The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-06-25
GROVER CLEVELAND.

GROVER CLEVELAND.
The only American who has ever
been thrice given a plurality of the
votes of his cOuntrymen for the high
est Office within their gift, Grover
Cleveland, ex-president of the United
States. died at his home in Princeton,
n. J., yesterday. in the seventy
year of his age.' Although Mr.. Cleve-
land had not been in good physical
condition for some months, his death
was entirely unexpected, as far as the
general public was concerned. especial
ly in view OF the published announce
ment that he had completely recovered
from a recent illness.
There will be many and varying es-
Inmates OF the character OF this great
American. But that he was sturdily
honest. that he was as fearless as he
was honest, and as able as he was
fearless will hardly be denied by his
bitterest enemies. Mr.. Cleveland was
not an impetuOus man. He never took
a step without carefully considering
his ground. But when once he had
made up his mind he was right. no
clamor, nor influence could swerve him
by so much as the breadth of a hair
from what he conceived 10 be his true
course
MIR. Cleveland was the second Demo-
crat elected to the presidency since the
war between the states. and the only
one 10 be seated Friends and foes
alike before ne died We're willing 10
cOncede that he was an honor TO his
party. an executive of unsurpassed
ability and commanding figure in the
history OF his time. He was a man
who. 10 adopt the nomenclature of the
stage. was always averse to the spot
light a characteristic in which he
differed widely from the present occu-
pant of the White House. He did his
days work without ostentatiOn. with
out bids for public applause, without
self Acknowledgement. Although he will
be best remembered for his special
message TO congress in 1895 on the Ven
ezueian boundary dispute. Mr.. Cleve-
lands claim to sturdy Americanism
and unfincEing allegiance to the ma
tons best interests by no means rests
upon that foundation. He regarded
that message as merely a part of the
days work. Nobody was more sur
prised than he over the enthusiastic
approval II aroused.
X X +
Great Britain. 1t viii be remembered.
had become involved I'm a dispute with
Venezuela over the boundary line be-
tween that country and British Guia-
ma. II was evidently Great Britains
purpose TO acquire and permanently
hold territory rightly belonging to
Venezuela. President Cleveland had
suggested that the dispute be submit
ted TO arbitration and had inquired OF
the British government whether or not
this course would be adopted. The re-
ply was vague and unsatisfactory. 1t
was even limited that the Monroe doc
trine. TO which reference had been
made by the president. was not ap-
plicable 10 a controversy between
Great Britain and Venezuela.
II was then that President Cleveland
wrote his famous message. After de
failing the preliminary proceedings, he
urged the appointment Of a commits
sion 10 investigate and report upon the
boundary dispute. He continued:
When such report is made and ac-
cepted Il Will. in my opinion, be the
duty OF the United States to resist by
every means in its power, as wiilful
aggression upon its rights and inter
ests. the appropriation of Great Britain
of any lands or the exercise of govern
mental Jurisdiction over any territory
which, after Investigation. we have de-
termined of right belongs to Venezuela
I'm making these recommendations
am fully alive 20 the responsibility in
CURED and .keenly realize all the con-
sequences that may follow.
1T am, nevertheless, firm in my con-
vietion that. while il is a grievous
thing to contemplate the two great
English-speaking peoples of the world
as being otherwise than friendly COM
petitors in the onward march of civili-
cation, and strenuous and worthy ri
walls In all arts OF peace. there is no
calamity which a great nation can in
vite which equals that which follows a
xupina submission to wrong and injus-
tics and the consequent loss of national
ssIf-respect and honor, beneath which