The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-13

"
Mr.. Cleveland had not yet attracted atten-
ton outside of his metropolitan field
But there was one issue that in sense was
the issue OF the hour everywhere,
and that was whether it was any longer
possible to secure by popular election
that kind of integrity and ssgacity that
would administer the peoples affairs with
the honesty and discretion that were
necessary to good government. The But
falo canvass for the mayoralty defined that
issue in the sharpest manner The noml-
nation of Grover Cleveland was avowedly
and defiantly the gage of battle thrown
down by reform. There were only two
points to be determined-did the people
want reform? That is, did they wish their
business conducted honestly, and would
the man they had selected for the expert
ment so conduct it? So vitality important
were these two questions that vaster and
intenser themes were for the moment tor
gotten by the country, and it turned aside
momentarily to watch this contest in But
falo. The people answered one question
and Grover Cleveland answered the other
The reply in one case was with votes, IN
the other with acts.
1t would appear that the Diogenes OF
American politics, worn out with his long
hunt, was disposed to lay aside his lantern
may have been searched for. it is pretty
well settled that he had found an honest
man, and, what is of more consequence,
the honest man was brave enough to
carry his private convictions into his pub
lie duties, with no regard TO partlsanshlp
on the one hand or the influence and
threats of political scOundrels on the
other. There was no uncertain sound IN
his inaugural message. 1t rang clear and
simple.
1--WE hold" said he, ''the money of the
people in our hands, to be used for their
| purposes and to further the interests as
members of the municipality, and 1t is
| quite apparent that, when any part of the
! funds which the taxpayers have thus in
! trusted us are diverted TO other purposes,
or when, by design or neglect, We allow a
greater sum to be applied to any municipal
| purpose than is necessary, we have to that
extent, violated our duty. There surely
is no difference in his duties and
| obligations, whether person is intrusted
with the money of one man or many.
! And yet it sometimes appears as though
the Office-hOlder assumes that a different
rule of fidelity prevails between him and
the taxpayers than that which should
regulate his conduct when, as an indj-
vidual he holds the money OF his
neighbor."
This was going back to first principles
and when it came toSetoing an Ubiquitous
! street-cleaning contract it was with a
vengeance. d -
1t is quite plain at this time that the
| official conduct Of Mr.. Cleveland-that is
to say, his fidelity to the pledges made,
his uncomprOmising' warfare on dishOn-
| esty and his sagaclty intthe management
of his official trust, bnGught him promin-
! emily before the peonleuof the state as 81
! candidate for governor. 1t is impossible
| to find any other. motive for his nomina-
! ton than that lis Outrageous and inteli-
! gent reform had made, aim for the mo-
ment the most popular man in the state.
From one end of the land to the other
| praises of his conduct were repeated and
! the press OF both political parties COM
/ mended him as a lit EXECUTIVE OF the state.
! Among them the New York Sun was con-
] spicuOus for its warm eHlogiums. Among
! other things 1t said edltorially: Grover
/ Cleveland, the democratic candidate for
! governor of New York, is a man worthy
/ OF the highest public confidence. No one
/ can study the record of his career since be
! has held office in Buffalo without being
/ convinced that he possesses those highest
! qualities Of q public man, sound prlncl-
] pies of administrative duty, luminous in
| telligence and courage to do what Is right
no matter who may be pleased or dis
pleased thereby"
eve wish" said the Sun, "that his ut
terances might be read and pondered by
every citizen. No matter what political
! fair a man may have been educated in,
no matter by what pafty name he may
/ now prefer to be called, no one can con-
slider such principles and sentiments as
these declared by air. Cleveland without
feeling that such public officer is worthy
OF the confidence and SUPPORT of the whole
! people, and that the interests of the state
viii be entirely safe IN his. hands"
The election ofGroYer cleveland as gov
ernor is part OF theepolitical history of
| New York. The enormous vote cast and
! the overwhelming majority received were
indicative of the interest felt in a reform
candidate. M
The governors official acts after his cleo
ton were widely discussed. But no one
! impugned his honesty or sincerity.
The national democratic convention
met at Chicago july s, 1881 Three days
were devoted to organization, platform
and speeches in favor of candidates. In
the evening of July 10a vote was taken
in which, out OF $40 votes, Mr.. Cleveland
received 992. A two-third vote (557) was
! necessary to a nomination. On the fol-
lowing morning on the first ballot Cleve-
land received 6S3 votes, and on motion OF
Thomas A. Hendricks subsequently NOM
mated for the vice-presidency on the
ticket with Mr.. Cleveland the vote was
made unanimous. He was officially noti-
fed OF his nomination at Albany, July 30.
At the election in November, 1854, Mr..
Cleveland had a majority of 81 electoral
votes over his competitor, James q. Blaine.
One who has studied his character says OF
him: "Grover Cleveland, both III his
record and in his person, impressed me as
peculiarly the outcome and result OF what
Is best and most enduring in American
life. AS we have already seen, he started
like the typical American boy to hew his
own way. The almost insuperable Diff
culties of his youth, the hardships of pow
erty, the pangs of hunger, the frosts of
winter never deferred him. They
were in fact, as they always are
to the true mortal, only the blows
that compacted and shaped the man.
We hear great deal nowadays about men
being all American. Obviously there are
some American things which man had
better be without. 1t is not pleasant to
contemplate a man whose character re-
fleets the heterogeneous and dlscordant
elements OF our complex life. Now is it
safe to trust with heavy responsibilities
that man whose chief element of Ameri-
| canism is Impotence of restraint, disre-