The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-18
THE PASSING OF CLEVELAND.
Democrat. Chronicle.

Rochester Democrat-Chronicle.
Where is Cleveland's luck now? What
has become of the man of destiny? The
Democratic hero Of three national cam
paigns, the man who. of all others that
could be named. including such men is
Mcclellan, Seymour, Hancock and TIL
den, not to mention poor Horace Greeley,
was the only one who could lead the De-
mocracy to a national victory. Is now at
the close of his second torn in the white
house hated, denounced, rejected and
spurned by the natiOnal convention OF mis-
own party. The Democratic party in its
highest representative council delibe rately
declares that the only Democratic presi-
dent 1t has given the country In more than
a third of a century does not deserve even
so much Of complimentary reference az
Is comprehended In formal declaration
that his administration has been honest,
courageous and faithful.
Not honest? Not Courageous Not
faithful? With what amazement must
President Cleveland have observed the ac-
ton of that committee on resolutions In
refusing him a testimonial to the posses
sion of those qualities! Has he not for the
past twelve years, in season and out Of
season. been proclaiming himself the
anointed and consecrated high priest. pro-
moter ard eXemplar Of those qualities in
the public life Of this nation? Has he ever
failed to talk about honesty. courage and
fidelity In any Of his official documents?
Yet here is his own party. the party that
he has uniformly declared to be the spe-
cial depository OF all the political virtues,
refusing at its last national convention
before he delivers his valedictory to pub
lis life, to admit that his administration
deserves a word Of approval in its plat
form.
But that is not all. The reputation Of
Cleveland by the Democratic party has
been positive as well as negative. 1t Is
marked not only by what the convention
refused to put in Its platform, bur by
what 1t has actually inserted. Blow after
blow is administered to the president by
that instrument. First the free silver
men come up in body and lifting their
hands, smite him with their dishonorable
plank. Then came the anarchists and So
cialistic agitators as represented by Alt
geld. their boots soiled by the nire of
their bloody and dirty doctrines. ard with
kicks and blows pay the president off for
his action in ordering troops to support
the cause of law and order. Next appear
those who favor a more liberal treatment
Of the pensioners than Cleveland mas
ever shown and they revile him. From
beginning to end, with the exception Of
the tariff plank and one or two minor ut
terances, the Democratic national plat
form Is aimed more to discredit and re.
verse the Democratic national admi1istra.
ton than to antagonize the Republican
party. All the anti-Clcveland elements of
the Democracy that have been accumula:-
ing through two administrations seem to
have concentrated their forces at Chi
cago with a view to heaping shame and
indignities upon their own president.
But We do not suppose that Mr.. Cleve.
land will give way under this opprobrium.
Incased in his own self-esteem, believing
supremely in himself, he will go through
to the end. unconscious that he has be.
come almost an object Of pity even to his
enemies. The time when the value of his
lofty faith IN himself can be fairly tested
has arrived. The Republican party. of
course has little respect for a man who
has pursued such policy as his at home
or abroad. The Populists never had any
use for him, and now that the Democracy
has turned against him he stands alone.
But he has had two terms in the presi.
dency; he has acquired q large fortune;
he has a charming wife and lovely chill
dren. and he will continue to think we'll
Of himself.