The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-01-24
GROVER CLEVELAND. /.
HIS RECORD AS PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.


HIS RECORD AS PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.
An Administration That wifi Make its
Mark in History.-Cleveland' Hon.
esty and Courage.
Washington Cor. Baltimore SUM-
Just after the November election
several of the Democratic extreme low
tariff apostles endeavored to put the
sole blame of Democratic defeat on
Mr. Cleveland. As was shown in this
correspondence at the time, these gen.
tlemen were fully entitled to a share
in the causes which led to Democratic
discontinue. Within day or two,
Mr.. Cleveland has been again arraign-
ed by leading party organ, and the
disaster traced to him by reason of his
setting up purely personal admins
tration, ignoring absolutely the advice
oftrusted and recognized party leaders,
and following only his own counsel.
Whatever may have been the short
ccmings of Mr.. Cleveland, it is of the
easiest demonstration that had the
party leaders pulled together and
done their duty he would have receiv-
ed many more votes than the COM
paratively few necessary to overcome
the Harrison plurality in New York.
Twice at least in the last twenty years
has the Democratic party lost the pre-
sidency because certain faction bosses
could not have everything their own
way, and their treachery cannot be
concealed or atoned for on account of
the idfosyncracies of the presidential
candidate. But as the loss of the elec-
tion by the Democrats has drawn
more particular attention to the one
Democratic administration in quar-
ter of century, the man st the head
of it is destined long after he goes out
of power to be the subject of analysis
and criticism.
A REMARKABLE PRESIDENT.
Those who have been familiar with
his manner of carrying on the govern
ment, and who appreciate his undoubt
ed sincerity and singleness of purpose,
do not waste much time in considering
the way or wherefore of his disappoint-
ing so often the mere spoilsmen whose
allegiance tn party is based not so
much ON principle as on plunder. To
these the character of the man is
wonderful study. No President who
ever sat in the White House had so
much individuality as Grover Cle7e
land. Andrew jackson had not SO
much, but his personal and moral cour
age was of higher order, for he
never wavered, while in some fine
instances Cleveland has In studying
the character, as a public man, of
Cleveland, it should not be forgotten
that he knew absolutely nothing what
ever of national politics until after his
election as President. Only for two
years prior to that did his acqusint-
ance with politics extend beyond the
limited confines of comparatively
small municipality. He had no social
| life, for it is said he has never lived in a
private house since his childhood. He
lived in rooms in Buffalo when elected
Governor of New York he occupied
the executive mansion at Albany, and
came from there to the White House.
He had been in Washington but once
before he came here to be inaugurated.
He was unknown to the political as
| the social circles Of the capital. Yet
he at once took hold of the wheels of
government with grasp firm enough
to be felt to the outermost edges, and
from the first night that he slept in
the White House every one knew
that Grover Cleveland was President.
HAVING THINGS HIS OWN WAY.
| Nothing is closer to the fact than
the assertion that Mr.. Cleveland re-
garded his cabinet officers ''merely as
clerks to record his will" This is the
quintessence of truth. The admins
tration has been his from first to last
in all its entirety; upon him is the un'
divided responsibility for what it has
done and what it has left undone.
Mr.. Bayard has been criticised from
end to end of the land for his conduct
of the State Department. 1t was
quite natural to suppose that one oi
his high-strung and impetuous nature
would have some control over his own
department. But it is all mistake
Exclusive of the mere routine of the
State Department, Mr.. Bayard had
no more influence in directing it,
policy than he who pens these lines
So with every other cabinet officer
The President did not. consult with
them as to what he should do. HI
called them together simply to inform
them what he had determined to do
He frequently made the most impor
tant appointments without any priol
notice to the department chief imme
diately concerned.
STRONG WITH THE PEOPLE.
In this correspondence a month o
two before the St. Louis Convention
it was pointed out that Mr.. Clevelan,
: had no personal following; that h
! possessed none of that magnetism
t which attaches to many noted part.
leaders, yet he was so strong with tn
people that his denomination was as
sured. This prediction was verified
/ of course. More than that, this ma
, had the power to name his own asse
ciate on the ticket when three-fourth
of the delegates were personally i
favor of another, and substantially t
: dictate the platform upon which th
4 campaign was conducted. No rare
!. evidence of his being cast in an vi
common mould can be adduced tina
n the fact that with division and di
! content among the leaders Of Il
+ clans, with the power Of gold again
d him, he lost his election by me-
|. scratch.