The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-08

the North American Review. The article,
in so far as it discusses the political eff
feet" of Mr.. Cleveland's message, may be
well enough, and if not presenting any
thing OF special consequence to the public,
or adding anything to the general fund Of
Information upon the subject of which it
treats, it may nevertheless, have certain
value with a class of readers who are
pleased with stories which convey the idea
that the present is an age Of miracles.
Take, for instance, the following:
Eight years ago President Cleveland
was not particularly conspicuous lawyer
of Buffalo, with PROBABLY little political
ambition, and certainly no apparent pros
pect of political future"
That certainly makes Mr.. Cleveland suf-
fciently obscure to suit the fancy of any
one who wants bedrock facts for miracle.
The writer continues.
"He was a remarkably conscientious
lawyer throughout, and devoted himself to
his law books, largely to the exclusion Of
reading matter of any other sort"
Here we have 1t, that Mr.. Cleveland was
about as ignorant OF current events as it
was possible to f1Dd any man of ordinary
intelligence in the country, He simply
read law books. Again says the writer.
"When, for instance, he was nominated
for Governor of New York. in September,
1882, it may reasonably be asserted that he
had never read a book upon political econ
omy, and that the intricscies of the tariff
question, as applied to this new country,
with its entirely novel requirements, were
to him as mystical and unsought as the re-
sultants of the dream of Swedenborg."
Now, here we have it that Mr.. Cleveland,
up to the age of over forty years, had
never read book on political economy,
and therefore must have been grossly igno-
rant of all facts and theories relating to the
subject; and as for the tariff he was, if
possible, still more profoundly ignorant.
If he had ever thought upon such subjects
at all, 1t had been to regard them as vags-
ries as foolish as the dreams of Swedenborg,
Now for the miracle, says Mr. Smith:
That was six years ago. The other day
he wrote message concerning the tariff
.
and expressed his views IN such a simple
and Straightforward fashion as implied the
fullest knowledge, and apparently, the
closest study of every authority
Here We have the miracle. The man
who had never read book or political
economy and had treated the tariff as a
species OF SweedenbOrgism, suddenly
stands forth conspicuous for learning.
wisdom, comprehension of the very SUBJ
lects about which Mr.. Smith regards it
reasonable to assert he had never, for more
than forty years, studied, thought Of or
read of-and yet Mr.. Smith contends that
by hook or crook, when Mr.. Cleveland
cane to write his message he understood
the tariff question thoroughly. We prefer
to believe that Mr.. Cleveland is no miracu-
lous production. We prefer to believe that
Mr.. Cleveland has been all his life a
student; that he had read works on political
economy and the tariff; that he fairly COM
pretended the intricacies of the tariff, had
matured opinions on political economy and
tariff, and that he knew Of other politicians
than Samuel J. TIden who had adorned the
history Of the country. Nor do we believe
that Mr.. Cleveland, previous to eight years
ago, had studied men only ''in groups Of
twelYe'-indeed, we are forced to the con-
| clusion that Mr.. Smith is poorly equipped
to write of Mr.. Cleveland previous to
''eight years ago." Mr.. Cleveland, regard
less of political ambition" was a great
| VII ho Lac hot 10 ho
had mental power which made him great
in the eyes of the people. He has not
learned everything he knows in eight
| years, and his present status as politician
and statesman is not the result of mysteri-
Gus influences. In word, Grover Cleve-
land isnot miracle, but on the contrary,
a stslwart, robust production, capable and
honest, the result of study, thought, read.
ing. Nor is he by any means
the first or the only specimen
that America has produced. Mr..
Smiths view OF Mr.. Cleveland's life and
habits until he was more than forty years
of age are not complimentary, nor do we
believe they are in any sense just Indeed
they cannot be correct. They are out oil
the usual order. Such talk would inculcatt
the idea that men grasp and master ques
tons without preparation which results
from reading and study. The advance made
by Mr.. Cleveland from obscurity to emf
nence is doubtless phenomenal, unusual
but The fact that he has shown himssl
! Equal to every position which has beer
thrust upon him, is indubitable proof tina
he had been from his early manhood
student of all questions pertaining to tn
science of government-politics, in tn
best sense of the term. When, from
the office of Mayor of a smalllcity, he be
came Governor.of the Empire State of New
York, he was equal to the high RESPONSE
bilities of the position. he evinced famil
iarity with books other than law book:
nor could ii be reasonably asserted that b
has never read book on political economy
or that the 'intricscies of the tariff ques
ton WA to him as mystical as the result
ants o. The dreams of 6wedenborg." Whel
Grover Cleveland was called to the offic
of Governor of New York, he was equip
ped by study for the position, and whel
chosen for his present hign Office, he do
monslrated that ia reading, study. thought
he was prepared to take the helm OF tn
ship of state and in storm or calm kee
her on q course Of unexampled prosperity