The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-01-05
A Magnificent and merited Trib"
ute 20 President Cleveland.


At the meeting and banquet of the
Massachusetts, Tariff Reform League,
held in Boston the evening of the 18th
ult,, James Russell Lowell, the gifted
poet and erudite scholar, paid the fol-
lowing tribute to President Cleveland
in his opening address of the evening:
One of the reasons that chiefly sag-
gested the opportuneaess OF our cem-
| ing together here has been the Presi.
dents message at the opening of the
present Congress. Personally. con-
| fess that feel myself strongly attract
ed to MIR. Cleveland As the best repre-
sents. We of the higher type of Amer
| icani m hat we havs seen since Lin
coin " as snatched from us. But we
are not here to thank him as the head
of q party. We are here to felicitate
each other that the Presidential chair
| has u m n in it, and this means that
every word he says is weighted with
what he is. We are here to fellcitate
each other that this mai understands
| politics to mean business, not ehlcane-
ry, plainly speaking, not palterlng
with us in double sense that he has
had the courage to tell the truth to the
country without regard to personal or
party consequences, and thus to re
mind US that country Aot worth tell
ing the truth to, 10 not verth living
in; nay, deserves to have lies told 1t,
and to take the inevitable consequen
ces in calamity. Our politics call
loudly for q broom. Mr.. CLEVELAND,
think, has found the broom and begun
to apply it. But, gentlemen, the Pres
ident has set us the example not only
| - h,,f Of road and
| moderation. He has kept strictly to
bis text and his purpose. He has
shown us that there was snch thing
as being protected too much, and that
we had protected our shipping inter
ests so effsctually that they hR ceased
to need protection by ceasing TO exist.
In thus limiting the field Of bis warn
| ing and his counsels. he has done
| wisely, and we shall do wisely in fol
lowing his example, His facts and
his figures will work all the mGse ef
| fectually. But We must be patient
| with them and expect them to Work
| slowly. Enormous interests are In
voIved sna must be trea,ed tenderly.
Mr.. Lowell has always stood high
in the esteem and confidence Of Re-
publicans-a representative man of
culture and practical views. He was
appointed by the lamspted President
Garfield Minister to England. where
he was recognized and court.d d as q
man of commanding intellectual pow
er and requirements, worthy Of fel
lOwship with her best scholars and
statesmen, and honored as such as no
U. S. Minister at the Court of st
James had been before, q fact which
Republican journals justly claimed
reflected honor not only upon the man
but upon the country. But now that
Mr.. Lowell bas shown that he has the
courage of his convictions, giving ut
terancs to views upon a question o.
vital and supreme Importance to the
welfare of our csuntry,iR its solution,
wholly at variance with the self styled
protectiOnists of the party which has
been honored by his adherence and
eminent ability. it remains to be seen
if he is not one of the . impractica
ole, "'' visionary -" theorists in his
| views, aud discussion of the tariff,
| which most of the Republican press
is pleased to characterize all those diff
fering with the party professedly the
friend of home industries and inter
ests, but In reality the promoter and
friend of monopoly, and legislative
sanction to its continued aud grasping
demands. in which justice nor the
common welfare of the country has
a voice.