New-York tribune., 1900-04-10
CLEVELAND AS ASALECTURER
FIRST ADDRESS AT PRINCETON IN THE
NEW OFFICE FOUNDED BY
STAFFORD LITTLE.

Princeton " j.. April tSpeciaD Grover Cleve-
land delivered before large audience in Alexander
Hall this evening the first of his addresses in
the lectureshp founded by Stafford Little. He
announced his subject The Independence Of fAe
Executive" saying that he proposed to com lt
upon the office OF President of the United Sa,es
and upon some incidents of public nature made
familiar to him by the incumbency OF that office.
In introducing Mr.. Cleveland President Patton
expressed his regret that Stafford Little was un-
avoidably prevented from being present Mr.. Little
had founded these lectures out Of admiration and
appreciation OF Mr.. Clevelands public life. and
love for his Alma Mater.
I'VE heartily appreciate the deep interest that
Mr.. Cleveland has shown In all that concerns
Princeton since he good to take up his
abode among and be identified with US said
President Patton. I'VE appreciate good fort
une in having lecturer who has twice filled with
consumnlate ability the position of Chief Executive
of Nation
Mr. Cleveland spoke for more than hour. The
hall was filled with audience of twenty-five hun
dred composed OF students, visitors and the entire
faculty. Mrs Cleveland was present. with Pro
fessor and Mrs. Hibben.
Owing to the unusually large number of appllca-
tions for cards of admission. it deemed ad-
visabe to hold these lectures in Alexander Hall in
stead of University Hall, previously announced
Mr. Cleveland began by speaking of the indict-
ment presented by the original thirteen colonies
against the oppressive exercise of executive power
by the King of Great Britain. The colonists dread
ed a repetition of these abuses through the powers
that might devove upon American President
Thus. the Articles of Confederation provided for no
executive head. but in the Constitutional Conven-
tion ten years later. 1t conceded that if the
experiment OF popular government were 10 pe sue
cessful, an executive branch. invested with power
and responsibility must be one OF Its essentiai
In the scheme of our National Government. az
then established. the Presidency Is pTe-e~mnenlIs ~
lat peopse The passed by congress
inert and vain without executive impulse. and
the Federal courts pass upon the right OF the elti-
only when their aid is occasionally invoked
but under the constitutional mandate that tne
President shall take that the laws be faith-
fully executed" every citizen is constantly within
the protection restraint of the executive power
Purthermore 1t is only in the selection 1I naone me
bT thas db s G orer nnd Directly in
the equipment of their National Government To
the wisdom OF the men who composed the Conven-
tion indebted for the creation OF an eNecu-
tive department, limited against any possible dan
ger of usurpation or tyranny but at the same
Mr.. Cleveland then reviewed the debate in the
first session of Congress In 17ss over the power o,
officer appointed by him by and with the advice OF
the Senate. The outcome of this debate was egis.
that the President had the power of removal with
out the participation interference of the Senate
But the question again raised in 1885 In
sharp contention between the Senate and the Presi
dent. In order to make clear the nature OF this
controversy. which he expects to discuss IN detai
Tenure Of ONCE passed in 1861 for the express
purpose of preventing removals from once pS
ure of Office legislation passed In 1869 during Pres
ident Grants first Administration. ,
Il fully appreciate the fact" said Mr Cleveland
zation that 1t Is apt be unduly developed In ali
parties and that IT often hampers the best aspira
reached a condition when I recall such ad-
partisanship as may have entered into past
tation or prejudice-especially such an occasion
this"