Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-30
ABOUT EX-pRESIDENTS.
Mr.. Cleveland Gives His Views
from Personal Experience.


A Notable Speech at a Dinner Given at
Sandwich, Mass, in Honor of Ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland--He Holds a Reception
and SPEAKS In an Entertaining Manner.
Associated Press Dispatch by Special Wires.
BosToN, MASS, July 25.-The dinner
given at Sandwich, to-day, in honor of
ex-President Cleveland, was a notable
affair and great success.
A special train left Boston at o'clock
and at Buzzard's Bay Mr.. Cleveland was
taken aboard.
At Sandwich Mr.. Cleveland and
Governor Russell held reception in
the large tent, lasting until 1890 o'clock.
AT O'Clock dinner was served in the
Casino, fully 800 persons being seated
at the tables. When the menu was
finished the toasts began.
Governor Russell extended, on behalf of
the party, q welcome to ex-President
Cleveland. He spoke warmly in eulogy of
his administration and commended his
courage in fearlessly and emphatically an
nouncing his convictions on the currency
question. This again leading public
opinion, he said, TO a right conviction Of
an important public question.
Mr.. Cleveland IN replying to the toast,
"Our Neighbors," the ex-Presidents de-
tiaicu ms lhtsiiIol 10 DC BOou nelgnDOr
and Notwithstanding large majority OF
the neighborhood were in sad state Of
delusion he politely should not quarrel on
that subject or become political scold.
Continuing, he said he could hardly
avoid dwelling on his fixed political con-
victions. Some things, said he, we can
certainly do safely and properly. We can
be tolerant of one another. We can con.
stantly test our political beliefs by the
light of patriotism, good citizenship and
true Americanism, and we can be brave
enough and honest enough to follow where
they lead. We shall thus elevate our DO
litioal efforts and find incentives to ac-
our, country as great as it ought
to be and in securing to ourselves and
our fellow countrymen the happi-
ness and prosperity due to all Of
US under a free government by the people,
If our political endeavor is thus directed
we shall rid ourselves of the blindness and
bigotry which accept unreasoning party
associations as sufficient guide to politi-
cal action and which count the spoils of
partisan success, the sole object of political
struggle. So though we may differ in
party utilization if we thoughtfully and
the best of neighbors, bound together by
unselfish feelings, to forge special advan-
tages which can only be gained at the ex-
pense of our fellows, and all engaged with
party cooperation in the achievement Of
our countries high destiny.
Mr.. Cleveland praised the beauties of
Cape Cod and returned thanks for neigh
borly attentions of It's inhabitants. In ;
speaking Of ex-Presidents he said: "Our
people are by no means united in their
idea concerning the place which ex-
Presidents ought to occupy or the dispo-
sition which should be made of them. If
the President should die at the end of his
term the subject would be relieved of all
uncertainty and embarrassment, but this
would hardly meet the views of those who
would be called upon to do the dying. So
some of them contiue to live and thus per-
petuate the .perplexity of those who bur
den themselves with plans for their utili-
among these anxious souls" continued
Mr.. Cleveland, made us useful by lodging
upon our shoulders all sorts of political
conspiracies.
If they are to be believed we are con-
stantly engaged in plotting for our own
benefit and advantage and are quite will
ing for the sake of reaching our ends, not
only to destroy theparty to which we belong
| but to subvert popular liberty and utterly
uproot our free American institutions.
Others seem of the opinion that we should
be utilized as orators at county fairs and
other occasions of all sorts and all sorts
Of places. Some think we should inter
fere in every political contest and should
| be constantly in readiness to express an
opinion on every subject of a political
character, that anybody has the Ingenuity
to suggest. Others still regard it as simply
dreadful for lis to do these things and are
greatly disturbed every time an ex- Presi-
dent ventures to express an opinion on
any subject. Not few appear to think
we should simply exist and be blind,
deaf and dumb The remainder
of our days is in the midst of all this a
vast majority of the plain American peo-
pie are as useful, sound and sensible.
They are self-respecting enough and
have dignity enough to appreciate
the fact that their respect and confidence
as neighbors is something which
an ex-President may well covet, and
which, like any other man, he ought to
earn. They will measure the regard and
consideration due to him by his usefulness
and worth as private citizen. They will
not agree that the fact of his having
been President gives him any license for
bad behavior, nor that it burden 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.
I