The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-05
Farewell Views
OF Mr.. Cleveland

Philadelphia Press: "The fair historic
judgment will not paint either Mr. Cleve-
land or his administration as all black
or all white. Finding much to blame 1t
will also find something TO praise.
The whole circumstance surrounding his
sudden elevation and his iluctuating ca
reer have been altogether exceptional
They have stamped him as a vigorous
and unique personality and have led his
devotees TO an eXtravagant idolatry of
his powers These friendly estmtes have
been as greatly exaggerated as the criti-
cisms have been oVerdrawn and unjust.
His turgid and ponderous platitudes have
been Regarded in some quarters as mod
els of philosophy: his obstinacy has been
treated as heroic; his doubtful essence
has been held up as the fountain of the
highest political morality. A dispassion-
ate review will recognize his strong at
tributes, but it will not place Inn intel
lectually on the plane with our great
presidents, and it will associate with his
last administration a period of national
misfortune more directly attributable to
administrative policy and management
than any other in our history
Philadelphia Ledger: Courage and
boldness in assertion and action lie at the
basis of President Cleveland's character,
and these are qualities which compel ad-
foe. We feel the force of government in
such a personality; it is the Jacksonian
virtue which Americans are quick to dis
Germ and appreciate in public life. Some
times Mr.. Cleveland has erred on the
side of fearlessness, as witnessed by his
startling message to congress in Decem-
Der, 1898, in which the right of the United
States to intervene in he Venezuela-Gui-
ana boundary dispute was vigorously as
serted At first it seemed to be an illus
tration of the injunction that men should
be bold, but not too bold but whatever
error there may have been in the tenor
and dction of the message, 1t led up to
the Venezuelan arbitration treaty, which
will take its place among the trophies of
modern diplomacy. His intrepid tirmness
in pursuing the path which he has marked
out for himself has alienated large seq
ment of Mr.. CleVeland'S party from his
support on the crucial monetary and cur
rency issue: but his isolation from the
mass of his party in this respect finely
illustrates the oaken fibre of his charac-
ter when substantial principles, involving
the maintenance of the country's honor
are at stake. Another master quality of
the retiring president is his sterling COM
mon sense, the ability to apply his knowl-
edge and experience to the work of gov
ernment. He has faculty for hard work.
and has not Leen weakly sensitive to un-
Just public criticism. When the
wise years decide and their decision will
be unerring, they will decide that Presl-
dent CleVeland's administration was
notable for its patriotism and integrity;
that it reflected the public spirit, the
probity Of a strong, earnest, sincere
statesman who, under extraordinary diff
ncuties, did his duty TO his country as
he saw his duty, with unselfish zeal
fidelity and singleness Of purpose"
Troy Record: "Ile may have been con-
scientious in all that he did and said, but
he erred because he viewed things only
from one side. His limited experience in
national public life led hrs to make an
abstract study Of government and econo-
mic principles, and in consequence he be
came thoorist. a dozen years in the
house or the senate would have taught
him the relation between general truth
and the application of 1t, and he would
have been spared many b.unders,"
Chicago Record; whatever faults
may be found in him, all must agree that
the attitude of the retiring president
upon public questions has been marked
by courage and independence of thought.
The opinions held by him have been eX-
pressed and maintained with entire dis
regard for political consequences to him
! self. 1t is in that respect that lie fur
nishes the most pleasing contrast TO
many of he conspicuous politicians of
the day, who seek to secure leadership
by sinking their convictions in an attempt
| to anticipate the turn of the political
| Weather-vaue. Time. doubtless,
will temper criticism and magnify the
| strong points in his unique character"
Rochester Post-EXpress: I'm the coun-
| try Of the blind the one-cyed man Is
| king. This old saw helps explain why
| Grover Cleveland has come to be regard
/ ed as the leading Democratic statesman
/ of his day, He is not essentially a great
| statesman, but merely great by compari-
| son with his political brethren at a time
! when democracy is the country of the
| blind. He has not shown .umself a states
| man OF the first order, far from IT, lie
! lacks the aptitude, the training, the ac-
! complishments of the fully equipped pub
| lie man. When one mas said that he Is
honest, Industrious intrepid, painstaking
and bent, upon the whole, on rendering