Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-30
Borrowed Plumaee.

Borrowed Piumage.
1t has long been known that President
Cleveland is a plagiarist, or as the school
boys would say "a cribber." So notorious
was the fact that the thought, and much
Of the language of the speeches made by
him in the South, during his first admin
istration, were taken from the American
encyclopedia, that David B. Hill, who
subsequently delivered "a few discourses in
that section, could not refrain from pre-
facing them with the remark that he had
cleft his encyclopedias at home. Mr..
Cleveland is often quoted by his syco-
phants-especially those who are rioting
in the fruits of Federal patronage-as the
author OF the political maxim "a public
Office Is a public trust" As matter of
fact it originated more than century ago
with Adam Smith, the father OF the science
of political economy, and the famous au-
thor Of THE Wealth of Nations. " 1t was
subsequently quoted by both Jefferson
and Gallatin. When President Cleveland,
with an eye steadfastly fixed upon third
term, and foreseeing perhaps, the distress
that would come upon the country, wrote
his famous letter denouncing the present
tariff bill, which had just been passed by a
Democratic Congress, as the embodiment
of party periidy and dishonor" land
which he nevertheless permitted to become
a law without his signature) he spoke of
the deadly blight which had blasted the
councils of the brave In their hour of
might The smile naturally attracted
much attention, for Mr.. Cleveland had
never been accused, even by his bitterest
political opponents, of being poet. 1t
was found, however, that the deadly
deemed so peculiarly appropriate in
characterizing tho action of his Demo
cratic associates-and which has since
been vindicated by the hardest times,
and most widespread distress ever known
in the history Of this country-was not
original with him. IL was found, by
reference to page 526 of Bartlett $ Famil
lar Quotations, to be an extract from
Tom Moore's famous poem The Fire
Worshippers. The verse where it occurs
reads as follows:
ooh, for a tongue to cu'se the slave
Whose treason, like deadly blight,
Comes DER the councils OF the brave
Ard blasts them in their hour of might
The latest proof Of Mr.. Cleveland S
proneness to quote without quotation
marks is furnished by his description OF
domestic life as "one grand, sweet
dream" Some eight or ten years ago the
writer heard "a sweet girl graduate ;"
who was herself dream of soft white
lawn and fluffy blue ribbons, announce
that life Was tone grand beautiful
dream and it probably was for her.
1t is hardly probable however, that Mr.
Cleveland could have seen this soulful
essay, successful as no is in discovcrin g
hidden sources of inspiration. 1t seems
more probable that he unearthed his joy
Gus smile from chapter eight of "a
Romance of Two Worlds, by Marie
Corelli, where it occurs In the following
form
so he took him in hand and taught
him the meaning of his work, and why
it was especially given him to do; and
that mans life became one grand, sweet
song"
1t will be remembered that Mr. Blaine
pointed out the fact that even "innocuous
desuetude, " did not originate with Mr.
Cleveland, although to him must be given
the credit of introducing innocuous dcs-
uetudc into the conduct of our foreign
aft airs. This much quoted phrase, &C
cording to Mr.. Blaine, was the work of
an cmployo Of the state department.
With "a penchan for sonorous combina-
tions. History generally reduces man
to his true level His sycophants die off
In time. Those who fattcd upon his
bounty are no longer alive to sound his
praises, He must stand or fail by his
own original work. In view of these
facts, cpdeavors TO forecast position that
history will accord Mr.. Cleveland, open up
\ wide field of speculation.
The End OF the Civil War In Brazil.
A fter nparlv five ypars of WARTIME Erazil