The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-02-07
CLEVELAND GETS IN A coon ONE.

At the recent banquet of the New
York City authorities Ex-President
Cleveland, without violation Of the
social amenities or departing from the
unities of his subject matter, quite
neatly and foreefully brought bis per-
sonality under discussion. 1t is to be
borne in mind in reading the following
that Mr.. Dana, the Sun editor, sat near
by, an attentive listener:
This exceedingly enjoyable enter
tainment is given under the auspices
of our eity's police authorities and
officers and 1t may well be regarded
as meeting Of past and present con-
servators Of peace aud their friends. |
beg, therefore, to suggest that nearly
twenty years ago | served term as
Sheriff of a county ranking third in
point of population among the counties
of the State, and that, at a later date, |
was for eleven months Mayor and
Police Commissioner off city bearing
the same relation to the cities of the
State. II may seem strange to those
who know me as mild and amiable
man to learn that in the latter capacity
my ehiefduty was 10 administer rebuke
and censure to such members of our
police force as were convicted Of vio-
lations OF the rules of the Department.
OF course claim the benefit of the
presumption that this distasteful and
uncongenial duty was well and thor
oughly performed. So far as my
Shrieyalty is concerned, may say by
way Of magnifylng my claim for recog-
milton here that | not only held the
office and performed its duties but
that have since suffered more or less
abuse on account of II.
"Not many years ago, during a
National political campaign, female
orator was employed 10 go about the
country imploring the electors Of the
land TO withhold their suifrages from
the Buffalo hangman.' You must
agree with me that this was quite
dreadful. II makes me almost shudder
to think that perhaps this females
efforts may have had much to do with
a disastrous result. But after all,
there is q grain of comfort in the re-
Election that this thing was done in
the heat of political contest and by one
avowedly in the employ Of political
adversaries. There was also, | believe,
some uncomplimentary reference to
the Office of Sheriff or deputy sheriff
in the newspapers. This, Of course, Is
sad enough. But even such wounds
may be healed; and then. too, we must
remember that something should be
conceded to that inestimable boon, the
freedom of the press, OF which our
country boasts. But though my term
of office as Sheriff expired so long ago
that l might plead the statute Of limit.
ations desire to stand with ex-Sherifl
Grant, with ex-Sheriif SicAles and with
Sheriff German In defense of one ol
the eldest offices known TO civilization
and one which, If faithfully admins
tered, cannot fail to reflect credit and
honor upon its incumbent.
"Whcn we see graduate from the
office of Sheriff twice elected to the
Chief Magistracy Of this the largest
and best city in the United States, and
see II demonstrated that an ex-Sheriil
is not dcbarred from the attainment ol
even higher honors, we can afford to
ridicule all efforts to belittle the
Shrievalty aud laugh at every attempt
TO rob us of the satisfaction we derive
from the consciousness Of an honest
performance Of its important duties
Needless Of II oil, we can join In thai
hymn verso whose touching words and
melodious tune are familiar to ever,
Sheriff and ex-Sheriff in the land:
My mel ghbor thought TO injure me
BY cutting down my yapple tree
He did not injure me at all,
| For had apples all the Fall,