New-York tribune., 1912-03-18
TRIBUTE TO CLEVELAND
of Ex-PreSident Attends
Exercises at City College.
MR.. TAFT WRITES LETTER
SAYS He Earned Gratitude Of
Countrymen and Was a States
man of Utmost Courage.

Mrs Frances Folsom Cleveland, widow OF
the former President. attended yesterday
the exercises held IN the Great Hall or the
City College 20 commemorate the seventy
fifth anniversary OF Grover Cleveland
birth. Former members OF Mr.. Cleyelands s
cabinets and intimate friends and disun-
guished admirers mingled there with num-
bier citizens and with boys from the He
brew Orphan Asylum, across the way, 10
do honor to the memory OF the big, quiet
man who guided the ship Of state through
such perious waters.
Mrs Cleveland sat In the body OF the han
with Mrs. John II. Finley wife Of the pres
ident Of the college; Mrs. Daniel $. La
mont widow OF Mr.. Clevelands Secretary
OF War. and Mrs Bryant, whose husband.
DR.. Joseph d. Bryant. was Mr. Cleveland
physician and most intimate friend. Mrs.
Cleveland wore against the background OF
Ter black dress a bouquet OF carnations
selected from the seventy-hve blossoms
presented TO her by David Robinson, secre-
tary Of the Cleveland Administration Asso-
citation. which arranged the celebration.
1t was decided to hold the exercises
Yesterday instead OF to-day, the 18TH, Mr..
Clevelands birthday because more per
sons would have the leisure to attend on
a Sunday. The result was an audience
which filled the big auditorium 10 hear
the tributes by letter from President Taft.
Governor Dix, Oscar w. Underwood Rich
ard Olney and others and the addresses
Of Charles s. Fhrchild. former Secretary
OF the Treasury under Mr.. Cleveland, VII"
acted as chairman .' the meeting: By
Hilary A. Herbert. Mr.. Cleyeland's Sec
retary OF the Navy; DR.. Bryant. his physl-
clan; President John Grier Hibben Of
Princeton, the Rev. DR. Joseph Silverman
and Representative Thomas w. Hardwick,
of Georgia. In the gallery sat hfty He
brew orphan boys with two hundred pu-
pills from Public School 10 On the floor
several social organizations were repre-
sented. among them the Letter Carriers
Association.
Mr.. Fairchild I'm his address as chair
man touched on the political conditions at
the time OF the Cleveland administrations.
saying:
There is a chance for a party rent by
schsm to come to agreement If II has
high principles. but no hope for a party
without principles, or one that has become
unprincipled."
Mr. Herbert said in his speech:
Americans have Instituted among them
selves a few anniversaries" said Mr.. Her
bert, the next speaker. These are great
events in our history. We also celebrate
few birthdays. To the list already formed
public opinion is now adding the 18th OF
March for Grover Cleveland, and Cleveland
IS well worthy TO stand side by side with
Washington. Jefferson and Lincoln"
DR.. Bryant's address was, In part, as fol-
lows:
Those who knew him best in life loved
him best. IL was New Years Day Of 1883
that l first met Mr.. Cleveland, on the oc-
casion of his Inauguration as Governor.
Already he had honored me with the rank
of surgeon general OF the national guard
Of the state, on his personal stan. ! recall
the genial, courteous, self-contained man
ner that characterized Mr.. Cleveland during
that event.
He was an incorruptible. brave man. He
was gentle in the family circle, gracious 10
his friends, patient with his traducers and
tolerant of their slander, responsive %
every entreaty and faithful to every trust
He fshed with the same attentive and
perseVering manner that characterized him
in other and more important respects And
usually, indeed, his was the high book
OK the outing. He was temperate in all
things, unless unduly irritated by those
who would annoy him persistently or self
ishly: then appropriate and emphatic re-
marks were made and fully comprehended.
He was a man OF great pains and detail
To toy which he fashioned for the enjoy
ment of his children was given no less care
than 10 a public document. His life's ac-
tions were epitomiZed In quite his last ra-
tional utterance, when he said: Il tried so
hard TO do right"
The message sent by President Taft read:
Grover Cleveland earned the sincere graft
tude of his countrymen, and JUSTIFIED recur-
ring memorial occasions like the one In
which we are taking part He was great
yer, not because he was a brilliant orator,
found learning. but because he was a
patriot with the highest sense OF public
duty; because he was statesman Of clear
perceptions. OF the utmost courage Of his
convictions, and of great plainness or
speech because he was man OF the high
est character, father and husband Of the
best type, and because throughout his po-
litcal life he showed those rugged virtues
OF the public servant and citizen. the emu
lation OF which by those who follow him
will render progress of our political life
toward better things a certainty.
Among the especially invited guests who
attended the exercises were President Fin
ley, DR.. Abraham Jacob, Frederic r.. Colls
dert Morgan J. OBrien, Chief Magistrate
William McAdoo, ex-senator William A.
Clark John a. Mason Governor Dix's sec
retary: Sheriff Hamburger, Herbert r. Bis.
sell and Commissioners Calvin, Straus and
Chadwick, of the Board Of Water Supply.
Caldwell, N. j., March 11.-Seryices to