The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-19
Tho History and Outcome OF Cleve-
landism.


landism.
Another political philosopher attributes
the Democratic downfall and disintegration
to a cause which it is interesting to consider.
The Ncw York Times diagnoses the situa-
ton, and comes to the conclusion that the
disease was due to 1.-The continued and ma
lignant abuse of Mr.. CLEVELAND during the
past twelve years. "A divulsive. de-
stroying force has been at work in
the bosom of the party" it proceeds.
systematically building up discords and
preparing the party for division and ruin"
Socialism, anarchy, and reputation"
concludes this political diagnostician,
grew with appalling luxuriance in Demo-
cratic soil during the canvass, but the
enemies of Mr.. CLEVELAND had spent a
dozen years in preparing the soil"
In the first place, let us remind the Neto
York Times of certain facts Of experience.
All political history proves that "malig-
nant abuse" is powerless to produce the
results attributed to it by that journal.
The criticism of a man in public office
which proves effectual by long continuance,
must have some other basis than a mere
sentiment of ~malignity. 1t must be justi-
fled by events as sound and reasonable,
or it tends to strengthen the man in the pub
lie esteem rather than to weaken him. 1t
may nave a transitory influence on public
opinion, even if 1t is purely malicious;
but to be permanently and widely influen-
tial 1t must be just, and have convincing
support in the actual character of the man
and in his political conduct.
When the late JAMES G. BLAINE was
nominated for President by the Republican
party, twelve years ago, the Times rejected
the nomination solely on the score OF OBJ
lection to Mr.. BLAINE personally; and
when GROVER CLEVELAND was NOM
mated by the Democrats, it support
ed him earnestly. and for personal rea-
sons alone. 1t did not profess to have
changed the political opinions which
heretofore had induced it to give I'M
fiinching support TO the Republican party.
Those opinions the Democratic platform
upon which Mr.. CLEVELAND was nomi-
mated, assailed with peculiar emphasis and
bitterness, reCiting them at length; while
the Republican platform simply repeated
declarations Of policies which had long been
sustained by the Times. Our neighbor pre-
ferred Mr.. CLEVELAND to Mr.. BLAINE,
but not because he was nominally a
Democrat. 1t reversed its political course
simply because it liked Mr.. CLEVELAND and
disliked Mr.. BLAINE. We do not attrib-
ute this change to it's "~malignity'' to-
ward the Republican candidate, but it
was wholly sentimental. 1t was not
due in any measure to the conversion of the
Times to Democratic principles.
That paper supported Mr.. CLEVELAND in
spite Of his party and because, as it said, he
was 81 platform in himself;" and the same
spirit animated the whole Mugwump move
ment from 1854, when it was started, up to
1896, when the Democratic party fell into
ruin because Of it. 1t introduced a new and
alien and destructive element into Amer
lean politics. 1t substituted for the old sys-
TEN of government by a party, and accord
ing to the declarations Of "A party platform,
government according to the opinions or the
whirns of an individual elected President as
better than his party" and "a platform
in himself" That was a novelty in our
politics, a revolutionary departure.
Mr.. CLEvELAND'S first Administration
was colorless because II hostile Congress
prevented his carrying out the theory of a
personal instead of II party Government
but toward its close he asserted his personali-
ty in a tariff message, which precipitated
that issue in the subsequent campaign, when
he ran for reelection against General HAIR
RISoN and was defeated. The consequence
was the MCKINLEY tariff. In 1899 Mr..
C~LEvELAND ran again, and again was
supported by the Mugwumps on the simple
ground of his personality. He was elected
by what is called a Landslide" and specih-
cally as an opponent of the MCKINLEY tariff
and the policy of protection. That policy
was denounced in the Democratic platform
as theoretically unconstitutional, and az
causing in practice the enrichment OF
the few and the Impeachment OF
the many. When he became President
he proceeded to recommend an income tax,
an imposition utterly contrary to all Demo.
cratic traditions, theories, and principles. He
also elaborated with Mr.. WILSON in draft
ing a distinctively and avowedly protec.
tive tariff, without the slightest regard ia
the d~enunciation of the platform on which
he was nominated, and in direct conflict
with its doctrine. His was a personal Gov
eminent. He proceeded OH the assumption
that he was better than his party and "a
platform in himself"
The currency question, which had been
evaded in the formal Democratic platform,
forced itself into prominence and separated
Mr.. CLEVELAND from the great body of the
Democrats in Congress. The SHERMAN law
was repealed finally, but by the Republicans
rather than the Democrats. Without the
assistance Of the great majority of Republi.
cans it could not have been repealed,
so powerful was the Democratic revolt
against the leadership of Mr.. CLEVELAND
During the continuance of the agitation
produced by the change from one protective