The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-19

and the majority of it declared in favor of the free coinage of silver, policy which we know today, and which we ought to have known then was nothing but a policy of repudiation It was a policy completely contrary to the ancient and traditional views of the old democ- racy. It was departure from the plain est principles of honesty to those who foresaw it's effect in repudiation and seal ing down of public and private debts by legislative fiat. It was policy which has drawn away from the democratic party the confidence of the business com munity, whether previously democratic or republican. It presented moral is- sue so sharp, so clear as completely to destroy party fealty as party attach ments.
 Partisan Desires.
 '1n the campaign of MT Blaine and MT. Cleveland and of MT. Cleveland and MT. Harrison, everyone felt, however deep his partisan desires that the fn- stitutions of the country as established by the fathers, would be preserved un- der the leadership of either party. but in the campaign of 1896 and the one which followed 1t there was certainly no such confidence on the part of the men who voted for Mckinley. It seemed to be an issue in which the per manence of our institutions was in volved. In this light it was an unfor- tunate day for the republicans when the leadership of the democracy passed from Cleveland. The patriotic spirit which moved those under Mir. Cleve- lands leadership to break from party ties and save the country from repudia- tion entitled them and him to ever lasting gratitude.
 Debt to Cleveland.
 Another great debt which the coun- try owes to MT. Cleveland is the as- sertion made through him as it's chief executive of the power of the federal government directly to defend the fed eral Jurisdiction through the process of federal courts and by federal troops against the lawless invasion of a mob. MT. Cleveland was a democrat and on the other hand respected the traditions of the constitution of that party, but no fear of apparent inconsistency pre- vented him from asserting the full fed eral power to maintain its authority to oppress lawlessness when directed against federal right and federal juris- diction; and he instituted proceedings in the federal courts to restrain the Debs boycott of the country; the tying up of interstate commerce and the in- reference with the malls, and he sent the troops under General Miles to Chi cago to make his assertion of the power effective. It cost him the support of the thoughtless, but he succeeded in stopping what had really grown to the proportions of an insurrection. The highest tribunal created by the consti- tuition to fix the limits of state and na- tional authority completely sustained his course.
 Grover Cleveland earned the sincere gratitude of his countrymen and justi- fled recurring memorial occasions like the one in which we are taking part. He was a great President, not because he was a great lawyer, not because he was a brilliant orator, not because he was statesman of profound learning, but because he was patriot with the highest sense of public duty; because be was a statesman of clear percep tions of the utmost courage of his con viotions and of great plainness of speech, because he was a man of the highest character, father and hus- band of the best type. and because throughout his political life he showed those rugged virtues of the 5ublic servant and citizen, the emula tion of which by those who follow him will render progress of our political life to- ward better things a certainty"
 Tribute to Hughes.
 Governor Hughes declared That the fame of Grover Cleveland wasl assured because of his infiexible charafter and for the service that he had frendereu this state and the nation.
 Chief Justice Fuller, who admins tered the oath of office to Nr. Cleve- land on his inauguration and 10 all his successors, spoke of MT. 9eveiand greatness and told of his boyer In the nation The audience prequently cheered the chief justice as hk delivered his speech. E,
 Former President RooseWlt sent letter to Francis Lynde Ste Fon, chalr- man of the Cleveland menPrlal com mittee in which the formerv President told of his personal relationV With MT. Cleveland and praised the late chief magistrate as man of earnett purpose and high courage in the fac9 of oppo- sition and attack.
 peom written In hon9r of MT. Cleveland by Richard Watsoh Glider and read by him, was feature of the exercises.
 The New York symphony orchestra,