The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-23
CLEVELAND AND JACKSON.


the Characters of Two Democrats.
General jackson may not have been q
good man or a great man. But he was an
emlnently successful man. Mr.. Cleve
land may not be a small man. or a bad
man; but he is eminently an unsuccessful
man. The one was leader. The other
Is an experimentalist. In peace or war
SUGGESTS ever the standard, and no mat.
ter how little moral value we may attach
10 1t we can not dispute its verdicts.
MIR. Cleveland set out upon the national
highway with the one idea that the gov
eminent of the United States was as cor
rupt as the state of New York, and that
nothing was needed to purify II but the
mugwump panacea of civil service reform.
he was going TO administer his office upon
lines laid in heaven. To this end he'chose
as the head of his cabinet a most charm
ing and accomplished man; but one who.
IN his character of statesman, had passed
his life in a peach-blow vase thousand
miles beyond the moon. The rest of his
political family consisted mainly of dis
coveries of his own. The same plan ran
through the gamut of his appointments to
Office. His idea seemed to be to re-create
the public service in the image of its inn
mediate maker; and, it is only fair to say,
that he proceeded with the most impar-
tial disregard of bygone friends or ene-
| mics. Indeed, like the upright Judge, he
stood so erect as TO lean rather to bygone
enemies than bygone friends. The result
was defeat which, however we'll inten-
TONED his motives and however theoretio-
| ally good in themselves his actions, was
not logical sequence of the situation.
Brought back TO power after an interval
| OF four years, and through one of the most
whimsical chapters of accident in all the
| whimsical annals of American politics. he
at once began 10 display those qualities
that deny him leadership and to plunge
his party into disaster On paper, very
self-confident. In action, nearly abortIve.
he had been renominated by his ex-ap-
pointees. They had worked four years TO
this end. thinking that when he got back
they would get back. But hardly was he
warm in his seat before he coolly told
them they were not in it. Yet. while he
punished his friends, he did not punish
his enemies.
jackson was quick and clear in his per-
ceptions, prompt in his movements, reso-
lutte IN his purpose, faithful alike to his
friends and his enemies. Nobody was
ever in doubt where TO find him. As a
consequence not merely the people rallied
to him-as, indeed. they have rallied to
Cleveland-but the public men of his time
saw in him a leader whom they could tie
TO, and who, in turn, would tie to them,
In this latter respect the conditions are
exactly reversed in Mr.. Cleveland. lie
trusts nobody, and, as a consequence, is
trusted only by those who have some axe
to grind. No public man of consequence,
and without selfish motive, would venture |
to risk his character and influence upon |
m lfntn s.is al
because Mr.. Cleveland makes common |
cause with nobody, and may at any mo-
ment be expected TO disappear from the
scene, leaving his inconsiderate yoke
mate to carry the burden unaided and
alone. As result the president is at war
with half his own side of the senate, and,
while the senate has acted badly enough.
yet in the matter of person al alienation
responsibility must be placed on the pres
ldcnt, who ought to be, ard who but for |
the limitations we have noted would be.
equal to the management of men of such
scaut measure. To make an issue and
not to fight it out, to arouse a party fol-
lowing and to disappont il, to come 10
the scratch when 1t is too late. in short.
ever TO seek both horns of the dilemma,
to wish to eat his cake and have it. these
are the features which distinguish Grover
CtSNSAdltA lIJll AillTeW JACKSON, who
never feared to burn his bridges benin
him, and was always found a the head of
the columns, his sword flashing, its scab-
barl thrown away.
Mr.. Cleveland is, as we have often said.
a master, not leader. A more hard
painstaking man does not live.
he feels that he is responsible for every
thing, as II the government were his pri-
vate property. the people his children In
and other small ways he has
saved a great deal of money. In reforms
OF detail, which will not live after him, he
has elevated and strengthened the public
service. But he has for the time wrecked
a great party, and destroyed a great cause.
1t will be long time before we shall find
where we were the 4th of March.
1898
1t is not 10 he expected that the experi-
ence of Mr.. Cleveland which the demo-
cratic party has had will be materially
during his residue of his
ERIN as our official leader He can
De relied upon at all times and
inder all circumstances to carry him
elf with honor and credit. He may be at
my time expected to issue some message
'r manifesto for the moment electric in
is character. But he lacks the power to
ollow the word with the act. and cen to
he end he will continue 10 prove a disap-
continent TO those who look to him, as
oldlers look to general, for an exploit
rilliant and decisive.
To such as believe with us that all
hings work for good under God let us
ope that behind the might -haye-been
hat is turks n glory that is to be. COM
ensatlnC us for all our losses, bringing
unshine out of gloom, order out of chaos,
nd the final vindication and confirma-
on of democracy unterrified and un-
Conrier.JonrnnL