The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-29
A coauospLacE PRESIDENT.


been s.o.id, commonplace president
whose administration was distinguish.
? BY no positive ability to do good executiv
3 work, b5 the violation Of his pledges, AM
, by an utter ineapacity to appreciate tn
best patriotism, and highest national as
piratlons Of our people. The Coioaist ar
CUES that his nomination by the Democ
raey for president for the third time is
complete answer to our view of Cleye
land. The observation-disclosures sees nc
iorce in this logic, which in effect say.
that the political availability of man
measured by his nomination for high
public Office, disproyes the charge O.
mediocrity and commonplace executive
and administrative capacity.
Popularity, availability are proved by
nomination for public Office, but ability is
tested by the record made in the admins.
tration ola great public trust. To illus
trate, George Washington and James
Monroe were both given two elections ia
the presidency. The historical record of
deorge Washington is that of a very great
man; he was a great patriot; great
|
administrative capacity. Mr.. Monroe,
despite the fact that he was given two
terms and was in public office n eariy all
ms life, was very dull, commonplace
man; as minister to France under Wash
ihgton he was contemplate, and on his
return, SO long as Alexander Hamilton
hved. there was nothing too dirty in shape
OF low intrigue for James Monroe to use
against Hamilton at the instiga-
ton OF Jefferson. Always in
once. he nevertheless won no
iaureis in office; his authentic state papers
are most commonplace and cheap produc-
tions; nothing but the presence of so
great and accomplished statesman as
9ohn Quincy Adams in Monroe's cabinet
saved his administration from CONTEMPT.
And yet this dull, commonplace man
monroe was elected to second term at
time when the Democratic party was full
OF great and shining statesmen, like the
Industrious De Witt Clinton. of New York
History has made this right, for Clinton.
VINO was only United States senator and
governor OF New York. is today rated in
the hrst rank of Americas great men. while
Monroe. the cheap, available, common
place Monroe. is classed where he belon es
among the enthroned mediocrities of
history. The record of Ciinton's statesman
ike work settles his place: the mere eIeya-
ton to the presidency does not lift Mon
roe above his record The Democratic
party from an early day has worn the col
ors OF some popular political heroes who
were very execrable men, like Aaron Burr
or given their battle flag to some very
cheap, commonplace men to carry. Tn
iofi me democracy turned down an ex- |
ceedingiy able and accomplished states |
man, Martin Van Buren,, and nominated |
foik Tor president; in 1s44 Van Buren,
was again turned down for Cass.
IN 1872 very cheap and compar-
atiVeiy obscure New Hampshire law
yer was preferred to the ablest
men OF the party. Polk was not popular.
ne was very commonplace man; SO was
fierce, but they were deemed available
men py the managers of the party; they
were elected; measured by their record in
once and out of office they were cheap.
commonplace men, despite their selection
ana election. The nomination of Bueh-
anan, a cold, unpopular man, in 1876
vas preferred to men of shining talents
Ike Stephen A. Douglass. Mr.. Buchanan
= as hos commonplace or dull man. but
he certainly was taken for his avail
lpiiity rather than his ability. and
us record surely was sad enongb
crafty his worst enemy. The |
ecord OF the Wing and Republican par
les furnishes plenty of proof that chea,
ho commonplace men frequently are pre-
erreu because of their availability. Will
am henry Harrison, a very cheap. COM
aohPiaee man, beat Daniel Webster for
he nomination in 1885, and beat him
gam IN isio. There was nothing to Har- :
son lame; he won little fight over )
ome canadian volunteers and Indians In I
he war Oh iSl2-l4. and he commanded ut /
ne ihuian hight of Tippecanoe in 1911. In l
eithef OF these little fights did he show '
ny superior military ability, and vet ?
senty-hve years after Tippecanoe this old
iaiah hghter, at IS years of age, was s
ing and howled and whooped I
10 The presidency; man of 5
ost commonplace mind and fl
iafae'ef, whose only state papers of con- 0
9uehce were written by his great secre- :.
ry OF state, Daniel Webster. In 1919 =
lothef very commonplace man. General | :,
ayier, was nominated over Daniel Web | i,
er ana elected; in 1852 another common n
ace man General Scott, was nominated q
er webster and defeated. The military A
lenss OF Taylor and Scott were resnect-
ie' oaf nobody pretends that they -
ssessed' as both Jackson and Grant did -
sh qualities of craftsmanship. The
fhihation of Fremont in 1856 was TIM. of W
very cheap man. a quarrelsome char ST
an all his life, over men of the calihsr IF D.
ase and Seward The nomination ~ pr
mean was due chiefly 10 his avail -
ai'F, Tor nobody then suspected tha. -
was other than the inferior A.
po'h Seward and Chase. The nom;n.- Ia,
u VI Hayes IN iS76 was that of a rsths- be
mediocre man over Conf W.
8 Morton. Blaine and sherman. >, frs
available. The nomination of g.. wi
i oaFneld was due to ayaifah;,s. Il
nosiess the nomination of uarr; A'
7 sherman in ISIS was due TO the fac, -
= harrison was from a doubtful sts.s s.s
lie Ohio was SURE Republican. m
'hese illustrations are sufficient tn sh. | II,
: commonplace, mediocre men often >. 81
nominated and elected TO high o.s,. Sta
the only just measure of their on,I,.r eo'
Iot their nomination 10 Office. but tb. .f'
erd Of their administration. The rscorI - -
. Mr.. Cleveland is fact: il j. nj,
record Of very duh, commonplace II,
that broke all its p.eipsx b,
Nnra North laer,inr / air