The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1908-06-27
GROVER
CLEVELAND

In the death OF ex-President Grover
Cleveland the country loses one OF its
greatest and most patriotic citizens.
The end OF earth same to him peace
fully, on Wednesday morning, at his
home in Princeton, n. J.. only Mrs,
Cleveland and the attendant physician
being present. The announcement OF
his decease has caused. widespread
grief and many tributes have been paid
10 the greatness OF his character and
the worth OF his public services by men
Of all shades OF political opinions.
Perhaps Mr. Cleveland's most inn
portant contribution to the country's
good was his unfaltering adherence TO
sound money. His insistence upon
the suspension OF the coinage OF silver
in the face of a hostile Congress and
in opposition 10 the wishes OF his
party-a stand which ultimately split
the Democracy in twain-was an act
of high political courage and OF signal
devotion 10 duty at time when manv
public men were either houndcring in
a maze of uncertainty on the financial
question or were seeking to avoid TAX
ing sides upon it. Throughout his
term he showed the same high sense
of obligation to his oath oi office His
vetoes oi private pension bills and ~
the dependent pension bill did much 10
arouse the country over pension ex-
travaeancc. His tariff-reform policy
is too well known 10 need more than
n reference nj this time II was his
stand upon the tariff which gave his
party an issue and made il 4 militant
organization His courage in this
respect probably cost him his election
in 1888. but II did much to win for him
the nomination and the election four
years later.
In this second Administration the
hnarcial question was of transccndcnt
inheritance. and then began the long
and bitter fight which eliminated in
1896 in the triumnh al Bryan and the
frcc-Sivcr men and the driving out Of
the Democratic party al men like
Cleveland and Carlisle and thousands
of others who would not stand for re-
pudation I'm this Administration also
there arose the controversy with Eng
land over the Venezuelan boundary
Ire, which seemed for time 70
threaten war Excellent results follow
cd this controversy. however, in that
Il was settled once for all that the
Monroe doctrine is not obsolete and
probably saved the country from re-
pcatcd cmbarraSSmcntS over the Ques-
tion in the future Ii was demonstrate
ed So plainly that the United States
was ready TO 60 to war in defense OF
the doctrine that il is not likely il will
he seriously inirinccd upon hereafter.
Most important OF all. the fact that the
two countries had stood on the brink
of war led to the negotiation of a gen
cral arbitration treaty with Great Rri-
tain II needs only mention of the
sending ot troops To- Chicago during
the great railroad strike to recall how
the Presidents GOODNESS and courage
put an end 10 riots which for time
threatened the peace oi the whole
country, and further disrcllcd the idea
that the Federal Government was
powerlcSs To- maintain order
Since his retirement from the Prcsi-
dcncy Mr. Cleveland has been living at
Princeton. lccturing occasionally at
the University. serving efficiently on its
Board of Trustees. consulted contir-
rally on important public questions.
modest, ahlc. valued citizen.
THE PRESIDENTS TRIBUTE.
The following tributes by President
Roosevelt and Secretary TAFT are just
and comprehensive estimate, oi the
man
The White House, June 2i. 1903.
The People II the l'u,,cd States:
Grover Cleveland. President II the
United States from 1885 tu 1850 and
4.
o'clock this morning n, his home in
Princeton. \. !
In his death the nation has been de
pr;ycd 81 one OF itS greatest citizens
BY profession a lawyer. his chief SER
vices to his country were rendered dur
ing his long. varied and honorable
career in public life.
Since his retirement from the Prcsi-
dcncy he has continued well and faith
fully to serve his coun,rymcn by the
simplicity dignity and uprigh,ness OF
his private He.
In testimony oi the respect in which
his memory is held by the Government
and people 81 tho United States. ! do
hereby direct that the flags on the
White House and the several depart
mental buildings be displayed hali-staff
for period OF go days. and that suit
able military and naval honors, under
orders oi the Secretaries of War and
Navy. be rendered on the day OF the
funeral
Done this 24th day OF June. in the
year of Our Lord ono thousand nine
hundred and eight and oi the indepen-
dcncc OF the United States OF America
the one hundred and thirty-sccond.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
President.
BY A. a. ADEE.
Acting Secretary of State.