The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-04-28
GROVER CLEVELAND.


1t seems somewhat startling. just at
the first blush, the statement that
comes in the latest newspapers from
the mainland, that Grover Cleveland is
once more turning with longing toward
the White House. 1t seems somewhat
startling, and yet it should not be. Per-
haps no man who has sat in the chair
OF Washington since the days of the
fathers has ever been able to return, in
actual practice. to the sober realities OF
every day citizenship, to settle down
once more into the plain American, to
cease to long for the return of the
days when his word was power and
men fell down IN his presence as the
visible head of a great people. It was
this danger from the ambition OF aspir-
ing men that the first and the greatest
OF the Presidents warped the people
against when he laid down the power
OF office and went back to his simple
life at Mount Vernon. The ration has
elected many great men to the Presi-
dency since the days of Washington.
but only one of these. perhaps. was
great enough TO set aside Washington's
example-and of them all, Lincoln if
he had lived, would have been the last
10 seek to do that. For Lincoln had
the same love for the people that
Washington had, the same sacred re-
gard for the peoples liberties that al
ways inspired the fathers.
Next to Lincoln. Grant was perhaps
the greatest. Certainly he was tha
most loved. And though Grant listened
to the song Of the siren of ambition
was led away. rather. by that weak
compliance with the will of friends
which was the one weak spot in a
character otherwise most strong-even
Grant was not great enough to over
come the almost Unborn prejudice of the
Americans against the third term idea.
The people loved Grant. they We're
man who ever lived after Conkling's
spectacular failure at Chicago to NOM
mate him, but their love nor their sor-
row would give him third term in
the Presidency.
And still it is said. and said in all
seriousness. that Grover Cleveland,
with the knowledge of all American
history open to him. with the traditions
OF the American political system as
plain as print before him, with the ex-
ample of Grant fresh in the memory
of many men now living as actors in
h
self to cherish the delusion that his
rotund personality can win where the
lovable nature and the splendid service
OF Grant failed It is true that Grover
Cleveland is. in many respects, one of
the most remarkable men of the time.
1t is true that he is man who. in the
past, has always been credited with
possessing the courage of his convic-
tons He made mistakes, of course,
and notably in his dealing with Hawaii
upon a certain memorable occasion
when he permitted himself to be led
most wofuIly astray through a certain
mental habit lie has, in common with
most strong wIlled men, of thinking
that the action OF another is wrong be-
cause it was not his action; neverthe-
less he is a man head and shoulders
above any other man in his party in
the science OF statecraft and in all the
elements that go to political leader
ship.
But, while there is recognized need
!. IN the Democratic party for a present
Aeses' while Bryan is too radical and