The Washington herald., 1908-06-25

urement from the great once Ills career
was unique among Presidents.
He was twice elected. in itself a distinc-
tion among Presidents. but especially so
for him. because "A period Of four years
interviewed between his two terms.
That honor has been conferred upon no
other Of the eminent men who preceded and
followed him. But he also had a plurality
OF the popular vote for each Of the three
times he was his partys nominee. This
plurality increased at each succeeding
eleCtion-62.6S3 in 1854. when he first tri-
umphed az the polls and became the first
Democratic President since Buchanan;
9S0l7 IN lSSS, when he was defeated for
reelection. and 3S0,Sl0 when he was borne
into the White House in 1892 upon the
greatest tidal wave known IN modern
American politics.
For twenty years he stood forth as the
leader Of a great political party, that re-
turned 10 power after a prescription Of
nearly a generation. No man in his time
OF political activity had more turbulent
elements to contend with or encountered
more bitter criticisms. But even after
he broke away from the regular party or
ganizauon. which the silverites captured
in 1896, he continued one Of the most con-
spicuous men in public life. and the first
citizen Of the United States excepting the
President No other living man had
played so important a part in affairs or
had so distinct a personality.
Came OF Intellectual stock.
Grover Cleveland was born in New Jer-
sey, the State where he spent the closing
years OF his life. He first saw the light
al Caldwell. Essex County. March IS.
1887. His father was Rev Richard Falley
Cleveland. "a graduate Of Yale i'm 1924. and
pastor Of a Presbyterian church in Cald-
well at the time OF the sons birth. His
mother was Anna Neal. before her mar
riage- She was OF Irish extraction. the
daughter OF a Baltimore bookseller.
The future President was the fifth child
of the family. which ultimately included
four boys and hve girls. He received his
name of stephen Grover from the Presby-
terian pastor who had preceded his father
in the Caldwell pulpit. but early dropped
the first name. The Clcvelands were OF
English origin. the first in this country.
Hoses Cleveland, having come from Ips-
witch I'm 1885 Several men Of the lineage
occupied honorable positions during their
lives. with a strong bent toward mental
work, wherever they We're found Dr.
Aaron Cleveland. the ex-President's great
grcat-grandfather. was an Episcopal min
lister and the friend Of benjamin Frank
I'm. Another took an active part in the
Connecticut legislature Of pioneer DAYS.
Some Of the Clcvelands were silversmiths.
some lawyers. and others. as Just indi-
Gated. were clergymen of different faiths.
The various charges assumed by his
father accounts for the diversified resi-
denee OF the son during youth. The family
moved 30 Fayetteville. y. Y, near Syra-
cuse, when Grover was four years old
There they lived for nine years. and
Grover attended the public schools. Wren
ne was thirteen years OF age. the family
moved 10 clinton. in Oneida County. and
in 1888 20 Holland Patent. fifteen miles
from Otlca. But before Rev. Richard Falley
cleveland went 10 Holland Patent his son
returned 10 Fayetteville as clerk I'm the
village store. He was paid $50 for his
services there the first year and was 10
nave >lvo for the second year. Before IL
expired his father called him home 10
prepare for a college education.
Helps support the Family.
These studies were hardly well begun
when his father died. and the young stu
dent was compelled 20 resume work 10
help support his mother and the younger
children. For. about a year he lived In
New York City as a teacher I'm an insti-
tuition for the blind. where his brother
William. afterward a Presbyterian cler-
gyman. also taught After visiting his
mother az Holland Patent in 1855 be de-
cided to look for employment In the West
but got no farther than Buffalo. where his
uncle. Lewis +. Allen who owned a large
farm on an island in the Niagara River
set him 70 compiling a descriptive cata-
logue, entitled The American Short-born
Herd Book" After a few months This
uncle found an opportunity for the young
man 70 enter law office
Cleveland was admitted 10 the bar in
Erie County about four years afterward
that being in 1853 He had worked in
dustriously during his residence in the
western section Of the State. and for
small compensation. His uncle paid him
$40 week for services on the Short Horn
catalogue. When he secured employment
with the law firm, It was as clerk and
copyist. at 81 a week. Being admitted m
the bar. he remained for three years with
the firm where he had studied az first
on salary OF $500. as managing cIerl,
and soon on a salary OF 1000. In 1ss2
he was appointed assistant district at
torney Tor Erie County and held that
place for three years II was during his
term that an urgent call for recruits in
tne Union army was made Two Of
Cleveland brothers. Richard Cecil and
Louis Frederick. had enlisted. As his
mother and sisters were dependent upon
him, ne borrowed money to buy n suh
stitute Il was long after the war ended
before he was able 10 repay the money.
He was defeated the first time he ran
Tor an elective Office This was in 1865.
when he was twenty-eight years old. bav-
Ing received the Democratic nomination
for district attorney Then he formed >
law partnership OF his own. but in 1850
became member Of the firm known as
Lanning. Cleveland & Folsom. In 1870
be was a candidate for the Office OF
sheriff. and was elected Three wears
later. when his term as sheriff had ex
pired. he formed a new law partnership.
known as Bass. Cleveland & Bisseil
The last named was the late Wilson S.
Bisseil. Postmaster General during a part
OF Mr. Cleveland's second term.
Grew I'm Popular Esteem.
Cleveland had been constantly growing
IN popular esteem when elected mayor Of
Buffalo, in 1851. by phenomenal majority
Of $3.50. The traits that were so notable
during his subsequent incumbency Of i'm
portant public places. characterized his
administration Of affairs in Buffalo.
There surely is no difference in his duties
and obligations. whether person is In
trusted with the money OF one man or
many he said in his inaugural address
as mayor "and yet IL sometimes appears
as though the officeholder assumes that !
a different rule Of fidelity prevails be- !