Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-29
MIR. Cleveland as q Man.

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
1t has been suggested in many quarters
that the Democratic presidential canvass
lacks that special ENTHUSIASM which springs
from strong and attractive personality in
the candidate. In this respect, perhaps,
the Republican party is better of in this
contest, yet the damaging public record OF
Mr.. Blaine has gone far TO neutrallze all
the advantages OF his "persOnal magnet.
ism." But the point make is that there
is no such lack in the Democratic caudi-
date as seems to be conceded by many Of
his party friends.
1t Is no unusual thing 10 hear staunch
Democrats. who will unhesitatingly vote
the ticket, complain that there are few
points Of sympathetic attraction in the can
didate "Wbat do our people know or
care about this Mayor of Buffalo? He has
neither private character that challenges our
admiration nor national record that gives
assurance OF fitness for the presidency"
The latter part OF this criticism has
always struck Inc as unreasonable. Mr..
Cleveland is neither an orator OF fasclna-
ting eloquence nor statesman OF SNOWY
qualities, yet II would seem beyond ques-
ton clear that experience in the Chief EX-
ecutive Office Of the great Empire State is
| a better introduction to the duties OF the
| presidency OF the United States than ser.
| vice in either House Of Congress, and
| therefore that Mr.. Cleveland, in useful pre-
| paratory experience, is at least not behind
| Mr.. Blaine as a candidate for the Chief
| Magistracy OF the country.
Now, as to Mr.. CleyeIand's personality
| This very day heard several gentlemen OF
intelligence and influence say substantially /:
eve know him only as a cold-booded,
| coarse grained, aDimal-sort OF a man--a
| voluntary exile FROM society, characterized
| by somewhat OF practical sense and by
somewhat more OF logged courage and de-
termination" Substantially the same esti-
| mate OF him We encounter almost daily.
Entertaining the views | do OF Mr..
| Cleveland's character, such an estimate of
| him strikes me as a remarkable misappre-
| hension. He certainly Is q man OF heavy
| physique, and certainly is not ga society
man," but the country has before it indu-
| bitable evidence, not only that his absence
from society is TO be explained by his al
most unparalleled devotion 10 official work
and duties, but also that he Is man OF the
simplest and strongest moral and religious
convictions-of warm heart, OF tender and
almost cblldlike domestic afections-in a
word, that he Is precisely that type of man
which the great body OF the American
| people is ever most ready 10 trust and to
love. The trouble Is, the truthful portrait
has not been put before them, by whose
default will not undertake TO say; but /
do undertake 10 say that he who but scans
the following meagre outline OF facts will
agree with me that the portrait here pre-
scented is truthful
When Grover Cleveland accepted the
nomination for the mayoralty OF Buffalo his
mother was living, and he wrote her OF his
action In the matter, asking. also. her coun.
sci. She replied in q simple but really
superb letter, telling him, substantially,
that she regretted his decision ; that she had
always felt there was timber In him to make
at least an honorable member OF an honora-
bic profession; that she did not regard
| politics In these days as an honorable pro-
fcssion; but that II the die was cast, she
bad Just two pieces OF advice to give him
| viz:
FirSt-Resolye always to find out and to
| do what is right; and,
Second-Acting on this line, have no fear
! OF consequences.
have not the letters before me, and do
not pretend to quote their language accrl-
rately. but they have been published by the
press Of the country, andlmany readers will
recognize the substantial correctness OF
this free paraphrase.
The mother who gave this noble advice
should not have borne other than hero OF
son. and put Il to you whether her
counsel does not read like prophetic epit-
ONE OF her sons career.
A few years passed, and the Mayor OF
Buffalo. because Of his fidelity 10 bis
mothers counsel, Is nominated for Gov
ernor OF New York; but that noble mother
has passed away with the years, and on the
very day OF bis election Grover Cleveland
penned the following letter to another
member OF hs family:
"MAYoR's OPyIcg. BUFFALO, n. Y.,l
November Z, 1882.
Ny Dear Brother. Il have Just voted.
CIT here In the Mayors ofice alone. with
the exception OF an artist from Frank Les
LEE newspaper, who u sketching the Office.
II mother was here ! should be writing 10