Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-10-17


In all except physical proportions and in
all that should make Presidential candi-
date. Grover Cleveland is by far the most
inferior man ever named for the office of
President In no one thing has he shown
that he is above mediocrity. General
jackson had had experience in Congress
and in the army, and withal possessed IL
keen intellect. Mr.. Polk had served years
in Congress and had been Speaker of the
House. Franklin Pierce was not Il great
man but he had served in both branches of
Congress. Abraham Lincoln had been in
Congress, had taken a rank as Il lawyer
which would not make it worth his while
to accept the office of Sheriff, and so large
man was he that his party in Illinois Sc
lected him to meet the great Douglas be
fore the people as the Republican candi-
date for United States Senator, and in
that canvass he made IA series of speeches
which attracted the attention of the cOun-
try. And so we might 90 on. But here is
a candidate who has had no experience in
national affairs Indeed, it is said. how
truly we do not know, that Grover Cleve-
land has never been i'll Washington. He
has never shown any interest i'll or apt-
tude for that sort of public service in
which men who have been Presidential
candidates have participated. He was II
lawyer VINO uCccpttu lIt bllltt Ol SltTlll
of Erie county, New GOrk-a thing which
IL lawyer in high standing and with good
practice would never have done. Indeed,
the sense of professional fitness would
keep most lawyers who have not large
business from accepting the Office of Sher-
itf. While he held that Office, he exhibit
ed that grcediness for fees which led him
to make unusual charges and to act on
two occasions us hangman, which certain
ly does not show that the Democratic can
didate is man of fine feeling. Subse-
quently he was selected by his friends and
urged upon the citizens as Il candidate for
mayor. To this Office he was elected by II
large majority, which had more to do with
making him a candidate for Governor than
his course as mayor. He was nominated
for Governor and elected by Il large ma
jOrity. The papers which advocated his
election, and some which did not, but ia
vor him now, have stigmatized him in the
most pointed language for his plumbers,
his partiZanShip and his devotion to large
corporations. He has practically done
nothing AS Governor to show that he is lit
for the office. He has been controlled by
the leaders of the Manning element of the
party, and his leading man in the State is
New York city official which Il New
York paper, now supporting him, had de
nOunced rs the most corrupt man i'll the
municipal government of that city since
Tweed. He has never displayed Il particle
of craftsmanship. There is not on record
any intelligent or vigorous expression OF
this man, who should possess in the high
est degree broad intelligence, ideas of pub
lie policy and comprehensive views. He
has never given expression to any senti
ment which would lead one to assume that
he thinks of this subject, He is, to us,
the words Of man who has been con
stantly about the Capitol at Albany, an(
who has seen him nearly every day, "a
dull, heavy, stolid man, slow of compre
hension and without general intclli
gence,"
BY many degrees Grover Cleveland i
the smallest and most unfit man eve
named for President.