New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-16
THE TYFCTTIVE LIMITATIONS.

What IS this Administration for: The peo-
pIe have elected a President and Congress
Was 1t TO put one man in the place of another
sherman in place of Olney, Gage in place or
Carlisle Hay in place Of Bayard, and so on!
good thing so far, but was it all? The appoint
ments count for little. The people want to know
what is 10 be done for their interests. Govern
ment is really an intensely practical matter to
Americans A government which makes them
poor-as Cevelands did-they bounce. Has the
now Administration the wit and the power TO
do better? If It can do better the soreness or
politicians who do not get what they want Will
count for little If it cannot that soreness Will
catch ifs scmbance of justification from the gen
eral disappointment
The public is apt to suppose that tariff bill
which pesses the Administration will pass and
one which offends It will fall. But the Admin
istration cannot be held responsible for the
preferences Of Senator's and Representatives, and
it would be quite likely to fail If 1t should at
tempt to control them. 1t can and does express
preferences, just as it has expressed opposition
to the sugar schedule Of the bill reported TO the
Senate: but the responsibility lies with the Re
publican Senator's and Representatives. If they
were to send to the President bill better than
the present tariff, and yet bill disgracefully
bad in many respects-an extreme superstition
vet It might be the duty Of the President to sign
it If he believed that no better could be passed
this year The men in Congress must frame the
laws. and the influence Of the Administration
can rarely be exerted with wisdom In trying to
dictate their form.
About foreign affairs men are prone TO say
that the Administration IS solely responsible.
But that is not at all true. Behind the question
what ought 10 be done is the question what the
country can do with safety. If 1t has at any
moment a lack OF resources, what sense would
there be in foreign policy which would involve
the risk Of a vastly expensive contest! That
was the foollshness Of President Cleveland's be-
havior in foreign affairs. Just when the Treas
ury was in great need he proclaimed n foreign
policy which seemed particularly likely TO IN
vite war. Charitably It may be presumed that
he did not comprehend the situation; but the
business world knew, and thereupon dropped
Mr.. Cleveland from It's list OF safe men forever
1t will not do for an American President to court
war with Great Britain or any other foreign
Power at time when the Treasury Of the
United States IS, by his own admission, on the
verge Of bankruptcy no matter what the cause.
The present Administration has urged that the
raising Of an adequate revenue must 90 before
any action on international questions The case
does not admit Of argument. But the Admins
tratlon Is equally right in urging that the rails
ing of an adequate revenue must go before any
action on the currency question. There must
be, first Of all, the entire security which ample
resources In the Treasury Will give Not one
hour sooner can financial changes be considered
which In their very nature might disturb the
business Of the whole country and the revenue
Of the Treasury. 1t Is not venturesome to pre-
dict that the President will wait some time be-
Gore he invites any such disturbance.