The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-08-25

troversy OF modern times. He has no percepti-
BILE connection with the category of accidents
to which his elevation Is due. He had neither
personal following, popularity, admiration nor
respect, because he had not exhibited none of
the traits nor attachments that inspire regard.
He was not eloquent nor learned, nor Guilt
waited, nor agreeable. nor entertaining, nor at
tractive in mind, manner or person. His en-
joyments were those which are found in the
unrestrained indulgence of the appetites and
passions, and his chosen associates were the
companions of his orgies.'
There is some truth and some double
distilled poison in Mr.. Ingalls, charao-
terization of President Cleveland.
But his election 10 the Presidency in
1884 was not by any means ''the most
astounding phenomenon In American
politics." 1t is entirely and most graft
fyingly explicable.
Mr. Ingalls, inability to understand
why the people of the United States
should choose such man rs Mr.. Cleve-
land to the Presidency roots in his nom
comprehension of what the people
want in their Chief Executive.
Mr.. Ingalls, seems to fancy that they
are honing for man who has "made
q political speech" or "tried an inn
portant case" or "has been member
of legislative body" or has written "a
remembered paragraph" or has "ex-
pressed an intelligent idea" He fancies
they want as their Chief Executive q
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 man who
executes. That is why they elected
Mr.. Cleveland, and there is nothing
astounding about it.
In 1881 Buffalo, N. r., was overrun
by band of political outlaws, and the
usual crowd of good people were heav-
ing signs from the bottom of their
weak stomachs and saying that "y0u
can't enforce the laws in Buffalo,"
Mr.. Cleveland, forty-four-year-old
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 I
will enforce the laws.
1t took peoples breath away, this
sublime impudence of this lawyer, pro-
posing actually that if made the city's
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 1000, but this
Democratic reform lawyer, who pro-
posed to be mayor if elected mayor,
was 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 1.-THE veto
mayor" In the first six months of
his administration he saved the city
nearly $1,O0O,OO0 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.
That, Brother ingalls,, "was the most
astounding phenomenon in American
politics"
1t struck the State of New York
dumb with establishment to see the
chief executive of Buffalo give himself
not to the spouting of ga political
speech" ror to the inditing Of ga re-
membered paragraph" but actually to
the execution of the laws.
They recovered from their astonish.
ment, however, enough to nominate
him the next summer for Governor of
New York, and to elect him that fall
by about 200, 900 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 a clerk and an orator.
They fairly Rugged themselves for
Joy.
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.
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.
This is the man, said they, whom we
want to execute the laws of the United
States, and they insisted on having