uues-
tcn? Retirement of the greenbacks; re-
vival of state banks as banks of ISSUE in
crease of national bank circulation; bi-
metallism with or without interna tional
agreement; all possible changes would ap-
pear to have been rung on those themes.
The tariff? The only surprise possible then
would be for the President to repeal his de-
uncfat.on of the Senate's work on the Will
son bill and demand of a republican Con-
greSS a righting of that wrong. Foreign af-
fairs? Is the President prepared to confess
to grave b.under, and to ask permission
to enroll himself among those who haAe
stood up for Hawaii and are now standing
I'M for Nnh hl I,a
men of both parties.
Generally Disappointing.
All things considered, therefore. is not the
only real surprise possible no surprise at
all, but message on regulation lines? The
President keeps track of public expectation,
and generally disappoints it.