The Teton peak. [volume] (St. Anthony, Idaho) 1899-1904, 1904-11-03
PARKER AND BUCHANAN.
Mr.. Clsvsiaud's Conparison Causes n
Nation-W Wide Smile.

NE AloVO000'0 NO1V8TIoOu Aouo0 =
Nationwide 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 ha ppened as the result of
President Cleveland's discovery Of the
slight resemblance" between the candi-
dates in 1886 and .
The comparison Of Roosevelt with FIRE.
mont because of their fancied resem-
blance as appealing to romantic senti-
ment and popular love for the spectacu-
lar. scarcely produced a ripple on the
surface of political thought. But the
likening of Judge Parker to James Bnrh-
anan as the model of what IA mature.
undramatic and experienced" candidas'
for the Presidency should be. has pro-
voked scorpful laughter clear across the
continent.
If eX-President Cleveland had searched
the roll of prominent Americans for Il
name less likely to arouse popular en-
thusiasm than that of James Buchanan
he would have had to look among those
whose records We're positively odiouS to
find it. There was nothing actively vici-
Gus or. what Mr.. Cleveland would call.
"perniciously active about President
Buchanan. He was not what. accord
ing 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 adj
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 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
lied the seceders perfected their plans.
Instead of meeting their threats with
the words and measures of all Andrew
jackson he took the illogical and impo-
tent position that, while the States had
a right to secede the nation. with a
little n, had no power to prevent them
doing so.
And this is the man Of mature. un-
dramatic experience who. in Mr.. Cleve-
lands Judgment, is the prototype of
Judge Parker. lrresolute and ineffective
as MIR. buchanan was, we are not so sure
but injustice is done him in comparing
him with Judge Parker. He was certain
ly a man 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 a 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 DOW
er of self perpetuation in the Union and
of the folly of an army and navy COM
mensurate to the dignity and necessities
VI a eACoe AdtlOil. are SLTlkJLBly similar
and equally false, barren and reaction
airy.
Buchanan lived to repent the tundra
matte" moderation that warmed seces-
sion into life. He supported Lincoln's
administration and lent all his influence
to 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 flame 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 thar 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 n
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 f~ailings and none OF the
redeeming qualities of President Buch-
anan.