The Delta independent., 1904-11-04
PARKER AND BUCHANAN.
Mr.. Clsvs'and's Cnmpar isou Cau.es Q
Nation Wide Smile.

Mr.. ClsVe'and's Comparisou Causes Q
Nation Wide Smile.
When a ponderous person plants his
feet in a shallow puddle there is likely
to be a mighty splash This is precisely
what has happened tn. result OF
President CI-veland's discovery Of the
slight resemblance between the candi-
dates in 1856 and 1904.
The compariso Of Roosevelt with Fre-
mont because of their fanciei r-sem-
hlance as appealing to romantic senti-
ment and popular love for the spectacu-
lar. scarcely produced ripple on the
surface OF political thought. But the
likening of Judge Parker to James Buch-
anan "a the model Of what a mature.
undramatic and experienced" candidate
for the Presidency should be, has pro-
, voked scornful laughter clear across the
continent.
II e1President Cleveland had sea -ched
the roll Of prominent Americans FOR
name less likely TO arouse popular en-
thusia SUI than that Of James Buchanan
he would have had to look among those
whose records wer. positively odOuS to
find il. There was nothing actively vIci-
Gus or. what Mr.. Cleveland would call.
''perniciously active about President
Buchanan. He was not what, accord
INK to the sage OF Buzzard's Bay. would
b. called an Offensive partisan"
But in the vita! emergency that low
cred above the Republic during his ad-
ministration he was tried in the balance
and found wanting. Where a man
worthy to be President would have
grasped the nettle OF secession with the
firm hand Of American patriotism and
crushed il in its incipienCy. Mr.. Buch-
aran dallied with the question. He held
that Congress was not competent 10 deal
with the anti-slavery agitation. that Il
was question for the individual States.
and that ii was better for all parties.
including the slaves themselves. that K
should remain so.
As President he deferred TO pro-slsv-
cry leader. and quailed before their
threats OF secession. While he temper
lied the seceders perfected their plans.
Instead of meeting their threats with
tn. words and measures Of an Andrew
Jackson he took the illogical and impo-
tent position that. while the States had
a right to secede the nation. with
little n. had no power TO prevent them
doing so.
And this is the man Of mature. IN
dramatic experience" who. in Mr. Cleve-
lands judgment. is the prototype OF
Judge Parker. lrresolute and ineffective
1S Mr. buchanan was, We are not 50 sure
i'ut injustice is done him in comparing
him with Judge Parker. He was certain
ly a man Of greater maturity than the
man from Esopu- not only in years but
in experience with affairs and in knowl-
edge of men. Everything that expert
.nce conld teach Of politics and state
craft Buchanan knew-only the intrinsic
capacity to ma ster them was lacking.
Judge Parker has had absolutely none
OF the experience and training that seem
ed to ht Mr.. Buchanan for the Presi-
iency. In 1877. at the age of tweuty
five. he was elected surrogate OF Ulster
County. New York. and under the shell
t-rinS wing of David B. Hill he has
v-Setatei in some judicial position ever
since. That there ia a certain parallel
ism between his weak. undramatic and
facilitating ntterances and those OF Mr.
buchanan cannot be denied. Their views
upon the unconstitutionality Of the pow
sr Of self preparation in the Union and
of the folly Of an army and navy COM
nensurate 10 the dignity and necessities
Of great nation. are >trikingly similar
and equally false, barren and reaction
AIRY.
Buchanan lived 10 repent the "undra-
matte" moderation that warmed seces-
sion into life. He supported Liucoln's
administration and lent all his influence
t" the prosecution Of the war. But it
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
Il 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 M Davis quit his company
and continue to steer their courses by tn.
char, that ran his administration on the
breakers
The American people will never elect
Counterfeit replica ot James Buchanan
to the Presidency. il they are warned in
time; and. thanks 20 eN-President Cleve-
land. they recognize that Judge Parker
has all Of the tailiuE> and none of the
r.Si.-minS qualities Of President Buch-
Anan.