St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-18
wIDENED RESPONSIBILITY.

We have no doubt that the an
houncement made without the seal of
official authority that Mr.. Cleveland
will, at the proper time, declare his
unalterable opposition to the accept
ance of office for a third time, is au-
thentic. The position which he holds
and the tremendous responsibility
which it imposes at the present time
of contending not only against all the
natural ills that threaten the nation,
but against the combined ignorance,
greed and partisan knavery of those
who are supposed to be his constitu-
tional assistants and advisers, ought
to be enough to make Mr. Cleveland
look forward to the 4th of March, 1887,
as the brightest day Of his life. If
could change his mind, it would likely
be only that high sense of duty which
has held him so firmly to his great
trust at sacrifices Of personal and
party advantage which he alone can
measure. At the same time, it seems
to us that, irreparable as the loss of a
leader as staunch, as fearless and as
dear to the people as Mr.. Cleveland
has been and is will be, in one re-
spect it will be an advantage to the
Democracy in another. There can be
no doubt that a great many men who
ought to be leaders of the party today,
who are most prominent in it's coun-
ellis and who should be wise, thought
full and statesmanlike in their acts, are
playing fast and loose with the most
important interests of the country,
principally because they know they can
rely upon Mr.. Cleveland to prevent
their acts from bringing about mis-
chievous consequences.
The Democratic leaders today are
too much like lot Of lively boys who
look to a schoolmaster to keep them
in order, and think that they can in
dulge in all kinds of pranks when they
get beyond the reach Of his birch.
While the presence Of Mr.. Cleveland in
the White house during these years
when only firm hand, a daring brain
and true conscience could have
saved us from a frightful fate, has
been of inestimable advantage to the
country, it has, to some extent, di-
unfinished the sense of responsibility
among lesser men, and encouraged the
game of politics in which nearly all
public men are now engaged. Does
all of the Democratic senators, Or of
the Republicans, either, who will vote
Tor a free coinage. bill now without
hesitation would do so if there were a
more pliable man than Mr.. Cleveland
in the executive chair? If they knew
that they would be liable for their
acts, If they knew that their votes
meant legislation without fear of a
veto, there would be no such exhibit
tion as we see In congress today
The vice Of insincerity and Of sailing
under false pretenses is spreading rap
idly in both parties by reason of the
freedom which men feel to do their
worst for the sake of making imag gin
airy political capital; knowing that the
president stands in the way, with his
sturdy sense of right and his indomit-
able determination to do his duty.
These silver fellows and these tax
eaters and these pension ranters, and
all the rest of the hateful brood that
politics matches, are playing a part
They are making their speeches and
offering their bills as part of a record
TO appeal to the selfshness and greed
of the worse half Of their constitu-
ents. To the better half they will ap-
peal on behalf of Mr.. Clevelands mer-
Its, keeping prudent silence about their
own performances. Thus they hope to
catch votes with either hand; and the
surer they are that the executive will
hold the calm, honest business sense
Of the nation, the greater freedom do
they feel to give free rein to the worst
that is in them. Let this safeguard be
removed, and they would not dare 10
20 pander 10 the baser element. It is
the old story over again. A resolgie