The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-06-23

1884 was not by any means 'the most
astounding phenomenon in American
politics" It is entirely and most grati-
fyingly explicable.
Mr.. Ingalls, inability to understand
why the people Of the United States
should choose such man as Mr.. Cleve-
land to the Presidency roots in his non
comprehension OF what the people
want in their Chief Executive.
Mr.. Ingalls, seems to fancy that they
are honing for man who has "made
political speech" or "tried an i'm
portant case" or has been a member
Of Legislative body" or has written "a
remembered paragraph" or has tex
pressed an intelligent idea.'' He fancies
they want as their Chief Executive
man who is eloquent, learned, culti-
waited, agreeable, entertaining, attract
i've in mind, manner or person.
That is Mr.. Ingalls, "most astound-
ing " mistake.
The people OF the United States want
in their Chief Executive n man who
executes. That is why they elected
Mr.. Cleveland, and there is nothing
astounding" about it.
In 1881 Buffalo, N. Y, was overrun
by band of political outlaws, and the
usual crowd of good people were heav-
ing sighs from the bottom OF their
weak stomachs and saying that "you
can't enforce the laws In Buffalo,
Mr.. Cleveland, a forty-four-yearAold
lawyer there, who. had been, sheriff
ten years before and knew what he was
talking about, told the Democratic
party nj Buffalo and the timid people
of the city: Elect me mayor and
will enforce the laws.
1t took peoples breath away, this
sublime impuderce OF this lawyer, pro.
posing actually that II made the citys
executive he would execute. But they
retained presence Of mind enough to
vote for him.
Buffalo went Republican on the State
ticket that fall over 1,6OO, but this
Democratic reform lawyer, who pro-
posed to be mayor If if,elected mayor,
wss elected by $3.50 majority, the big
gest any Buffalo mayor ever got.
:. That was wonderful, but it does not
compare with what occurred after his
introduction into the mayoral office. He
became known right away as ''tho veto
mayor" In the first six months of
his administration he saved the city
nearly 81 100000 by vetoing extrava-
CANT appropriations. More than that
and far greater than that, he executed
the laws of New York and the ordi-
nances of Buffalo. N3H
That, Brother Ingalls,, ''was the most
astounding phenomenon in American
politics"
1t struck the State of Now York
dumb with astonishment to see the
chief executive of Buffalo give himself
not to the spouting of ''a political
Speech" nor to the inditing Of ''a re-
membered paragraph" but actually to
the execution of the laws. 'nas .ii1
They recovered from their nstonish.
ment, however, enough to nominate
him the next summer for Governor of
New York, and to elect him that fall
by about 100000 majority. They were
'tickled as they could be to get man
for Chief Executive of the State who
would execute the laws and not merely
be clerk and an orator.
q They fairly hugged themselves for
joy. o.a r.,
During Grover Cleveland's term as
Governor of New York that State had
three departments Legislative, judi
cial and executive, as provided by the
constitution of that State. I
The people of the United States
looked on in wonder and approval. To
them it mattered not that he was not
eloquent, nor learned, nor cultivated,
nor agreeable, nor entertaining, nor
attractive in mind, manner or person.
He was an Executive who executed and
that was what called forth their spe-
cial admiration. tl9itf
$ This is the man, said they, whom we
want to execute the laws Of the United
States, and they insisted on having
him, even though they had to turn out
twenty-year-old political party to do
1t. - AM.lH f;F.4N afii l0-} t'u,
Now the only astounding thing in
all that is not that the people. should
choose such a man for President, but
that o man could be found for mayor:
OF Buffalo who, after election, would
actually refuse to go into co-partner-.
ship with the ilaw-defying elements
apd to the happy stupefaction of timid
despairing folk, actually execute the