New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-02
TILE EOEHTH OE M1RCH.

The gentleman who will become President
| of the United States on Saturday at noon has
had already an unparalleled career. The his
tory of ether men who have become in the
highest degree eminent placed beside his. pre-
sents nothing but contrasts. They have owed
something to the accident of birth or every
thing TO genius But this man lived almost
half a century before the people Of even Il
single American state had ever heard of him.
Within three years If his first election TO the
Presidency he might have travelled the world
over without having his presence noticed At
any point ten miles distant from the city oi
Buffalo Less than a dozen years before he
stepped into the most powerful ministerial ohc'
known to constitutional government he was
performing the simple and not too pleasant
duties OF a county sheriff. 1t is an amazing
commentary on our political system that he be-
came bv the swift movement Of events. 70
which he was related in only the vaguc~t
sen.c the Mayor of a great city, the Governor
of the greatest state. and the CHIEF Magi>-
tiatc of the Nation without being for any OF
these Offices the distinctive choice Of the cleo
tors who gave him their >ulraGcS. Anomalous
as it may sound it was in no case he who
was defeated.
All this i wonderful enough, bnt il is thrown
int, eclipse by the illogical event Of this week.
After four years of commonplace admlni>tra-
ticn. unbrokcn by single achievement of note,
marked with many failures and several scan
dals. the absorption Of the Civil Service by his
ARTISANS and stiIlboln Free Trade tariff beng
all there is to remember il by after "A defeat
that drove him and his party into Retirement
from every branch of the general Government.
and in the face of a mighty conspiracy among
Democrats u render his Scc!uslon from public
affairs permanent. he returns to power. now
truly elected, in great and perhaps masterfu!
authority over generation Of polItcian'
among whom he has scarcely friend. strange
things happen in this world of chanc" ana I'M
pulse. brit 70 see the highest distinction de-
lberately awarded IN recompenSc FOR having
said nothing particularly wise and done moth
ing particularly useful is t. witness Startling
mantle .tatcn of human caprice. If il is sought
t. be explained on the theory that Mr.. 'Icvo-
land is honest, or sincere. or res lutte. or any
thing else rs to which he possesses actual
reputation. then il must at the same time be
claimed that these are qualities III which the
American cLarictc, is - deficient as ~ render
the po,scSsor Of them abnOrmal-qualitl"S in
deed. that cannot here be found in conjunction
with original. trained and constructive states
manship. Unless this is our National condi-
ton. Mr.. Clcvcands personal triumph Is
popular freak.
lie goes TO Washington with an opportunity
not less remarkable than the manner in which
it came t. him. Tie unwrlttcn law render,
him superior 70 all the temptations which be-
set a President in his first term. So far as any
Chief Magistrate can be, he is without per
sonal obligations At his back is the good will
of the Nation which thinks he means we'll de
sircs his success and its own advantage, and
cares little for the small ambitions and petty
motives Cf those politicians whose patriotism
is bounded by sef-incrc,t. He has really no
oracle - consult but his oath Of office. no
master to mind but hi, sense Of duty Other
mon. greater in worth and lesser in fortune,
have created The policies Of which he appears
rs the exponent, have battlcd for them, and
fallen for them. lie has the advantage Of
their hard labols Mr. Cleveland is - be con-
graduated 1t is no wonder that he takes on
an arbitrary manner and declares his plans aS
if he were the state Fortune never lent her
self so generously to the pleasing game Of self
DECEPTION Abilities so moderate never had a
clcvcrcr auctiOnccr or more willing group OF
bidders. But that they will he employed in all
sincerity to the public good as Mr.. Cleveland
secs it. is not to be doubcd No man, not
wholly dull or base. could stand in the presence
of such an opportunity and want the motive
to improve it.