The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-22

labored 6or corruption during the last eight years no objection can be made to him on the score of personal character. If tho Convention decide that the Judicial quality Is the one which prudence and patriotism suggest for the most effective opposition to jingoism and swashbuclling. he is an almost ideal candidate.
 7. The Man from $. LooLs. '>
 If the issues should be simply reform In administration, the exposing of wrong and the pursuit and conviction of wrong doers. the man who has won national fame as a prosecutor in St Louis seems to pos sess every quality necessary to insure sue cess. His record is absolutely unique, so Tar as know, in the history of the coun- try. He is a reformer of singular efi1- ciency, and at the same time a politician Of consumrnate skill, while as reformer and politician he has been successful In an extraordinary and almost bewildering degree. Reformers have been numerous, but no other, to my knowledge, has ever been equally successful in fighting rogues in the criminal courts and in the political primaries
 Reformers who are really anxious to end wrongdoing have always been numerous. Reformers who have undertaken to prose- cute crime in the courts have not been few. Reformers who have succeeded In obtaining convictions are rare, though not wholly unknown. But the only man, so far as know, who has pursued criminals in the courts to conviction and at the same time has fought them successfully at the primaries, who has actually suc- ceeded In dislodglng them from the politi- cal control In which he found them and assuming that control himself, is the pros- ecuting attorney of St. Louis.
 That he has vindcated justice in the
 courts would have been highly creditable.
 but that he has actually enthroned 1t in
 control of political party so completely
 that delegates charged with the task of
 rewarding it's champion by nominating him
 to the highest office in the Commonwealth
 will dominate the State Convention of
 Missouri almost unanimously is an event
 unprecedented in the history of politics. so far as know. and fraught with the prom ise of measureless benefit to the people of the whole country.
 Moral Fibre Of The People.
 The moral fibre of the American people has always been sound. The virtuous have ways been in the vast majority. but their very superiority has tended to make their employment the most extensive and there fire the most exacting, while the less worthy, whose time was less valuable, by devoting 1t wholly to politics, have man. aged to influence largely, If not to domi-
 
 parties.
 The man who can enthrone the virtuous clements of his party in the control of it's management will not be without imitators in the other party, if the country at large should show Its approval of his course by bestowing on him the supreme honor of the Presidency
 If both political organizations were man. aged and controlled by the best element of each the effect on government would be incalculable. It would have a new birth It's foundation would have acquired a new security, Its flag new glory. it's prosperity an extent which at this moment no man can conceive.
 It would be an inspiring spectacle to see the republican candidate who makes a practice of denouncing political boodlers between elections, but employs and utilizes and courts them at the primaries opposed by man who fights political boodlers at primaries and sends them to State prison between elections.
 If the delegates to St. Louis think that abilities of the highest order firmness ab- solutely unswerving, courage absolutely nndaunted, patriotism absolutely unselfsh, experience wide, ripe, successful are the qualities necessary to make a candidacy successful the embodiment of them all will De presented to its attention by the dele gation from Massachusetts.
 Hard 10 Forgfpe Gepekand. UT course there Is one man whose election would be absolutely certain, but the op- position to his nomination ie so strong as to make 1t impossible. The men now prominent in the management of the party have nearly all risen to prominence de- nouncing him. and of course that makes 1t almost impossible for them now to accent him as a candidate. If the opposition was based on anything he had said of them it might be overcome, but 1t would be almost superhuman If these gentlemen forgave MT. Cleveland the harsh things they have said Of him. It Is very easy to forgive my neighbor anything he may have said of me put almost impossible to forgive him the things l have said about him. Of course. 1t must be admitted that the existence of this opposition to MT. Cleveland in his own party To some extent impeaches his capacity for leadership.
 MT. Cleveland served two terms as Presf- dent. After the first he left the White House with his party unanimously and enthusiastically attached to him. After the second he left the White House with his party in1amed against him with al- most equal unanimity. served in Con- gross during half of each administration and enjoyed more or less intimacy with all It's members, especially during the first half of the second term.
 Cleveland as an Obstacle.
 I
 From my observations. should say that Mir. Cevelands greatest quality Is not as a leader, but as an obstacle. If there were now a prospect that the party should obtain possession of both houses of Con- gress, should not favor his nomination myself, because his second term showed that he does not possess the qualities of encouraging men to cooperate with him in affirmative measures of legislation. and this quality Is the very essence of leader ship In a man charged with the first place in representative government. This in- ability to control or lead his associates does not show any moral defect-indeed. it may be the result of his virtues-but without 1t he cannot lead political party, He may be too good for leadership. but he Is not leader.
 During MT C1eveland's second term the tarifY issue which, If he did not create, he certainly succeeded in bringing to the by the divisions and dissensions which overlook his party. These are what a leader would have avoided. His failure to avert them left his second administration d source of defeat and disaster to hls party.
 Durins his first term, however, the Sem ate was republican. Mir. Cleveiand's func- tion ther, was to arrest Senatorial agsres- s,on and defeat Senatorial usurpation. Tbere h,s success was decisive-I may say extraordinary. There his part was not to make men do salntary things in co-opera- tion with him, but to prevent them from doing mischievous things In spite of him. IJia mart was that of an obstacle, and he nlaved 1t admirably. This year there is no prospect of carrying the Senate No