Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-05-20
Good Intentions Not selfsatisfying.

those who have filled this position of "iear-
full responsibility" in tho distant past, as if,
by the lamp of experience, to throw some
| light into the uncertain future.
There was one whose words have Away s
| seemed oracular to the American people
words whose Photographed power grow s
stronger with the lapse of time and we COM
pare them with the flimsy and unful6lled
promises of cur modern rulers-words whose
prcphetical import, after a century's test,
have given him distinction which will un-
doubleday remain until the name of America
is forgotten-that of being the Father Of his
Country.
Let US quote paragraph from the in
augural address OF this great man, in which
he SO touchingly expresses doubts of his
ability to successfully conduct the affairs of
his country:
1.-THE magnitude and difficulty of the
trust to which the voice OF my country
| called me, being sufficient to awaken feel
ings OF distrust in the minds of the wisest
| and best of her citizens, and a distrustful
scrutiny, into his ewn qualifications, could
not but overwhelm with dependency one
inheriting interier endowments from nature
and Impractical in the duties Of civil ad-
ministration."
Such doubts as this great and capable
man expressed as to his own capacity seem
common to all conscientious men when
called upon TO meet the trying duties and
fearful responsibilities" of nations chief.
There may be some now living who re-
member the words of President Pierce as
used in his inaugural address in 1855
you have chosen me In my weakness, you
must sustain me with your strength" These
were the words of the man who, when fail
ing in his first attempt at a public speech,
declared, "If fail ninety nine times | will
try the b undredth."
Even Mr.. Cleveland, with all his resolu-
ton and sell confidence, seems to doubt his
ability to successfully fill second time the
highest position in the gift Of the American
people. L will give an extract from his let
ter in answer to Hon. Edward S. Bragg,
desiring him TO allow his name to be offered
as candidate for nomination for the presi
dency:
"If, In answering your questions, might
| only consider my personal desires and in
dividual ease and comfort, nay response
would be promptly made and without the
least reservation and difficulty. But if you
| are right in supposing that the subject is
related to duty which owe to my party
and to my countrv, a condition exists which
makes such private and personal considera-
| tons entirely irrelevant. cannot, however,
! refrain from declaring to you that my ex
perience in the great office Of President OF
the United States has so impressed me with
the selemnity of the truth and the awful
responsibilities attending it that | cannot
bring myself TO regard a candidacy for the
place as something to be won by personal
strife and self-assertion."
1t is not the purpose Of the writer to draw
parallel between these two statesmen
certainly nothing detractive to the glory Of
the first is intended, who doubtlessly was
always just and true, from the time he de-
nounced the recreant Lee to the time when
he uttered his admonitory Farewell Address,
but simply TO show that the same emotions
msved them when brought face to face with
the responsible duties OF the presidency.
But allow me to say this much, that be.
leve that Mr.. Cleveland, when at the head
OF our government, acted as impartially and
conscientiously as ever Washington did;
and | will say more, he made as few mis-
takes and fewer enemies when in office.
Of course different circumstances surround
ed them. Our country has grown from
weak sisterhood of States to one of the most
powerful and wealthy nations on earth
Our industries and interests are vastly more
diversified, and our government far more
extravagant and courtly. There is room
grandeur, even the plain and economical
Washington could have made himself re-
spectacle in the eyes of his people while
serving without pay, even though in receipt
OF the profits of an eight-thousand acre farm.
Certainly his liberality to his country In its
hour Of need in refusing compensation for
his services is an example well worth the
the study of modern patriots. who seem to
cherish chidlike affection for the spoils of
office, however small or however needless
they may be. Whether the danger arising
from the antagonisms of adverse political
parties, which Washington so earnestly
decriea, is greater now than in the infancy
of our republic would be difficult to de
termine, but we do know that his words on
that point were well nigh prophetic, as it
was the virulent agitation of diverse polit-
ical interests which in 1860 disrupted the
Union for time, and again in 1876 brought
1t to the verge oil dissolution.
In times Of fiery political agitation the
influence of the magnanimous and impartial
but unyielding ruler is the most potent and
the most to be desired. The presence and
determination Of the head of the govern
ment give confidence TO the people and re-
strain their violence. The greatest danger
to eur country, and perhaps to any other,
is the antagOnism that exists between the
laborer and employer and the producer and
the capitalist These differences are height
ened by the general Partially of legislators
and executives to the wealthy and power
full classes TO the detriment of the poorer
almost always aiding those least in need Of
it, Real and imagined wrongs to the hum
bier classes have been powerful lever in
the overthrow O. governments,and that there
is danger from this cause TO our own coun-
try must be apparent to all.
1t must be clear to every enc, open 10 fair
discernment, that Mr.. Cleveland, when at
the head Of our government, kept jealous
watch over the interests Of all classes, with
out Partially TO any. If he is ever again
called to fill the same position, it will not
come from his support Of those issues upon
which the country is almost evenly divided
in sentiment, but by the support OF those
who have learned to believe that he is
wholly honest and ready to support the
right under all circumstances.
Mr.. Cleveland has openly declared his de
termination not to stoop TO the shallow
trickery, too common to politicians OF our
day, in order to secure his nomination and
election he prefers to follow in the foot.
steps Of those whose motto was, Equal and
exact justice TO all men, and IL remains To be
seen whether there are enough Of our people
willing To stand by the principles Of the
fathers Of oar nation to give him triumph
ant victory In the coming contest. If he
can fight successfully against the hollow
trickery of modern politicians and achieve
victory when battling on the line of princi-
pie and justice, he will have made splendid
progress toward rebuilding the fallen monu
ments Of our fathers, which uBgodly hypOc-
risy and devilish greed have overthrown.
Let all just and honorable men sustain him