The Progress., 1893-04-22

ly' to the Judge" rs the intimate friends
Of the secretary of state still delight to call
him. 1t is queer how this title of Judge
sticks to a man, even after he las attained
higher rank. 1t comes easily and tripping
ly upon the tongue. 1t requires no effort
10 speak il. and this surely i not the case
with Mr. Secretary" There is something
strained and unnatural about that title,
particularly before you get accustomed to
it. But it is much easier to say in friendly
and familiar conversation than the official
titles of some of the other members of the
cabinet. Think of the awkwar,lness of hav-
ing to say cOuverSationally Mr.. Attorney
General or Mr.. Postmaster General"
Every man who takes one of these Offices
should be first equipped with one of those
good American titles of Judge" or gen
eral' or colonel" so that his friends may
be relieved OF the necessity of addressing
him in the manner required by official eti-
luette.
Gresham and Cleveland are getting along
famously together. They have many things
in common. Both are plain, blunt men.
Neither has learning enough or polish
enough to annoy the other. Both are fond
of good stories and gossip and fishing. ]
predict that before the summer is over they
will be off to the Adirondacks or to Lake
Erie fishing together. Mr.. Cleveland is in
love with the Adirondacks. Mr.. Gresham
is fond of Put-in-Bay. The odds are that
Cleveland's preference will prevail, and
that this pair of big men will go to the
Adirondacks to loaf and fish and invite
their souls. | don't believe Mr.. Cleveland
plays Judge Gresham's favorite game,
which is poker, for disgustingly small
stakes. Therefore they are not likely to in
dulge in that great American game. But
the judge is adaptable and fond of all limo
cent games of cards, and he may have tc
learn penuchle.
Noticing that the president and his secre-
tary of state are becoming chums, the gos-
sips will have it that Gresham is to be
Cleveland's heir as leader of the Democratic
party and nominee of Democracy for the
presidency in the year 1896. One of the pc
euliarities of American politics is that we
no sooner win one fight in the party field
and place man in the presidential chair
than we begin talking about the next bat
tie and scheming for the successorship. 1t
is my opinion, and have some opportuni-
ties for knowing the facts, that neither the
president nor his secretary OF state has as
yet given thought to the political cam
palgn OF 1876. They are altogether too busy
with the affairs of the present to bother
themselves about the future.
One thing is certain, however, and this is
that Mr.. Gresham is fast becoming one of
the most popular men in the Democratic
party. The same manners which fascinated
Cleveland are fascinating Il good many
other Democrats. When he was first ap-
pointed, the old line Democrats were very
much displeased. As prominent Demo
crat said to me the other day, You could
see the spinal column Of the party writhe
while it was in the act of swallowing
Gresham" But it accomplished the feat,
and now that the process is complete the
effect is not uncomfortable after all. We
are such an adaptable people in our poll
tics, as in everything else, that revolution
Of this sort gives but a few and early
lualms and then quickly settles into the
natural order of things. Gresham is not
only making many friends among the big
Democrats, but notice that he too, is be-
ginning to feel at home in his new sur
roundings, for he often speaks of ''our par
ty," meaning thereby the Democracy.