The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-05-09

| years. At this time Cleveland was
elected president Of the United States.
His administration of public affairs
was admirable. His betterment of the
public service, his efforts III the direc
ton of civil service reform and his
careful and conscientious adminstra-
ton of the pension bureau and land
departments were lasting improve
mentS.
But as party leader he was not Il
success. The onward march of the
Democratic party was checked and
MIR. Cleveland was defeated in 1888
without any apparent good reason. He
lacked tact, he could only lead by driv-
ing and his grasp was not firm or
strong enough to drive the party to
victory. So he surrendered the presi-
dency amidst a general feeling that he
had made a good president. He lost
the state Of New York by small
plurality while David 3. Hill running
on the same ticket carried it for gov
ernor by a comfortable plurality.
Cleveland out of office no longer acted
as a check on democratic harmony,
and the Democratic party during the
period from 1888 to 1892 gathered
strength and unity. So great was the
public confidence in Cleveland that
his nomination was again brought
about, although the politicians were ar
layed against him. 1t was at the
Democratic National Convention in
Chicago in 1892 that Bourke Cochran
said of him, "He is very popular man
I'm exceedingly popular man, on every
day in the year except election day."
II the speaker had said he was very
popular man on every day in the year
except the day after Inauguration he
would have been nearer the truth. For
Notwithstanding the bitter attitude Of
the New York delegation and the
dire threats which they made as they
left the convention hall in the early
morning following the night on which
Cleveland was nominated for the third
time, he carried the state of New York
and with it the close states, New
Jersey, Connecticut, Indiana and also
the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Cali
fornia and one elector in Ohio. But
no sooner had he taken ONCE than he
began to lose control of his party in
Congress. He was able to secure the
repeal of the Sherman silver act only
by driving. He was president with
out party in Congress. But the peo-
pie had confidence in him, and he
would doubtless have continued to Ell
joy their confidence even with the en-
tire Democratic membership in Con-
gross arrayed against him, had it not
been for the fact that the storm Of
financial disaster had gathered and
was stopping Industrial progress all
over the country. 1t was at this time
that President Cleveland lost control of
the Democratic masses, and curiOusly
enough he was not charged by them
as being the cause of existing trouble
but was blamed because he did not
provide remedy. Other leaders now
came forward pointing out a remedy,
and President Cleveland left Office
without party. But still his admin
istr,tion of public affairs had been
firm, his foreign policy was strong and
in accord with American ideals. No
scandals of any kind attached to the
administration of any OIL the depart
ments
But he lost control Of his party, and
left it floundering and almost wreck.
His utter lack of tact was the cause
Of most of the trouble Had he been
tactful, abe to lead without driving,
able to make others bend by app airing
to bend himself he might have led the
Democratic party through The crisis, Of
which it was in no way the cause and
left it in good condition, even If I'M
able to win the campaign OIL 1885, We
believe that he does not possess the
qualities of leadership necessary to re-
unite and harmonize the party. The
Democratic voters of the middle and
! western states regard him as n repre-
sentative Of the moMed interests. And
, while we believe that Mr.. Cleveland as
a public official has always been n
strict adllerer to what lie considered
to be his constitutional duties and for
the best interests of the country, we
further believe that the Democratic
candidates of the future, must not only
be safe men, but men who stand for
some definite policy and whose earnest
ness and close identity with such pol
, icy give promise of enforcing it.
CARNEGlE'S GREATEST GIFT.
Commenting OH the recent gift by
Mr.. Carnegie Of 100000 towards the
endowment Of Tuskegee Institute the
Boston Pilot bestows the following
well deserved commentators upon Mr.
Carnegie and Booker n. Washington