The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-24
o1rvrLANp.s GREAT SPEECH.

Grover Cleveland is one OF the DtdlnieSt
men that this country has produced and
he Is still a force I'm the nations politics
that must be reckoned with. lie has not
been shelved. and those who think so are
sadly in error.
Mr. Cleveland IS not given to much
speaking. but when he does speak he al
ways says something worth hearing ana
worth repeating and the people are forced
to give respectful attention to what ne
says. His address at Princeton on THE
Self Made Man" fairly bristles with good
sense-"Clevoland expressions and pa
triotic sentiments. 1t was, in our judg-
ment one of Cievelands master pieces,
and shows that. although now living in
retirement he has lost none OF his in
tcrcst in those great questions that con-
Germ the people.
The self-made man, he tells u.s. is not
necessarily TO be admired. "The merit
OF the successful man who has struggled
with difficulties and disadvantages must
be Judged by the kind Of success he has
achieved. by the use he makes OF it and
bv its effect upon his character and life.
II his success is clean and wholesome.
II he uses It TO make his fellows better
and happier. and n he faithfully re-
spends TO all the obligations OF liberal.
public-spirited and useful citizen. his
struggles should add immensely to the
honor and consideration he deserves. lf.
on the other hand. his success Is OF the
graspng. sordd kind, If he clutches II
closely for his selfish qualification, and
IL with success he is bankrupt In charac-
ter. sordidly mean. useless as citizen
or Of evil influence in his relations with
his fellow-men, his struggles should not
save him from contempt"
Education is manifestly one OF the tools
TO be used in the construction OF the best
quality of our self-made men and is OF
vital importance. But education is not
everything. "Of all useless men, said
he. "the most culpably useless are those
who. having educational requirements
and fitness for beneficial work, do no
more than exploit their requirements in
the false and unhealthy sociability or
club life. or find in them only aids to the
selfish pleasure of constantly restless
foreign travel and accessories to other
proftless enjoyment"
And again: 1--WE have known OF those
for whom education had done its most
and vet who did wrong continually. es-
pousing every vicious and unrighteous
cause and delighting in the prostitution
Of their splendid powers and acquire
ments TO the betrayal and injury Of every
noble purpose. We have seen the scholar
i'm public life. teaching tricks to trick
sters and with the mask of education on
his face leading the way 10 the lowest
depths Of partisan deceit and intrigue"
Is Grover Cleveland n "plutocrat?
Hear his estimate OF riches and rich
men
wealth should by no means be dis
paraged as representing success, pro-
vided il is accompanied by reasonable
realization OF the obligations its posses
sion imposes. We cannot attempt 10 fix
are entitled to insist that in the race for
riches the feeling and sentiment that
makes good citizenship should not be
stifed. and that the rich. directly by
charity and benefcence. or indirectly
through their liberal enterprise and ac-
tive thrift. should do something for hui
manity and the public good.
'If wealth Is the best that can be eN-
hibited as result OF success. IT ought
TO make its fair contribution TO the wei
fare Of society This burden should not
be altogether shifted upon those who
though without riches, constantly give
from the results Of their nobler sue
cesses gifts that exalt humanity We
have \ right TO complain OF the rich II,
after spending their lives in gathering
wealth. they find in its possession no
mandate OF duty and no pleasure save
in the inactive and sordId contemplation
Of their hoard. But sordidness is not
confined TO those whose only success con-
sists in riches"
And now as to the self-made man in
politics Said he:
"The fact that this word, sgnifying the
science OF government and the admins
tration of public affairs, is associated in
the common mind with sharp manipula-
tion and smooth deceit. plainly shows how
badly IT has been soiled with ignoble use.
while the contempt with which self-seek-
inc candidacy and party subserviency
even in a canvass now pending, speaks
Of disinterested citizens who are organ
lied 10 secure good government as
.modern school Of doctrinaires' and as
college professors startlingly illustrates
how confidently arrogant partisanship
dares to Insult thoughtful and intelligent
citizenship.
"Alerady a dangerous advantage mas
been gained by the forces OF recklesseness
and selnshness. largely through the IN
difference OF those who should have chal-
leneed their first advance, and now when
partisanship without giving reasons as
sumes 10 lead. and hosts without reason
seem willing 10 follow. and when party
organization, which should be the servant
Of intelligence and patriotism. proclaims
itself their master and attempts to bind
them hand and foot. the time has surely
come when all the intelligence and edu-