Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-20
The Birthday of a Great
Democrat
BY JOHN T. BOIFEUILLET

%ODAY is the anniversary of the birth Of
d man than whom there has never pre-
- sided in the White House q more vital
personality. He represented the crystalized
policy of true democracy. He tYplhed great
ideas. BY his ability, courage, economy, 1ldeI-
Iity, integrity, patriotism and broad minded
ness in the management Of public affairs, ne
was tremendous force in advancing THIS
republic forward with bounding strides to
foremost rank among the great powers Of the
world.
This nation-from Washington to Harding
has never had greater president than
Grover Cleveland.
Time brightens his great and lofty quail
ties which the Democratic national convention
of 1896, by an overwhelming majority, re-
fused to commend. History now praises, &c
mocracy applauds, and the world admlres
indisSOIuble, breakable, shining elements
| of manhood and craftsmanship which charac-
terized the presidential administrations of
Cleveland, and which were repudiated ~ MS
party.
The Victim of Platform Committee
AS is we'll known, Senator David Bennett
Hill, of New York, was the implacable, bitter
political enemy of Grover Cleveland. He was
his Venomous rival for the presidency. But
at q meeting of the committee on platform,
lat the national convention of 1896, Hill rose
above all feelings of hatred, surmOunted all
pangs of jealousy and desire for revenge, and
moved to add the following paragraph of just
fourteen words to the platform:
I'VE commend the honesty, economy, cour-
age and fidelity of the present Democratic
national administration"
This simple proposition was tabled by
vote of % to IT. So, contrary to all prece-
dent, according to my readings, the platform
was reported to the convention without a
commentator of the administration which
the committees party had chosen.
A minority report was submitted to the
convention by David B. Hill, New York; Will
liam F. Villas, Wisconsin,; George Gray, Della
4l,O- C
proposed as an amendment to the majority
report the declaration which had been de-
;feated by the platform committee. Senator
Hill opened the debate in a powerful speech
in behalf of the adoption of the amendment
He vehemently declared that he was Demo-
crat, but not reYOlutionist.
Repudiated by the Convention
The roll call showed 1851 votes for the
amendment and 564 against it; majority of
207 against commencing the only Democratic
president who had presided over the destinies
of this nation since the first blaze of the Civil
war illumined the land. The astonishing
spectacle was also presented by this conven-
ton of breaking the hitherto unbroken praC-
tice of national conventions adopting resolu-
tons in commentator of the president whom
their party had elected.
Cleveland's entire public life, whether
sheriff of Erie county, mayor of Buffalo, gov
ernor of New York, or president of the United
States had been notable for stainless integr1-
ty. Shining honor distinguished his two terms
as chief magistrate of this republic. Yet. the
national convention refused to commend his
honesty.
Prudence in government expenditures, eau
ton in the disbursements of public funds wis
dom in the use of the peoples moneys, the
accomplishment of great financial reforms IN
all departments of the government marked
every phase of his two administrations as
president. Yet, the national convention re-
fused to commend his economy.
Was Bold and Defiant
The fearlessness of Grover Cleveland was
displayed by an unprecedented use of the veto
power in appointments to and removals from
office, by his bold and defiant action - up
holding the Monroe Doctrine at the time OF
Great Britain's dispute with Venezuela ovot
the boundary question. and by the frmness
| with which he enforced order throughout the
country. Yet, the national convention re-
fused to commend his courage.
President Cleveland exhibited unfalteriEE
devotion to the highest ideals of his Office,
was faithful to every conviction that he eN'
pressed and true to every principle lie pro-
fessed Yet, the national convention refused
to commend his fidelity
The convention was merely asked to "c0m-
mend the honesty economy, courage and fl
deity of the Democratic administrator.
That was all. Georgia joined in the majority
against Cleveland. Why? Because he was
opposed to free silver and favored the gold
standard. All of the wisdom and honor and
reform and patriotism and prOGressivenesS
that had characterized CleVeland's two terms
were ignored-repudiated And democracy
mourned in the wilderness for sixteen years
before it elected another president.
Cleveland WarIiIze Toward England
Great Britain remembers President CIeve-
land. That country has never forgotten MS
somewhat beliigerent message to Congress IN
December, 1895, in which he boldly, defiant
y and periodically insisted upon the Monroe
Doctrine in Great Britains boundary dispute
with Venezuela. Cleveland's ringing deliver
ance with reference to the great American
document fixed its fundamental claim and
meaning in the national consciousness, and
his successors to the presidency have reaf1irm-
ed the principles then asserted by him 1t
appears as if the United States was almost
on the verge of war with Great Britain. This
incident was one of the most notable and STIR
ring events of many during Clevelands sec
ond administration. 1t marked an epoch In
the manhood and patriotism Of this country.
When President Appointed Blount
Among other striking features of his sec
ond term were the following: The withdraw
al from the senate of the Hawaiian anneXa-
ton treaty negotiated by President BenjamiD
Harrison, and his appointment Of James H.
Blount, of Macon, as commissioner paramount
to 80 to Hawaii to examine into the dethrOnG-
ment of Queen Lilu0kalana, investigate the
general situation, and report to him; the en-
ployment of $4,000 Federal soldiers to main
tain order in Chicago, incident to the great
strike Of Pullman employees, May II, 1894
which, under the leadership Of Eugene V.
| Debs, extended to all the principal railroad
| lines radiating from Chicago; the repeal of
| the Sherman silver purchase act, and the en-
actment of the Wilson tariff law.
Called the veto President"
| During Clevelands first term he became
known as the veto president" because of the
| Frequency with which he exercised the use f
| this privilege, particularly regards vetOng