Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1885 — A TALK WITH M’DONALD. [ARTICLE]

A TALK WITH M’DONALD.

What He Thinks «f the PresidentElect and the Political Issues of the Day. [Chicago Inter Ocean 2 When the Hon. Joseph E. McDonald, of Indiana, had returned to the Palmer from the Iroquois club last evening and had lighted his cigar tor a quiet, reflective smoke, he had to make a change in his programme as he sat in his comfortable parlor to bid a reDorter for the Inter-Ocean come in and take a chair. When his visitor had been cordially treated by this big, benignant a|n d distinguished Hoosier whom Indiana is waiting to escort to a Cabinet position, Mr. McDonald was shortly asked: ‘What do you think of Mr. Cleveland?’ ‘Well,’replied Mr. McD iiald with a friendly smile and judicial deliberation, ‘ think he is a man of a good deal of what is called vis inertia, Whereupon the reporter ventured a liberal interpretation to the effect that Cleveland is a hard man to move, but a good deal of a man wt en he gets going. Mr. McDonald smiled assent, and continued: ‘Mr. Cleveland shows, I think, not too much obstinacy, but a spirit tempered with sound judgment. There’s a good deal of the holdfast in Mr. Cleveland. I believe ‘Holdfast,’ or ‘Steadfast,’ was one of Bunyan’s favorite char acters in his ‘Pilgrim s ProE,> wasn’t he?’ queried ‘Joe’ onalcL with a smile that significance to the use of the figure. ‘When he exercises the active principle of this vis inertia what is he going to do?’ asked the reporter. ‘I take it Mr. Cleveland is a Democrat, and in his administration he will navigate by DEMOCRATIC LANDMARKS.’ ‘Think, perhaps, Mr. McDonald, that any of these landmarks might be removed?’ ‘No, sir: these landmarks are the cornerstones on which the Government rests.’ ‘Going to set up any new stones?’ ‘1 don’t know of any.’ ‘ s the civil service law one?’ ‘Well I wouldn’t have voted for that law if I had been in Congress.’ ‘Why?’ ‘For a variety of reasons. For instance, there is the principle underlying the law of perpetuity in office, and to that * object It is not according to the genius of our institutions. It goes back too much to British models, and necessarily carries wiih it in time a civil list ot'pensioners.’ ‘But having the law, what would you do?’ ‘I believe it the duty of the executive to enforce it.’ U'Aiid you believe Cleveland will enforce it?’ ‘Yes; 1 believe he will. The 1 onstitution enjoins on the President as one of his chief duties that he tak 1 care that tge laws are properly executed.’

‘Yon believe Mr. Cleveland’s i recent letter a fair expression ! of his purpose in this regard?’ ‘Yes, a fair and clear exposit-i ion of his intention regarding• it. He is not a man given to double dealing, or to double entendre, nor does he intend, I think, that anything should be read between the imps. As to. decided cases of partisanship with civil service employes, which is the case you suggest, 1 think he will undoubtedly exercise whatever power of removal-Jie has under the law, leaving to the Senate the right to do as it pleases in the matter. Yes, I believe he will retain a faithful public officer until his term expires, and he will not, I think, reel under any obligation to reappoint him.’ ‘And, Mr. McDonald, what about the South and its cry?’

‘I don’t think the clamors I from the South will be very ! much different from those of | any other section. 1 think the | great pressure upon the administration will particularly bo a? its beginning; but I don't think, as I say, that the clamors from the South will be greater than those from other sections, and 1 don’t think