The Portland daily press., 1891-07-27
THE Ex-PREsIDENT.
Hon. Grover CIeveIand's Ideas on the
Subject.

SANDWICH, Mass, July 25.-One thousand
people were present at the reception and
banquet rendered ex-President Cleveland
here today. At the banquet in the Casino
Mr.. Cleveland was the first speaker, and as
applause and cheers. He spoke in a happy
vein and his remarks were frequently ap-
plauded. After referring In complimenta-
ry way to Sandwich and its townspeople, he
said. In response to the toast sour Neigh
Dor. the eX-President:
81 must remember that you have not only
kindly spoken of me as your neighbor, but
have also referred to me as an ex.President.
/ have never failed to be profoundly sensi-
BILE of the generosity and confidence of my
countrymen in making me the recipient Of
the greatest honor than can be bestowed up
on any man; but what / remember most
vividly in connection with the great Office of
President are its responsibilities and the Ia
Dor and anxiety attending an attempt to do
the work which the people had intrusted to
me. The impress made upon the mind aud
heart OF one who stands daily face to face
with the American people, charged with the
protection of their rights and the advance
ment of their varied interests, can never be
etfaced, and scarcely gives room for the graf
ifcation naturally supposed to attach to high
and exalted place. am led to mention in
this connection as a spur to official labor and
as "A sign OF political health the watchful-
ness of the people and their exacti0ns from
their chosen representative to whom they
are exactlng aud critical, sometimes almost
to the point of injustice, this Is better than
popular heedlessness and indifference con-
cerning the conduct of public servants.
sit has always seemed to me that beyond
the greatness of the office and the supreme
Importance OF Its duties and responsibilities,
the most impressive thing connected with
the Presidency is the fact that after its hon
or. hao hon linz aicn I'D nrxd sk. 1.Io
and responsibility are past we simply see
that citizen whom the people had selected
from their ranks to do their bidding for
time and to be their agent in the discharge
of public duty has laid aside the honor aud
the work of the highest office in the world
sumo at their side the ordinary duties which
pertain to every day citizenship. Here he il,
or should be, subject to the same rules of be-
havior which apply to his fellow country
same fair and decent treatment unless
he has in some way forfeited it.
"But it must be admitted that our people
are by no means united In their ideas con-
corning the place which our ex-Presidents
ought to occupy or the disposition which
ject would be relieved of all uncertainty
and embarrassment If every President would
die at the end of his term. This does not
seem, however, to meet the views of those
who under such an arrangement would be
called on to do the dying, and so some of
them continue to live, and thus perpetuate
the perplexity of those who burden them
selves with plans for their utilization or dis
position.
"a very amusing class among these anx-
lous souls make us useful BY laying upon our
shoulders all sorts of political conspiracies.
If they are to be believed, we are constantly
enged in plotting for our own benefit and adj
vancement, and are quite willing, for the
sake of reaching our ends, not only to de-
stroy the party to which we belong, but to
subyert popular liberty and utterly upro0t
our free American institutions. Others
seem of the opinion that we should be util-
lied as orators at county fairs and other Oc-
casions OF all sorts and at all sorts of places.
Some think we should Interfere in every po-
litical contest and should be constantly In
readiness to express an opinion on every
subject OF political character that anybody
has the ingenuity to suggest. Others still
regard 1t as simply dreadful for us to do
these things, and are greatly disturbed every
time an ex-fresident ventures to express an
opinion on any subject. Not few appelr
to think we should simply exist and be blind,
deaf and dumb the remainder of our days.
In the midst of all this, vast majority of
the plain American people are, as usual
sound and sensible. They are self-respect-
ing enough and have dignity enough to ap-
preclate the fact that their respect and conf
depce as neighbors is something which an
ex-Presldent may well covet, and which like
any otter man, he ought to earn. They will
measure the regard and consideration due to
him by his usefulness and worth as a private
citizen. They will not agree that the fact of
his having been President gives him any IL
cense for bad behavior, nor that 1t burdens
him with an unfavOrable presumption.
These are sentiments which we, on the side
OF the ex-Presidents, will gladly adopt, and
these conditions we can well afford to accept
In conclusion, desire to express the conf
dent opinion. based upon short experience
and supplemented by the kindness which
characterizes this occasion. that no better
place can be found as retreat for ex-Presi-
dents than Barnstable county. They are
sure to receive here all the Cape Cod hospi.
tality aud friendly treatment they deserve
with great many other things thrown In.
From the bottom OF my heart say to
you, that while / do not mean In the least to
detract from the honor arising from the in
cumbency of high official place, nor under
value the designation OF ex-PresldeDt the
pleasure which this occasion affords me
chiefly consists in the cordially with which
you have greeted me as your neigh6or
Gov. Russell, Mayor Matthews OF Boston.
Hon. VIM. E. Barrett, Charles FRANCIS Ad-
ams and Josiah Quincy, were among the
other speakers.
publican, said: 1--WE respect strong, true,
manly foe, and such foe his record and
history have proved Grover Cleveland to be.
We intend to vote against you, MT. Cleve-
land, ali the same. If we could only induce
you TO get right on the tariff, we would be
not only happy to pay you the tribute of our
admiration, but of our suffrage. but from the
strength of your character we regard 1t as