The Donaldsonville chief., 1908-07-04
heath of Ex.President Cleveland.

w 1Q6SpfedQ surprise duu SOTFOW
were caused by the announcement that
Grover Cleveland, former president of
the United States, had died sud
denly at his home in Princeton, New
Jersey, on Wednesda June "a, at
$40 o clock d. %. Mr.. Cleveland had
been in impaired health for several
years, but there was nothing in his
condition twenty hours before his
death to indicate that his end was so
close at hand. After alternating
spells of consciousness and insensi-
bility during Tuesday night, the dis,
tinguished patient sank into state
of coma two hours before breathing
his last, and thus passed PEACEFULLY aud
painlessly away. His faithful wits
and three attending physicians were
at the bedside, but the four Cleveland
children were at the family's summer
home at Tamworth, New Hampshire,
and could not reach Princeton in time
TO see their father alive. Heart
trouble, superinduced by stomach and
kidney ailments of long standing, was
the immediate cause of death.
Mr.. Cleveland was born at Cald-
we'll, New jersey, March Is, 1881,
hence was in his seventy first year.
He was baptized Stephen Grover, but
in after years dropped the first name
and was known only by the second.
His father was a Presbyterian minis
ter. Growers early schooling was
thorough, though he was not aole to
complete a college course, and his first
money was earned as a teacher. He
studied law and was admitted to the
bar at Buffalo. II. Y, in 1859, whea
only % years of age. Four years
later he was chosen assistant district
attorney of Erie county and was
elected sheriff of that county in 1870.
In 1881 he became mayor of Buffalo,
in 1882 governor of New York, and in
1884 was elected president of the United
States over ames G. Blaine. Four
years later Mr.. Cleveland was defeated
for reelection by Benjamin Har-
rison, but at the succeeding national
election in 1892, when the same candi-
dates we're pitted against each other,
Mr.. Cleveland was again elevated to
the presidential Office, serving until
March 4, 1897, when he was sue
ceeded by the late William Mckinley.
Although he did not again seek or
hold public Office, his interest in pub
lie affairs never tagged and his opin-
ions on pending issues were often
sought and always received with great
respect and confidence by his fell
citizens. He was a man of posi-
tive convictions and inhexible will,
whose opinions and policies were
not always in harmony with those
OF the majority of ais party, but
his sincerity and integrity com
manded the recognition and respect of
the people without distinction, and he
was universally regarded as one of the
greatest of living Americans.
The funeral took place at Princeton
on June 26 and was characterized by
extreme simplicity. President Roose-
welt went from Oyster Bay on a
special train to attend the oboequies,
and among the many other prominent
citizens and officials present were
GoVs. Hughes of New York, Fort Of
New Jersey and Hoke Smith of Geor-
gia, the latter of whom was secretary
of the interior in President Cleveland $
second cabinet.
AS a mark of respect TO the memory
of the eminent dead, President Roose-
welt has ordered that the flags on all
federal buildings in the country be
displayed at half staff during pc
riod of thirty days.
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