The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-27
Tn. Silence of Dean Cleveland.

quite voluntary ana unsOllClteu way, "
keep silent during what he is pleased to
term this exceptional and distressing
campaign
Why the current Presidential campaign
is exceptional or distressing" out of
all proportion to campaigns in general, the
emeritus prophet of nothing particular at
Princeton omits to tell us. Perhaps. to
his fevered vision. it is both. because the
most well meant efforts of his friends, and
his coparceners in various fruitful &C
tivities of other days, have failed to ex-
cite any popular interest in his opinions
or actions at this juncture. In any event
his silence or the reverse would be emf
nently negligible.
We are unable to conceive that Mr..
Bryan could be benefited in the smallest
degree by the open and active support Of
Mr. Cleveland. Nor do we believe that
were the ex-President to advocate the re-
election of Mr.. Mckinley 1t would do the
latter penny's worth of good. Admit
ting that there may be small class in
New York and New Jersey who entertain
some respect for the views of Mr.. Cleve-
land, the individuals who compose 1t have
long since. and irrevocably. made up their
minds how they intend to vote and. as for
the rest Of the American population 1t has
ceased to be Influenced by him in any way
whatsoever
What remains of the man who was once
the national leader of Democracy and re-
signed that leadership and deserted his
party in 1896 is simply colossal monu
ment of dense and vulgar selfshness.
What Grover Cleveland was personally,
when, as mayor of Buffalo, he was dis
covered by the newspapers and Politi-
clans of the State Of New York in 1882
most people know but do not like to say.
Suffice 1t that he was taken up, washed,
disinfected. and elected Governor, in
year when any male biped Of proper age
wearing the Democratic tag could and
would have received a like majority.
Wrested from an obscurity from which
he had not the moral force to rise by
his own efforts. he became the spoiled
child OF totally undeserved luck. The
press was able to discover and to adver-
tise virtues in one who but Just before
had been a ward politician Of an Often
sively common and provincial type, and
political leaders Joined the procession and
shouted for the beer and pinochle man Of
destiny.
So he came to be President. and. after
his election, made his first visit to Wash
ington. He considered himself West
ern'' man. having been never west of the
town OF Buffalo, to which place. years be-
fore, he had emigrated in connection with
the compilation of horse directory, upon
which he was employed at the time. He
had never been to see the city Of Cleve-
land, three hours distant and founded by
his grand-uncle. 1t is said that he was
not honored while in Buffalo with the
acquaintance of his cousin, the Episcopal
Bishop OF the diocese. Yet he had made
himself locally prominent in certain way
and his apartment on Main Street was
well-knowp and popular resort for peo-
pie Of his own kind.
Grover Cleveland never displayed the
slightest symptom of gratitude to the
journals nor to the persons wiekedly re-
sponsible for his elevation. Ever since he
FIRST attained to exalted station and the
opportunities 1t furnished he has habitual-
" abused and rilified the press. without
whose gratuitous and regrettable efforts
he would today be playing dominoes and
holding down some petty municipal or
county Office in Western New York And
his political patrons have been treated
with equal unthaukfulness.
The great national organization which
thrice nominated him for the highest posi-
fion in the country, and twice elected him
to it, he deliberately and perfidiously
wrecked Senator Stewart once said of
Grover Cleveland that he was the greatest
man the former ever knew, because he had
succeeded in accomplishing what the civil
war had failed to, namely, the destruction
of the Democratic party. That party was
as right in 1896 as it had been in 1892. in
1855, or in 1854. 1t had not departed in
any sense or in a single detail from the
faith and principles in maintenance Of
which Cleveland had been called to carry |
ats standard. II was he who had departed |
from right principles and became the |
political creature Of Wall Street, and not !,
the party which had gone wrong. /,
His present attitude is consistent with |
his past. A man who occupied the position |
he fancies he holds in public estimation, |
one would think, would deem 1t his imper- |
alive duty to take an energetic and vocal |
part In an exceptional and distressing |
campaign"
But Grover Cleveland, On the contrary,
takes to the woods and refuses to en-
tighten his admirers upon the subject Of
the exceptional and distressing" dangers
% which q brilliant and promising cam
Daign Of the people against the criminal |
rule Of thieving trusts and monopolies ex- |
poses them.
1t is well that he has elected to take a |
thinking part in this great drama. Utterly |
and degenerately selfish himself, he would |
be incapable of Influencing honest and I'M |
seldshly patriotic citizens. All such natur- |
ally shrink from and resent a person Of |
his kind. Just as a dog does cruel and |
selfish man. instinctively. The masses who |
are being rapidly reduced to economic |
slavery by the malign Influences he helped |
70 gain control Of the country In 1896. |
are repealed by his obnoxious |
personality. They would feel anronted by |
my attempt on his part at advice or as
Instance. He has been well advised In |