The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-03-02
President Cleveland.

Two DAYS more will wind up the admins
tration of President Cleveland, its history will
have been written, '..fnis' viii have been
affixed to the close of the volume, and the
book scaled. His name and fame will go
down the ayes embalmed in history as one OF
the brightest, purest patriots ever summoned
to preside over the destinies of this nation.
1t win be linked with the names of his illus
trious Democratic predeeessors-Jeferson,
Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Van Buren,, Polk,
Pierce, Buchanan, galaxy of statesmen I'M
surpassed by those Of any country on the face
of the globe. And yet they all had their
enemies. They were criticised, reviled, and
their names cast out as evil. This was the
result of party spirit. but that soon died
away and the truth of history has vindl-
Gated each one of them. 1t will do the
same for Grover Cleveland, although for the
present he is virulently assailed by men I'M
worthy the latchets of his shoes to unloose
He will leave behind him record that Will
establish his reputation as a patriot with an
eve single to the pubic veal. and statesman
with marked capacity for public affairs, and
a courage commensurate with his great re-
sponsibilities and answering devotion to the
right.
He has restored to the government, for the
benefit Of actual. settlers, large grants of
public land squandered upon railroad corpo-
rations.
He has put check upon the vicious and
reckless pension legislation in the interest OF
agents and undeserving claimants that would
have bankrupted the treasury without his
stern interposition. His highest praise will
be found in connection with his pension
vetoes.
His management of the finances has been
eminently safe and prudent under trying cir
cumstances. With large surplus IN the
treasury drawn from the channels of trade,
threatening a monetary crisis, he has managed
to return it back again to the pockets OF the
people by applying it to the redemption OF
the public debt.
He has given to the country the nucleus OF
an efficient navy, and broken up corrupt
naval ring that managed in twenty years to
spend s400, 100000 without solitary sea
worthy vessel to show for it.
His administration has been honest and
singularly exempt from any form of open or
covert peculation or fraud Of any kind
hut all has been done with jealous care for
the public interest.
He has boldly sought TO relieve the over
hardened people from excessive taxation, and
10 eaaalize the revenue laws SO as TO assist
the depressed industries of the country, giving
the people chance as well as the wealthy
and oyergrown corporations.
He has acted uniformly upon the principle
ennnciated by himself in the outset of his
career. that ''public Office Is public trust
and the Judgment Of history will be that be
has fulfilled il to the very letter.
He might have courtcd the favor Of power
erfai corporations and apacious trusts; be
might have wooed popularity by winkiug at
the pension raids; he might have needlessly
cmptied the surplus money Of the people into
The pockets Of the bondholders; be might
have perpetnated the system Of Robson and
Roach in naval expenditure; and he might
have listened to the Voice Of expedieney and
followed the lead Of those counsclsors IN his
own party who straddle the tariff question,
but Mr. Cleveland did none Of these things
he has been true to his pledges and has shown
the courage OF his convictions. HisPariy viii
return to power again in vindieatiou Of those
principles in defence Of which be IS about TO
lay down his great office, surrendering Il into
the hands of the people from whom IT was