The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-26
GROVER CLEVELAND.

GROVER CLEVELAND.
Grover Cleveland is dead. The last
Of the ex-presidents has answered the
final summons. The announcement
Of his death will come as a sudden
shock to the American people. as the
recent reports from Princeton were
that MI. Cleveland's health was i'm
proving.
Grover Cleveland was undoubtedly
one Of the greatest men of the clos
ing years Of the nineteenth century.
He was also one Of the most popular.
Twice he was elected president of the
United States, and three times he re-
ceived a majority Of the votes cast
at a presidential election. The clos
ing years Of his administration wit
messed a decrease in his popularity,
due to unsettled financial conditions
and hard times, but the twelve years
that have passed since he retired
from the white house have regained
for him that popularity, and at his
death he was loved and honored by
the entire nation regardless Of politi-
cal %afiliation.
Like William H. Taft, the first po-
litical office held by MI. Cleveland
was that Of assistant prosecuting at
torney, to which he Vas elected in
Erie county, New York, in 1863. At
that time he had been admitted to
the bar but four years. Cleveland
was the only support Of his mother
and sisters, his two brothers being
In the Union army. Mr.. Cleveland
demonstrated his patriotism by Dor
rowing money sufficient to send 9
substitute to the front. He was de-
feated for district attorney in 1865
at the age Of % by IN intimate friend.
In 1870 he was elected sheriff. The
remaining portion Of the '70s he spent
practicing law and high honors.
IN 1881 he was elected mayor Of Buff
falo, New York, and his reform ad-
ministration won for him the demo-
cratic nomination and election as gov
ernor in 1882.
In 1884 he was made the party's
candidate for president, being elected
over James G. Blaine. In 1888 he
was renominated, and although he re-
ceived a larger vote than Benjamin
II. Harrison, the latter received the
largest vote in the electoral college
and was elected. In 1892 he was again
chosen president.
After his retirement in 1896 he
moved to Princeton, N. j., where his
home has been since. He has lived a
quiet and transformations life since re-
firing from the presidency, and by his
dignity, conservatism and model home
life has won the admiration of all
American citizens. @ {
The only public service of national
Importance rendered by Mr.. Cleve-
land since his retirement from office
has been In connection with the re-
organization Of the Equitable Life In
surance company, brought about by
the expose Of graft in the large insur-
ance companies. He transacted bust
8 for that company up to within a
few weeks Of his death.
suf1cient time has not passed since
the administration Of Mr.. Cleveland
to properly determine his place in
history, but the tributes paid to him
by leading American statesmen when
informed Of his death, show the es-
TEEN in which he was held by his as.
sociates in the national government.
Grover Cleveland was firm in his
convictions, imbued with a desire to
do what was right and best for the
nation and unhesitating in his actions.
His private life was simple and home
like, and a model for every American
citizen. His public record and his pri.
vate life are worthy OF emulation,
and stamp him as one Of the nation g
greatest men.