The Irish standard., 1908-07-04

| MIN Wnlle on vacation the following
summer. OF this kind of men are
Democratic victories made.
1t was a hard-fought campaign with
an extravaganza of personal abuse
and an investigation of life-records
perhaps unprecedented. There was
question of some by-gone fault of the
Democratic candidate, out of which
his opponents expected to make much
capital. How shall we meet it?'
asked the campaign managers. "Tell
the TRUTH" said Cleveland calmly. The
words made a. motto, henceforth borne
on the Democratic banners.
| Up to the Saturday preceding the
election. however, the "Plumed
Knight was bearing down all opposi-
ton. Several powerful Irish-American
organs in New York State had gone
over bodily to the Republicans. Then
came the historic Burclard incident: :
and Blaine fell by lack of one bold
word to resent an insult to the Church
which was his mothers and should
have been his own. 1t was the first
Democratic victory in twenty-four
years, and put new heart and hope into
the party. 1t positively acted as a
| nfnd-cure to a fine old Western New
| York Democrat who had been danger
ously i'll, but who, on announcement of
the victory. rose up and attended the
jubilation meeting.
| Cleveland signalized his first term
by an utter disregard for the general
shibboleth of all parties. ITO the VIC
| tors belong the spoils.' and adopted
and enforced important advances in
civil service reform. 1t was estimated
that, during his term, 900 federal
| officers were taken out Of party poll
| tics. He also inaugurated his great
| work on tariff reform. Sometimes, he
had conflicts with the Senate, espe-
cially on the matter of refusing to sub
init to that body documents relating
to the removal of public officials. In
vain the Senate stormed and threaten
ed. The president didn't talk back He
had put his foot down and he kept it
down, and ultimately most of his ap-
pointments were ratified. He initiated
| excellent legislation in the labor
| interest and for the reduction Of
| taxes; and with true statesman fore
sight. brought to the public atten-
tion. the vast accumulation of coined
silver. recommending a suspension Of
compulsory coinage.
President Cleveland risked and lost
his second campaign on the tariff issue.
He must have known that the opposi-
ton would be strong enough to defeat
him: but lie felt the education of the
people could not be delayed. 1t was
after his second nomination, and only
a fortnight before the Presidential
| election Of 1888 that the present writer
met Grover Cleveland as President.
having noted him previously reviewing
| military parade from the porch of
| the White House. He was a large, we'll
proportioned, robust man, bronzed
after the summer. 1t was rather start
| ling to observe what must have been
| the original fairness of his skin, when
he raised his hat and revealed the
top OF his broad high forehead, which
had escaped the sun. We recall the
cordial clasp Of his big. warm hand,
and his singularly pleasant smile. We
were presented by the Hon. Edward A.
Moseley, Secretary Of the Interstate
Commission. The Sackville-Wcst in
cident came up. The British minister
of his indiscretion. West did that to
lands terse comment.
Cleveland was defeated by Benjamin
Harrison. The Democratic President
was a good loser. When asked what
had overcome him, le smilingly an
swercd. Lack OF votes" Yet, his pop
ular vote exceeded Harrison's by 1OO,-
900. He returned to his law practice
in New York, and to the enjoyment OF
family life unvexed by cares of office;
for In 1886, lie had married Miss
Frances Folsom of Buffalo, daughter
of one Of his first law partners.
In 1892. Cleveland was again the
candidate of his party. and he won on
the tariff issue by which he had lost
four years previous, the electoral vote
standing 277 for him to las for Harri-
son, and the popular majority about
100000. Cleveland thus had the uni
que experience OF three Presidential
campaigns.
In explanation Of the flnancia
stringency which marked part of his
second term. it Is we'll to remembe,
that Cleveland at the end Of his flrst
term. left In the treasury a. cash bal
ance Of over s2s100O,oOO of which
was in gold: while Mr. Harrison at