The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-21
UNFAIR TO MIR. CLEVELAND.


Lieutenant Governor J. Hoge Iyier IL
most attractive speaker. He understands
how 10 mincle humor and pathos IN MS poht-
icsl talks in 90 apt a way as always 20 eaten
b;s hesrers and il is this gift. when no %
em;nen,ly Possesses. that has brought 10 hiiii
the honors which he now wears 30 worsn"''
But IN Mr. Tyler's speech delivered inui'-
dav before the Convention he takes position
which he illustrated bv humorous anecdotes
tina. il certainly unjust to Mr.. Cleveland in-
asmuch as it makes that gentleman appear 10
seeker after the Presidential nomination
70, instance in the course Of his remarks he
said:
IF any Of you think am q Hill man or
Cleveland man you are mistaken inor 49, 49,.
rem;nd ma OF little fellow who was hopping
around on his little foot crying. SomeDOus
asked him what was the matter. and ne sasu
he had kicked a fly with "a splinter n ms tan
think they both kicked a ily with splinter
in his tail. ,.o.o, T.,
the church who took his seat on the step
while the preacher was preaching. tie was III
the habit Of gong 10 sleep and bowihE MS
head over in that way. There was DIZZY goat
standing 10 one side. He saw tbs perform
ance and the billy goat TOOK Il Tor gIshtcu =.
WAS a banter There WIS another DIZZY goat
on the other side that took 1t as banter. 100;
and these billy goats backed long way ano
finally came together, the old man thIo"'n-
his face back lust enough % let the goats
heads hit. About that time the preacher A1N
! ended n sentence in his sermon ana was 20
inc TO commence another sentence Win the
EXPRESSION But again. The negro. seeing
the two billy goats on the ground sa'u'
lord. God. Marster don't make them goats
butt no more: they done nearly butt each
Others brains out now. 70 God, they done
nearly butt mine out, too
Now the only idea which could be conveyed
by these anecdotes was that Mr.. Cleveland
had sought the Presidential nomination Win
as much avidity as Mr. Hill. and that The TWO
had nearly butted each others brains out
This conclusion can neither be justified by
argument nor fact. Mr.. Hill. 1t IS true. has
omitted no opportunity 10 secure the party
misunderstanding. He fixed mp his Now
York machine and made his midwnter con-
vention elect delegates instructed for him to
Chicago, and. then. having done this he set
out on his electioneering tour TO the South. and
made speech after speech asking for delegates
10 the National Convention. But all the time
that he was thus engaged Mr.. Cleveland was
quietly either attending to his own business
or shooting ducks in the wild marshes Of
Louisiana the most unfayorable locality IN
the world for pushing political boom. He
has never uttered word nor done deed
which could be construed into asking for the
nomination. and. although he has said
that if the Democratic party should
voluntarily tender him the honor he
would consider it his duty as a Democrat
and as a citizen 10 accept 1t. he has. when
ever he has spoken on the subject at all
rather discouraged the idea of his being
placed at the head of the National ticket. He
has consistently acted on the principle that
the Presidency was an Office neither TO be
sought nor declined. and his whole course
has been that of the true patriot and the
quiet. dignifed statesman.
Governor Tyler must be as familiar with
| these facts as anyone else in the country, for
be Is a gentleman of very exhaustive political
information, and he certainly could not have
intended to place Mr. Cleveland IN false
position. or to have fastened upon him rep
utation he did not deserve His anecdotes
were, no doubt, told more to create tempo
rary diversion than 10 make a permanent
impression, but unless they are noticed some
thougbtiess and unTary reader OF nearer
might attribute b them insinuations they
were never meant to convey. Mr..
Hill may have butt bis brains out
in his eagerness TO secure the honor
he so much covets. but Mr. Cleveland has
always pursued and is still pursuing, the
even tenor of his way. ready to accept the
honor and responsibility of the Presidency if
bis party sees fit TO confer the one and impose
the other. If the Democracy and the coun-
try see fit to call him again into public life as
Chief Executive of the United States he will
perform his duties AS conscientiously, hon
estly and clearly as when he served in the
same capacity before; if not he will lose no
sleep over 1t. but will cheerfully acquiesce in
the will Of the party attend serenely to his
own affairs and be, as ever. always ready
to act for the welfare of the country and the
party whenever his counsel and advice IS
sought or needed