The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-17
THE FATTEsT MAN OF THE DAY.
grover Cleveland's Extraordinary Emil
hence and influence.
Boston Herald.


1t is idle to deny that Mr. Cleveland is a
inquire before the public of exceptional
eminence. He stands distinct in this re-
spect as Jackson once stood, as Lincoln
stood later, as Grant was manifested later
still, though Grants distinction came less
from his deeds i'll the presidency than
from the deeds that proceeded his assump-
ton of that office.
1t IS difficult for partisans who are
opposed to Cleveland, and perhaps for
some who are not, to accept him as
figure on the same plane Of Importance as
the others, yet a cool judgment OF him
seems to US to stamp him as the most
influential public man of his generation.
The people instinctively turn to him, and
the instincts of people like the Ameri-
can people are seldom deceived. No one
will question his power with them. Many
obstacles have stood in the way of it,
much has conspired to overthrow it, and
yet Cleveland stands out at this juncture
more potential than ever before.
Men do not come into strength like this
by accident. Very few men reach it with
ont rare gifts in their personality to win
the hearts of men, and extraordinary ex-
ertion on their own part to acquire what
Is known as popularity. The nearest to a
personal influence over men is in Mr..
James Ii. Blaine of the other party. Mr..
Blaine Is q man of singular personal
endowments. He is one of the finest of
orators, one of the most attractive men in
his intercourse with those about him. He
is instinct with tact; he fascinates, he
magnetizes even, in his association with
those who are likely to be useful to him.
The source of his power is no secret. it is
plain upon the surface. John Sherman, q
man of greater intellect than Blaine, and of
UNNECESSARILY more statesmaniike achieve
ments, does not succeed at all in comparsi-
on in winning public favor, because he does
not possess those attributes. Grover Cleve-
land does not possess them either. Grover
Cleveland is not winning IN personal
intercourse with those who might be use
full to him; he Is not tactful, he is not con-
ciiiating, neither is he great orator. Yet
Grover Cleveland, unlike John Sherman,
is a power without those adjuncts; he
invokes as much enthusiasm as Mr.. Blaine
Blame is endowed for such purpose.
But a highly important part of Cleve-
lands strength is outside the Democratic
party. 1t comes from Republicans, or
from men VINO are not partisans at all.
These it will not be denied, are men of
the highest intelligence and character.
They are not the unthinking Republicans
intelligent, thoughtful men of the party.
1t was the Schurzes, the George William
Curtises, the Freeman Clarkes, the Eli
OTIS. that left the Republican party to
support him. 1t was James Russell
Lowell who gave him the highest eulogy
in Office. 1t was the president of Bowdoin
college who came over to his support four
wears ago. 1t is the president OF Brown
university who went out to meet him
when he came into Rhode Island last
week.
Is it anything less than greatness that
compels powerful party into the support
of Cleveland with large share of its most
influential leaders in opposition to him :?
Is it anything less than greatness that
attracts so large portion of the dover OF
the intellect of the Republican party to
him? We have shown that it Is not the
graces of the orator, the arts OF the poll
tician or the tact of the man who wins
and magnetizes in personal intercourse.
What is it, then? We should be gfatiiled
if some of those who have been In the
habit of depreciating Grover Cleveland
would furnish an answer 10 our inquiry.