South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-07-15
FaiESD OF THE PEOPLE.
Edwin Harvie Smith Describes the
Rise Of Grsyer Cleveland

~~@- ~ EA~f[A AlENttanUs
"Egit years ago." said Mr..
Smith, "thc democratic party nomi-
mated for the presidency "a man who
had comparatively small experience
IN politics, but who had risen in u
brief period by o series Of successes
from the shrievalty of city to tho
governorship of the State OF New
York. Although at that time his
reputation might hardly be said to
have become national, wherever his
name was known it was the syne-
nym for honesty, and in everything
be had undertaken he had proved
himscn q man in whom the people
could place implicit confidence.
After a holly contested campaign,
IN which nc showed himself capable
Of dealing with national questions
With remarkable ability and during
which he evidenced the utmost tact.
he was elected, defeating his oppo-
nent, man Of ripe years and OF a
world wide reputation, who was
then at tho zenith Of his fame aud
the idol OF his party.
Thus entered into the arena OF
national politics the friend of the
people-Groycr Cleveland. No
more serious governmental problem
ever confronted any leader than that
which he had to face when he az
sumed the reigns of Office. His
party had been outof power for thir-
ty years, and in the interim the
country had been visited by that
most terrible OF all scourgcs-s CT
vii war. Upon the ruins of their
desolated homes many OF his fol-
lowers had just built, aud many had
been disfranchised by the party
over whose candidate he had tri-
umphed. As might have boon ex-
pected, tremendous pressure was
brought to bear upon him to sup
plant with his supporters those who
for years had occupied positions un-
der the various republican admin
lstrations. a firm believer in the
reform OF the civil service, however,
he declined to make of the patron
age OF his disposal vast corruption
fund with which to secure his re-
election. And while he was then
somewhat censured by an element
III his own party, time has proved
the wisdom Of his course.
Holding that unnecessary taxa
ton 10 unjust taxation, he did all
IN his power to aid the cause of ia
rltf reform, and had the courage to
send to the Congress his celebrated
message in 1887. Whatever the
temporary result of that message
may have been, it gave us live is
sue 10 fight for. 1t consolidated
the democracy OF the nation into
one solid phalanx, which attacked
the enemy's citadel instead oflying
suplnely outside of the breastworks
waiting for some internal disruption
to cause breach in the fortress and
then rush in. Enunciating as a
principle that % public Office is q
public trust his administration
no0ly fulfilled its early promise in
this respect as in all others. After
occupying for four ye lrs the p resi-
Dental chair, he was renomlnated
by his party and was defeated be-
cause his opponents spent hundreds
OF thousands OF dollars, obtained
from the 'robber barons' whose
financial preservation depended up
on his destruction. But republics
are not always ungratefaI, and vir-
the ID sometimes triumphant ont
sldo OF plays and novels. The peo-
pie have risen in their majesty and
demanded the nominal Oh OF their
taVorite because they have conf
dence in his ability, faith in his in
tegrity, and are proud of his record.
eve have met 10 celebrate a great
victory. Truly the voice Of the
people is the voice Of God,' and he
who wantonly attempts to thwart
the will OF the masses when enlisted
on behalf Of honesty and right does
80 at his peril. With united and
enthusiastic party pledged to prin-
clples We advocate, and q leader be-
loved by us oil, have we not every
reason to rejoice ? Let us then, in
the coming encounter, march shoul-
der to shoulder, and if We fight as
we should, when the sun shall have
SGT on election day next November
we will have achieved q victory
which will once more give MS con-
troll Ct our country aud place in the
presidential chair the idol OF the
peOpie-GrOver CLEVELAND -