New-York tribune., 1909-03-19
SPEAKS At MEMORIAL
lHEETING HERE.
Tribute TO His Character and York
Calls Danger, Of Erecuti0e
CsurpdtiOn Imaginative.

Of the former President. to whom tribute was
paid by the presence Of many Republicans as
well as Democrats CT prominence in the nation
and state A letter from ex-Presdent Roosevelt
vas read and Richard Watson Glider read an
original poem
The President also attended the Cleveland
memorial meeting last evening in Great Hall.
College OF the City Of New York where speeches
were made by Senator Root, Governor Hughes,
Judge George Gray and others
The emphasis with which President Taft spoke
Of the successful fight of President Cleveland
with the Senate for proper recognition Of the
powers of the Chief Executive was regarded
generally as Of significance
We hear much in these days of the usurpa-
tion Of the legislative jurisdiction by the ex-
ecutive branch" said the President "As long
as the legislative branch has the power Of the
purse the danger of Executive usurpation is
imaginative, The real danger arises from the
disposition Of the legislative branch TO assume
that il has the omnipotence Of parliament and
may completely control the discretion conferred
upon the Executive by the Constitution
The country Is under obligation TO Mr.. Cleve-
land for having pointed out in his controversy
with the Republican Senate some of the limita-
tions that there are IN the Constitution upon at
tempted legislative action TO restrict Executive
discretion In the end Mr.. Cleveland won in his
have done so had both the House and the Sen
ate been against him is matter of doubt.
DEBT TO CLEVELAND
The history of Andrew Johnson's controversy
with Congress shows how far partisan legis-
lature may be induced 10 go in an unconstitu-
tjonal attempt TO cut down Executive power
The limit OF legislative restriction upon Execu-
tive action is difficult line define Any one
hay N on 81
instances as they arise may find himself IN
great difficulty. but as such instances are con-
sidered ard decided the limits gradually
being defined. We owe to MI Cleveland and his
courage in dealing with the Senate OF the United
States the establishment Of some useful prece-
dents"
In opening the meeting Francis Lynde Stetson.
Chairman Of the Cleveland Memorial Commit
tee referred TO the distinguished men who were
present 10 pay tribute the memory Of CleVe-
land And he added, the committee has re-
ceiyed a letter from that impressive and strik-
lug person who has succeeded 70 the solitary
place Of ex-President long held by our be-
loved friend
Mayor Mcclellan was introduced as the chair
man Of the meeting. In announcing President
Taft who was the last speaker, the Mayor said
y ask you to rise to receive the Chief Mag
istrate. I have the honor TO present you TO the
President" There was much applause.
PRESIDENT TAFT's SPEECH
President Taft said that the sense of public
duty Of President Cleveland was exceeded by
that Of no other statesman Of whom he had
knowledge. The Presidents speech follows:
Grover Cleveland was as completely American
in his character as Lincoln Without college
education, he prepared himself for the bar. His
life was confined to Western New York. His
vision CT government and Of society was not
vridened by foreign travel He pure prod
net Of the village and town life OF the Middle
States affected by New England ancestry and
the atmosphere Of a clergyman's home His
chief characteristics were simplicity and direct
ness Of thought, sturdy honesty, courage Of his
convictions and plainness Of speech, with sense
Of public duty that has been exceeded by no
statesman within my knowledge 1t was so
strong in him that he rarely wrote anything,
whether IN the form Of a private or public com
T1unication, that the obligation Of all men 70
observe the public interest was not his chief
theme
his administration Of the affairs Of his city, as
Its Mayor he showed his power Of resistance
70 ara Of overcoming the influence that maze
for corruption and negligence in city govern
ment both in his party and in the party OF
his opponents His reputation in this regard
spread over his native state Of New York at a
tince when such attitude as his seemed eX-
ceptional and his standing before the commun-
ity became a political asset for the Democratic
party that even those who had but little sym
pathy with his principles were glad 10 seize upon
G a means or getting into power Accordingly
he was nominated for the Governorship. and
was elected by the votes not only Of his own
party but Of hundreds Of thousands of the Re
publican party
The discharge Of his duties as Governor con
frrned and strengthened the reputation that he
had acquired Mayor. Before he had ceased
his office as Mayor he had been elected Gov
ernor Before he had ceased his office as Gov
ernor he had been elected President Of the
United States. The Presidential campaign Of
1884 degenerated into one of SANDER. scandal and
abuse. but Mr. Cleveland came through IL re-
tanning the confidence Of the American people in
his courage and honesty and his single purpose
% better the public service.
kr. Cleveland vas a Democrat. He
partisan. He believed in parties. all men
rnsst who understand the machinery essential
. Sre success and efficiency OF popular govern
men: HIS impulses We're all toward the merit
system OF appointments in the public service
ana against the spoils system: but he had a
practical, common sense view OF the problems
before him. He dealt with the instruments
winch ne had. and he not infrequently
onhged IN order 10 accomplish greater objects,
70 Yield 70 the demands of those who had no
Ideals and who were impatient OF anything but
l1e use Of government Offices 5 a purely polit-
ical reward. Every time that opportunity Of
Tered. however, and there WAS not some greater
object in immediate view. he strengthened and
assisted the movement toward the merit system.
CLEvELAND's POLITICAL CAREER
Mr Cleveland's political career was 50 short
that he had great advantage the promi-
llent men of his party whose records reached
back into and were governed by the bitter quar-
rels OF the Civil War. As q political quantity
his history began during the corruption and de
iaoTalization IN the Republican party which were
d necessary result Of continued power during
the war and the de- ade succeeding il. He rep
resented IN a sense new Democracy, about
which all the older elements rallied both those.
strongly In sympathy with his reform views and
those elements without such sympathy who were
anxious TO secure PARTY power
Al the end 0f his first term ne was reuorni-
ia'ea but VAS beaten by General Harrison in a