The Springfield herald., 1904-11-04
PARKER AND BUCHANAN.
Mr., CIeve.nups t"mparison Causes .
NntIon. Wide Smile.

Mr.. Cisve' "mparisnn Causes .
Natiop.Wide Smile.
When u ponderous person plants his
feet in a shallow puddle there is likely
90 be mighty splash. This is precisely
what has happened AS the resLlt OF
President Cleveland's discovery of the
"sliyht resemblance" between the candi-
dates in 1886 and 1904.
The comparison of Roosevelt with FIRE.
mont because of thciTn fancied resem-
blnnce as appealing to romantic senu-
ment and popular love for the spectacu-
lar, scarcely produced a ripple on the
surface of political thought. But the
nikening of Judge Parker to James Buch-
anan as the model of what mature,
undramatic and experienced" candidate
for the Presidency should be. has pro-
voked scornful laughter clear across the
continent.
IL ex-President Cleveland had searched
the roll of prominent Americans for Il
name less likely to arouse popular en-
khusiasm than that of James Buchanan
he would have had to look among those
whose records were positively odious TO
Hind it. There was nothing actively vici-
Gus or. what Mr.. Cleveland would call,
''perniciously active" about President
Buchanan. He was not what, accord
ine to the sage of Buzzard's Bay, would
be called an offensive partisan"
But in the vital emergency that low
cred above the Republic during his ad-
ministration he was tried in the balance
and found wanting. Where man
worthy to be President would have
grasped the nettle of secession with the
firm hand of American patriotism and
crushed it in its incipiency, Mr.. Buch-
anan dallied with the question. He held
that Congress was not competent to deal
with the anti-slavery agitation, that it
was a question for the individual States,
and that it was better for all parties,
including the slaves themselves, that it
should remain so.
As President he deferred to pro-slav-
cry leaders and quailed before their
threats of secession. While he temper
,ized the seceders perfected their plans.
Instead of meeting their threats with
the words and measures of an Andrew
Jackson he took the illogical and impo-
tent position that, while the States had
q right to secede the nation, with a
little n, had no power to prevent them
doing so.
And this is the man of mature. I'M
dramatic experience" who, in Mr.. Cleve
lands judgment, is the prototype of
ns Mr.. buchanan was, we are not so sure
hut injustice Is done him in comparing
him with Judge Parker. He was certain
ly 4 iran of greater maturity than the
man from Esopus, not only In years but
In experience with affairs and In knowl-
edge of men. Everything that expert
ence could teach of politics and state
craft Buchanan knew-only the intrinsic
capacity to master them was lacking.
Judge Parker has had absolutely none
of the experience and training that SEEM
ed to fit Mr.. Buchanan for the Presi-
dency. In 1877, at the age of twenty
five, he was elected surrogate of Ulster
County, New York, and under the shell
tering wing of David B. Hill he has
vegetated in some judicial position ever
since. That there is certain parallel
ism between his weak, undramatic and
vacillating utterances and those of Mr..
Buchanan cannot be denied. Their views
upon the unconstitutionality of the pow
er of self perpetuation in the Union and
of the folly of ain army and navy COM
mensurate to the dignity and necessities
of a great nation, are strikingly similar
and equally false, barren and reaction
ary.
Buchanan lived to repent the tundra
matte" moderation that warmed seces-
sion into life. He supported Lincolns
administration and lent all his influence
10 the prosecution of the war. But 1t
does not appear that either Judge Parker
or Henry Gassaway Davis, who also
harks back to the days OF Buchanan,
follow his precept and example when,
In the fierce fame of civil war, he saw
a bright light that taught him that the
Union must be saved at all hazards.
When he came to the conclusion that his
country was more to him than his own
Interpretation of its constitution, Judge
Parker and Mr.. Davis quit his company
and continue to steer their courses by the
chart that ran his administration on the
breakers.
The American people will never elect
counterfeit replica of James Buchanan
to the Presidency. If they are warned in
time; and, thanks to ex-President Cleve-
land, they recognize that Judge Parker
has all of the failings and none of the
redeenins qualities of President Buch-
Gnan.