Evening journal., 1909-03-29
CLEVELAND ON
BAYARD AND GRAY
Late Presidents Views Of
Great DeIawarednS Given
by Magazine Writer

by Magazine writer
George 4. Barker contributes to the cur
rent number OF McCurc's magazine an
article entitled "cicvcland's opinion OF
Men" In 81 Mr.. Parker makes use OF the
late presidents opinions OF Thomas Il.
Bayard and Judge George Gray.
OF A1r. Bayard AIr. Cleveland said:
Through the dark days OF Reconstruc-
tion. in the excitement incident 70 dis
puted election in 1877, and in tho discus
sion OF financial and fiscal questions, he
had been one Of minority almost in
significant in number. His friends had
long hoped that Bayard might be the
candidate OF his party for President. lie
was little Of a politician The smallness
OF his state the rigidness OF his opinions,
and his plain speech on the currency. as
well as the sudden rise Of Mr.. riiden TO
power aud influence, prevented his nomi-
nation in 1876 Tho wild. foolish wave Tor
General Hancock had made his candidacy
out OF the question in 1880
MIR. Cleveland and Mr. Bayard did not
meet until after the election Of 1854, when
tho new President WAS choosing his cab
met and when Mr.. Bayard was rendered
tand accepted the office OF Secretary OF
stAe Thus began one OF Cleveiand's
strongest personal friendships.
''The men were the opposites OF each
other. While Mr. Bayard was a wcll-
grounded lawyer, practically all his lfc-
even before he had reached his majority
he had made political speeches In his own
State-had been passed in that public
career which he inherited and loved. He
was always called upon to express his
opinions upon the questions Of tho day,
and spoke freely and we'll In spite of a
somewhat heavy style, such as then OBJ
tanned in the Senate.
ION the other hand Mr. Cleveland was
essentially a Woodworking. plodding law
yer, little given to speech either in or out
Of court. interested as a citizen In nation
al concerns, but to whom these far-off
events In Washington and in great nation
al conventions were scarcely more than
echoes which sometimes reached him In
the retirement Of q busy life.
In spite Of these essential differences in
training, ambition, and opportunity, the
men who thus met on the threshold Of
great responsibilities were singuarly alike
in aim and purpose. Both were inherently
conservatce and. at tho same time. emin-
emily progressive
During Mr.. Bayard's Ambassadorship
IN England ] was discussing home mat
ters with him one day, in lS5 when. in
the course OF conversation, the matter OF
the Presidents tken recent illness came up
1.-THE precursor OF that which was plts.
mately to cause his death. Mr. Bayard
said
Mr. Clevelands death, at the pres-
cnt time would be more than personal
and public misfortune; IL would be cal
amlty. In the present delicate condition OF
affairs / DO not believe there is man
in the United States who could take upNis
work and carry IL through. DO you know
he continued, that. looking back upon my
career the one thing which most amazes
me is that I should ever have presumed
10 let my friends present my name as a
candidate for the Presidency before the
same national convention that had Mr.
CieVeland's under consideration. Since
have come to know him / realize my own
temerity. Taking into account the condi-
tons with which, then as now. the coun-
try was confronted. ] should have been an
utter failure compared with Mr.. Cleveland.
lie has been just the man for the time,
and his nomination and election over any
other man who could have been mentioned
was such necessity as to be little less
than providentai. OF an the men have
ever met. whether at home or abroad. Mr..
Cleveland Is the best poised and strongest
This expression deeply interested me
because had SO often heard the presi-
dent express his opinion OF the Ambas-
sador. When ] returned home for the nrsi
time after Bayard's death, and visited Mr..
Clccvland in Princeton, / found him IN
the deepest grief He could scarcely talk
Of anything but Bayard, and So when ]
came away / noted down some Of his re.
marks"
In an my life" said Mr.. Cleveland. 81
have never come in contact with a mar
who, at an times and under all circum.
stances, was the equal OF Mr. Bayard IN
high and noble qualities. IN singleness oi
purpose, and IN that honesty which. Will,
it never obtruded itself. never wavered
do not believe that he ever 50 much as has
thought which was not az once lofty ans
patriotic. When I think OF the desplcabl,
treatment accorded 10 him by the Unite,
States Senate, nt the benest OF some Of a.
members, can but marvel al the depth
70 which partizan malignity win sink SOM
men. When I look back over my owl
career" he went on 10 say. 4 cannot un