Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-24


his former law partner in Buffalo. Mr..
FOLSOM was killed in an accident in 1879
WHen his daughter was eleven years old
The marriage took place IN the White
House, only few guests being present.
Mrs. Cleveland soon won the hearts of
the people of the National capital and
became one of the most popular first
ladies of the land" in the history of the
government
President Cleveland took a stand in ia
vor of lower tariff duties during his term.
urging 1t in his annual message in 1887
This question became the issue in the
presidential election of the succeeding
year. when the republicans nominated
Gen. Benjamin Harrison of Indiana. The
democrats rencminated President CIeve-
land but the loWer-tarif question defeat
ed the Presid MT
Mr.. Cleveland returned to New York to
the practice of law. while the republi-
cans went ahead and passed the McKin-
ley tarln bill. This was done shortly be-
fore the time for another presidential
election. Mr.. Harrison was again nomi-
mated by the republicans, and Mr.. Cleve-
land by the democrats. He was elected
by the largest vote ever given democrat
for the office. entering upon his second
term March 4. 1893 For tha next four
years the country was in period of busi-
ness depression. which had started in
1880. and President Cleveland had many
troubles. The democrats enacted the Will
son tariff law and put it into operation
In 1895 This. together with dislike of
Mr.. Cleveland by party leaders, led to
democratic dissension. The silver issue
was sprung in 1896, and President Cleve-
land did not sympathiza with the atti-
tude and candidate of his party for the
presidency, William j. Bryan. He with
held his support from the nominee of the
party and is believed to have voted for
Palmer and Buckner. the nominees of
the god democrats. as they were called
Mr.. Cleveland was succeeded as Presi-
dent by William Mckinley of Ohio.
Grover Cleveland's career was forceful,
as 1t was carved by a strong will that
insisted upon carrying out his purposes
and seldom took heed of counsel. That
caused him to commit
high office that were at the time and are
still regarded by many as being injurious
SO far as precedent can effect injury.
But above the sturdy qualities shown
during his two terms in the White House
the fact that stands out foremost is that
the enc great issue that was raised by
him, and which had more to do with his
victories at the polls than all ohers-his
demand for a low tariff-has been re-
pudiated. and. up to the present day has
shown no important signs of being re-
vived. The reform Of the tariff now ad-
VGcated by the democratic party does not
go back 10 the Wilson bill as passed by
the House OF Representatives.
Leaders Do Not Advocate It.
The leaders Of the democratic party to-
day do not advocate revival of the Will
son bill. Free raw materials, to the ex-
tent that they We're approved in the bill
framed by Mr.. Wilson are now accepta-
BILE only to a small section of the demo-
cratic party. That proved to be the
case when the bill was taken in charge
by the Senate and modified to such an
extent that Mr.. Cleveland felt called up
on to write his famous letter denouncing
his party friends in the Senate as guilty
Of party perfidy."
His free trade doctrines have been ut
terly discarded by his own party, and no
party would dare advocate free trade for
the United States with any idea of secur-
Ing any important support at the polls.
With the drift of sentiment even in the
southern states since Mr.. Cleveland left
public Office 1t Is doubtful whether the
south could be kept solid If the democratic
party were to make an out and out issue
for free trade with declared free trade
candidate at the head of the ticket
Without having perma nently affected
the political course of the country by his
attitude upon the tariff. the dominating
issue of his two administrations, Mr.
Cleveland's fame must rest upon his
strength of character and his sturdiness
III OppOSuS eleIHeHtS III MS own party
and in having his own way in defiance Of
political leaders. This strong character
so often denounced as Obst macy and even
'pighead adness" because of it's intensity
often led Mr.. Cleveland to adhere to his
acts even when they were demonstrated
to be unwise according to the view of
many men in all parties. That he was
the most hated man by the leaders of his
own party when he received his second
and third nominations at their hands there
is no doubt.
The Venezuelan Boundary.
OF all the acts of President Cleveland
the one that probably received more pop
ular approval than any o. her was his at
titude toward the Venezuelan boundary
dispute. The United States proposed to
Great Britain that the dispute of tina.
country with Venezuela over the boundary
line that separates the latter from British
Guiana be settled by arbitration The
spirit of arbitration was then rising high
over the entire world, and England had
been one of the Influential! factors in pro-
noting 1t. On the part of the United
States the Monroe doctrine became then
a far more influential issue than any idea
of international arbitration I'pOn the
refusal of the British government to &C
cept this proposal the popular feeling
in this country arose in an almost unpre-
cedented manner.
There was a general feeling that the
vitality of the Monroe doctrine itself was
being tested and. on the other hand, the
strongest naval power was endeavoring TO
caerce weak republic.
Mr.. Cleveland gave demonstration of
what has ever since been dubbed as shirt
sleeve diplomacy He declared in Ian
guage that was not susceptible of more
than one Interpretation that Great Britain
would have 70 yield Or war would be re-
sorted to in order 20 insure fair treatment
for Venezuela.
TIE relative strength of the American
fighting force on the sea and that of
Great Britain at tina. time was great a 5
to cause this declaration to be looked upo I
in naval and military circles as an evil
dence of great nerve But the resource,
Ct the country and the unanimous senti-