The life and public services of our great reform president, Grover Cleveland

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Preface

The Democratic National Convention, to nominate candidates for the office of President and Vice-President of the United States, met at St. Louis on the 5th day of June, 1888. The party was represented by its ablest men, who either as delegates or as members of political clubs, or as advisers, participated in its deliberations. The Convention nominated for the high office of President of the United States,

HON. STEPHEN GROVER CLEVELAND,

who by his ability, integrity, courage and efficient administration at Washington has gained many encomiums from political friends as well as adversaries. No person can point to an act of his that can be construed as a bid for the nomination or as an effort to secure it. The Democratic party has great cause to be proud of the moral sense and political sagacity of its leaders, who, on account of President Cleveland's admirable record and character, have nominated him for the Presidency, the highest office in the gift of the people.

There was in the great Democratic Convention no real hostility to President Cleveland. The hearty satisfaction with which the nomination of Grover Cleveland has been received is a guarantee of his election in November. It arises from the general conviction that the chief issue of the election is honest and efficient administration, with sole regard to the public welfare. Indeed, he owes his nomination to his spotless character, his career as an

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executive ofiicer, and to the universal respect and confidence which liis conduct has inspired. He was elected Mayor of Buffalo wlien the intelligent sentiniCTrtTof the city demanded a reform policy, and a man able and courageous enough to enforce it. He was the candidate of citizens who were resolved that the city government should be conducted for the general welfare, and not for tlie benefit of rings and traders. He discharged his duties without regard to private interests or his own political or })ersonal profit. He held his office as a public trust, baffling jobbery of all kinds, vetoing doubtful schemes or questional)le laws upon clear constitutional and indisputable grounds, and by his direct, honorable and energetic course winning the cordial regard of his fellow-citizens. It was natural that in the decline of great party issues, and in tlie alarming and dangerous progress of corrupt political metiiods, the voters of New York, hearing of the administrator of the government of one of the chief cities of the State as a man possessing tlie very qualities which promised the overthrow of ])olitical corruption, sliould have willingly supported him for Governor of the State. His vast and unprecedented majority attested his popularity in his own State.

Frank and plain in manner, scorning political charlatanry and the arts of a demagogue, his appointments to office, his thorough study of laws submitted to him, his vetoes based upon constitutional grounds and wholly unmindful of personal views and wishes, his liearty co-operation with every measure to promote reform in the civil service, and his wise and energetic part in the purification of the unclean and corrupt municipal government of the city of New York, naturally attracted the attention of the country to a public ofiicer in a most dignified and responsible position, whose career showed the qualities wliich the political situation especially re* quired.

PREFACE. V

It was but natural, therefore, that Mr. Cleveland should be chosen as the Democratic standard bearer in 1884. He was approved by the people on account of those qualities which are needed in the administration of public affairs. The endorsement of the people was a testimony to a clean record and a noble purpose.

With Grover Cleveland as its candidate the Democratic party appeals with unmistakable directness to the moral sense of the people of the United States. Shall the next President be a man who has weakly yielded to temptation, or a man who has unswervingly adhered to the right against great temptations to do wrong? A man who begs pecuniary rewards of those his official action has enriched, or one who defies corrupt dictation and seeks only by a just course to deserve the approval of all honorable and right-thinking men? The honest convictions and patriotism of ten millions of voters are appealed to, and they will settle this question conclusively and for the right.

It is not only in what he clearly represents, but in what he opposes, that Grover Cleveland is strong before the American people. His career has made him the exponent of clean and honest politics. ' He luis been severely tried in the important and responsible position of Governor of the great Empire State and President of the United States. He has resisted the importunities of designing politicians, and defeated the plans of selfish schemers. All members of his own party who are not striving for private gains, which are in conflict with the public good, are outspoken in his praise ; and he has won the good opinion of all men who are not so biased by partisanship as to have lost the power to commend upright conduct in a political adversary.

Could a candidate find stronger recommendation than this in the opinion of voters whose political actions are shaped solely by considerations of the public good ? The official acts which have won for President Cleveland th©

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intense hostility of all jobbers and disreputable men, are the very acts which have most strongly commended him to the support of honest voters.

Mr. Cleveland's associate on the Democratic Presidential ticket is a man of great personal popularity. His good name has been honestly earned, and he will prove to be a strong candidate. He is genial, always true to his friends, and possesses those qualities which give men a strong hold on the people.

This ticket is one of the strongest ever presented by the Democratic party and will be elected by a large majority.

It is but natural that their countrymen should desire to know the means by which these great men have risen, by their own ability and integrity, to the proudest positions in the Republic, that of being the candidates of the grand old Democratic party for the office of President and Vice- President of the United States. To meet this demand the author has prepared this volume.

The records of Grover Cleveland and his associate on the ticket, nominated with great enthusiasm at St. Louis, are presented in this book clearly and without partiality, that all men may see that their claims to the love and confidence of the American people are justified by their meritorious and faithful service, their ability and integrity, and fearless performance of their arduous and trying duties in all positions to which they have been elected by the people.

THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES

OF

GROVER CLEVELAND,

NOMINATED BY THE NATIONAL DEirOCRATIC CONVENTION FOR THE OFEICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Chapter I

His Birth and Parentage— His Father a Presbyterian Minister— The House where He was Born— His Relatives— He finds Employment in a Country Store— Highly Recommended by his Employer— He Attends the Academy at Clinton, Oneida County, N. Y.— Teaches in an Asylum for the Blind— He goes to Buffalo. N. Y.— Clerk and Law Student— A Self-Made Man— Admitted to the Bar— Assistant District-Attorney for Erie County — Nominated FOR District-Attorney.

The Hon. Grover Cleveland, presented to the voters of the different States of the Union by the National Democratic Convention, which met at St. Louis on the 5th day of June, 1888, as its candidate for the high office of President of the United States, was born at Caldwell, Essex County, New Jersey, now a town of 3,000 inhabitants, about nine miles from Newark, on the 18tli day of March, 1837. He is a descendant of a New England fiimily, that traces its lineage through more than two hundred years in this country. His family hag been noted for religious knowledge, having had several distinguished representatives in the clerical profession.

THE HOUSE WHERE GROVER CLEVELAND WAS BORN.

The first house that is seen in the little villa<re of Caldwell approaching from Montclair is situated on the left-hand side of the road. For years the old-fashioned liouse, with its quaint gable-ends and ivy-covered porch, has only attracted the attention of the villagers as the parsonage of the First Presbyterian church, but lately it has become of more interest. It is the birthplace of the Democratic candidate for President, Stephen Grover Cleveland. The Rev. C. T. Berry, the pastor of the church, lives in the old parsonage, and thither the writer went for information. The house sets back from the road about a hundred feet, and two noble ash trees stand like sentinels before it. The grounds, which contain about two acres, are well kept, and the whole place has an air of neatness and respec tability. The house itself is a two-story anda-half, with a front porch and low windows. The front door opens into a spacious hall and the rooms on each side of it are cosy and comfortable. The ceilings are low. The doors are very wide and the whole place savors of antiquity.

" I have had a great many interested callers,"

said Mr. Berrj. " This is the house in which President Cleveland was born. It was first occupied by Stephen Grover, a former pastor of the church. In 1834 Mr. Grover resigned the pastorate, and Richard F. Cleveland was called on May 13th of the same year. Mr. Cleveland had many children, one of whom, William M., became a minister and went to Long Island. In the old church baptismal record we find the record of the birth and baptizing of the Democratic nominee;" and Mr. Berry pointed to an entry which reads as follows; "Stephen Grover Cleveland, baptized July 1, 1837; born March 18th, 1837."

" During his six years' pastorate," said Mr. Berry, " Mr. Cleveland's father had a child baptized every year. When Grover Cleveland was elected Governor of New York I wrote and told him that I iiad these interesting facts, and he sent me a very graceful reply. Here is the room in which Governor Cleveland was born," and Mr. Berry pushed open a door and led the reporter into a room now used as a library. The room was about fifteen feet square, with two windows and a low ceil i no:.

Marcus Harrison, an old resident of Caldwell, said that he remembered when Parson Cleveland lived down in the old parsonage. " It would be impossible," he added, " to keep account of his children. Young Grover, as we called him, was then just toddling around in frocks. He was named after Stephen Grover, the predecessor of his father in the pastorate of the church."

As intimated by Dr. Berry's remarks, there is quite a rivalry between the residents of the two ends of the village over the birthplace of the President. An old house 4.hat stands on the other side of the town is pointed out by some of those residing near it as his birthplace, but there is no doubt that the parsonage the Rev. Mr. Berry occupies is entitled to the honor.

THE CLEVELAND HOMESTEAD.

At Holland Patent, N. Y, On the first corner as one passes through the villasce of Holland Patent, on the road from Utica to Trenton Falls, stands an old brown house. The structure shows at a glance that it was built years ago, when carpenters put beams in \vooden houses and when balloon frames were unknown. The upright part is two stories, and its proportions , offer commodious accommodations for a large family. A generous wing aifords a sitting-room and other apartments. It was to this liouse that, over thirty years ago, the Rev. R. F. Cleveland brought his family. He came to occupy the pulpit of the Presbyterian church at Holland Patent as the regular pastor. A man of more than ordinary ability, possessed of a fine voice, a bright mind, and a clear head, he found favor with his parishioners. He was a Presbyterian in all that the term implies, and believed the teachings of that church. He was withal a man of broad and liberal culture and liberal in ideas as well. As he w^ent in and out among his people they came to admire his personal and social qualities in a degree second only to their admiration for his talents as displayed in the desk. His home-life was a model of consistency and uprightness, and he brought up his children in the way they should go. Well educated himself, he secured for them the same advantages. By precept and example he sought to make of them such men and women as in after life would be a credit to the name he had given them. One has to talk but a moment to any of the older residents of Holland Patent to learn the esteem in which they hold the memory of the Rev. Mr. Cleveland. Unfortunately for the church which prospered under his guidance, and for the members who reverenced and loved him, in less than six months from the commencement of his labors in that village the pastor ended his work on earth, and a village of mourners followed his mortal remains to the cemetery and laid them to rest.

Mrs. Anna Cleveland was left with a family of nine children to watch over and prepare for the duties of active life. The children were of no ordinary cast. As a white-haired man who had lived a neighbor to them for thirty years said yesterday, " Such a woman could not have bad children." Mrs. Cleveland was in all respects a superior woman. In appearance she was dignified and with a kindly face, and at any gathering she would be noticed. Her children loved and respected her, and to the day of her death bestowed upon her the tokens of their affection. Home to them was always the most attractive place on earth, a very haven of rest. And so she lived until April 19th, 1882, when, at the age of seventy-eight years, her life-work was ended, and she, too, was hiid to rest in the village burial-plot.

The children of the family in the order of their ages are : Mrs. Hastings, who married a missionary to the Island of Ceylon. The Rev. William Cleveland, who is now preaching with great acceptance in the village of Forestport, in this county. The Hon. Grover Cleveland, who is for the second time a candidate for the Presidency of the United States. Richard Cecil Cleveland, who was lost at the burning of the ship Missouri, off the Island of Abaco, Oct. 22d, 1872. xMrs. Hoyt, whose husband was formerly of Theresa, but is now a business man in Favetteville. Mrs. Louisa Bacon, a most amiable and attractive lady, whose husband is an architect in Toledo, Ohio. Lewis Frederick Cleveland, who had marked ability as a business man. He was, moreover, a jovial and wonderfully agreeable gentleman, who made friends wherever he went. He leased a large boarding house at Nassau and made it very popular. Frederick was drowned with his brother at the burning of the

Missouri. Mrs. Susan Youmans lives at Walruth, Wayne county. Her husband has represented his district in the State Legislature. He is also a heavy owner in Holstein stock. Miss Elizabeth Cleveland is well known in Washington society, where her winning manners render her popular. Miss Cleveland is a talented lady and has great ability as a writer.

AT HIS OLD HOME.

Mr. Cleveland has not been much in Holland Patent, as from the time his parents moved there to the present he has been elsewhere occupied. But never did h^. allow a long time to elapse without paying a visit to his mother, for whom he had the tenderest affection. When home he was always doing something to render the house or grounds more attractive. He held it sufficient reward if the result of his efforts warranted and received his mother's commendation. At least twice each year he took the time to visit the old homestead. When in Holland Patent he often took his gun and with a neighbor, who is an expert with gun and rod, would pass a day in the forest and fields. A gentleman who often hunted with the President said recently : " He was a good shot, just as he was good at whatever he undertook," Another characteristic which is very noticeable is that Grover Cleveland is a very plain man, and not given to any false pride on account of his station.

As Mayor of Bufli^ilo or Governor of the State he was the same among his friends at Holland Patent as, when a law student making his way in the world, he came here for a brief vacation. He is essentially a man of the people, and looks on all men as equal. The people of that village know him as a man and for him they all have a kindly word. The news of his nomination was joyfully received, and mtxny an old-time Kepublican will vote for Grover Cleveland.

The graves of the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland are side by side in a well-kept lot of the Holland Patent Cemetery. The children have erected a beautiful monument to mark the spot. The stone bears this inscription :

Pastor at

Holland Patent,

Aged 49 years.

ANNA NEAL,

Wife of

R. F. Cleveland,

Died July 10, 1882,

Aged 78 years.

Her children rise up

And call her blessed.

The same stone also bears an inscription to the memory of the brothers, Richard C. and Lewis F., aged thirty-seven and thirty-one years respectively, who were drowned at sea when the steamship Missouri was burned off the island of Abaco, Oct. 22d, 1872. Below are the words :

" Lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided."

Said a man who knew both the brothers : ^^ Their action at the burning of the ship was characteristic of the w^hole family. When the ship caught fire there was a panic among the passengers. The officers of the vessel ^ were incompetent and as frightened as the rest. Amid the confusion Cecil found his brother Fred, and together they stood by when the boats were lowered and helped the terrorstricken passengers into them, doing the work the recreant Captain should have done. When the boats were filled there was no room for them, and together they went down."

MR. Cleveland's parentage.

Mr. Cleveland's great-grandfather, Aaron Cleveland, was a Congregational preacher of Norwich, Connecticut. He was a strong man, both mentally and physically, and a hundred years ago he was the author of many radical anti-slavery papers which attracted much attention. A great-uncle of the Governor, known as " Father Cleveland," was for many years a city missionary in and about Boston. Grover Cleveland's grandfather, William Cleveland, was a mercliant of his native town of Norwich, Conn., where he brought up a large family, one of his children being Eichard Cleveland, father of the present Democratic nommee for the Presidency. Richard was born at Norwich and was educated for the ministry, embracing the Presbyterian faith. Another of Aaron's sons, WilHam, a silversmith, was deacon of the Congregational Church at Norwichtown for twenty-five years previous to his death in 1837. The youngest of Aaron Cleveland's thirteen children was the wife of Dr. Samuel H. Coxe, whose son, Arthur Cleveland Coxe, became Episcopal Bishop of Western New York. Grover Cleveland's father was Richard Falling Cleveland, the second son of Wm. Cleveland, the son of the silversmith. After graduating at Yale in 1824, the President's fxther taught school in Baltimore, studied theology at Princeton, and became a Presbyterian clergyman at Windham, near Norwich, in 1828. lie married adauixhterof Abner Neal, of Baltimore, in 1829, preached a short time in Portsmouth, Va., and then settled in Caldwell, Essex county, N. J., where Grover Cleveland was born in 1837. The baptismal name was Stephen Grover Cleveland, but at an early age the Stephen was dropped, and afterward the Governor has been known as Grover Cleveland.

The President's parents had nine children. Anna, the eldest, was the wife of Dr. Hastings, missionary to Ceylon ; William N. is a Presbyterian minister at Forestport, N. Y. ; Mary became Mrs. W. E. Hoyt; Cecil and Frederick were proprietors of a popular winter resort at Nassau, and lost their lives at the burning of the steamship Missouri off the Bahamas in 1872; Margaret became Mrs. N. B. Bawn ; Susan is the wife of L. Youmans, and another sister, Rose, is unmarried.

President Cleveland has only the most shadowy recollection of his native town, for, when he was but three years of age, his father with a large family and a small income moved by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal to Favetteville, Oneida county, N. Y. in search of an increased income and a more extended field of labor.

Fayetteville was then the most straggling of country villages — about five miles from Pompey Hill where Governor Seymour was born. Here the boy Grover Cleveland first went to school in the good old-fashioned way, and presumably distinguished himself after the manner of all village boys in doing all the things that he ought not to do.

At the age of fourteen, Grover, having gone through the course of study at the village school, was very anxious to secure the advantages of an academic training; but his father could not see things in the same light. Pie was hardly able to support his family, and wanted his boy to become self-supporting as soon as possible.

CLEVELAND GENEALOGY.

The nomination of Grover Cleveland as the Democratic candidate for President has led us to mn-ke some investigation of his genealogy, with the following results :

Moses Cleveland came to this country an apprentice to a ''joyner" in 1635, and established himself in Woburn in 1G48. He married Ann, daughter of Edward Winn, Sept. 26, 1648.

lie had a son Aaron (second generation), who was born Jan. 10, 1654-5. This son married Dorcas Wilson, Sept. 26, 1675. She died Nov. 29, 1714. He died Sept. 14, 1716.

He in turn had a son, Aaron (third generation), who was born July 9, 1680. He was a carpenter, and lived in Woburn, Cambridge, and Charlestown. In 1738 he removed to Iladdam, Conn. He married A bi Grail .

He had a son, the Rev. Aaron (fourth generation), who was born Oct. 29, 1715, graduated at Harvard 1735, settled at Haddam, Conn., in July, 1739, and married, Aug. 4, 1739, Susanna, daughter of the Eev. Aaron Porter, born March 1, 1716. He died Aug. 11, 1757. His widow died at Salem, 1788.

He had a son, the Rev. Aaron (fifth generation), wdio was born at Haddam, Conn., Feb. 3, 1744, and died at New Haven Sept. 21, 1815. He was married, April 12, 1768, to Abiali Hyde, only daughter of James and Sarah (Marshall) H\de, of Norwich, Conn. His wife died Aug. 23, 1788.

He had a son, Charles (sixth generation), who was born at Norwich, June 11, 1772. He married, Dec. 17, 1797, Mehitable Treadwell, of Salem, a sister of the late Dr. John D. Treadwell. Charles was for several years a commission merchant in Salem, and afterward the well-known city missionar}' of Boston. He died June 5, 1872, within 16 days of 100 years of age.

His brother William (sixth generation) was born at Norwich, Dec. 20, 1770; married, Dec. 19, 1793, Margaret Falley. They lived at Worthington and Salem, Mass., and at Norwich, Conn. He died Aug. 18, 1837. She died Aug. 13, 1850.

His son, Richard Falley (seventh generation) was born June 19, 1805, at Norwich, Conn. He married Anne Neale, of Baltimore, Md. They removed to Holland Patent, N. Y., where he died Oct. 1, 1853.

His son Grover (the candidate) was born March 18, 1837. ^ .

This family of Clevelands spell the name without the a in the first syllable. The descendants of the Rev. John, of Essex, generally insert the a in the first syllable. He was a grandson of Samuel, of Chelmsford and Canterbury, Conn., who was the third son of Moses, the immigrant ancestor first above mentioned.

CLERK IN A COUNTRY STORE.

Grover accordingly entered a country store, where he faithfully discharged the various and arduous duties incident to his position to the satisfaction of his employer. Fifty dollars were to be paid to the boy the first year, and if he proved trustworthy, he was to receive one hundred dollars the second year.

Dr. D. P. Hutchins, an old resident of Fayetteville, who had an office in Deacon McViccar's store when Grover was a clerk there, when asked for so STEPHEN GROVER CLEVELAND.

some reminiscences of the President's boyhood, said that " Grove," as they used to call him, was always considered a good boy, courteous and dignified in his manners and was exceedingly popular. He held his position in the store about one year. He made an efficient clerk and was highly recommended by Mr. McViccar when he left the hitter's employ.

H. Howard Edwards, also a long resident and a playmate of the President, when questioned concerning his recollections of Cleveland's boyhood, said there was nothing during the time he lived here to indicate his future distinction. ^' Why," said Mr. Edwards, " we used to be toi^ether constantly, go a-fishing together, sleep together, play and eat together, and I cannot recall anything that impressed me with his future greatness. He was very slim when he was a boy, short and had small features. He was full of fun, and, I tell you, we had lots of fun together."

Captain H. S. Pratt, another old resident, was found in bed, but ready to talk about Grover Cleveland. ^' ' Grove' was one of the finest boys I ever knew. Everybody respected him, even the ^ old folks,' and you never heard of a practical joke on hlni. He was chuck-full of fun and I recollect he had a great weakness for ringing the school bell when he got a chance. He and his brother ^ Will' used to have a long rope attached to the hammer of the bell, and the way they used to make that bell ring after dark was a caution."

There Is a warm feeling towards the Cleveland family here on the part of all who remember them.

When Grover's father removed to a larger and more important charge at Clinton, Oneida county, the opportunity to attend an academy presented itself to Grover Cleveland. This was duly improved, and here the foundation of his future success was laid. He pursued his studies until the flimily moved up on the Black river to what was then known as the Holland Patent — a village of five or six hundred people — fifteen miles north of Utica. The elder Cleveland preached but three Sundays in this place, when he suddenly died. Grover first heard of his father s death while walking with his sister in the streets of Utica. This event produced the usual break-up of the family, and we next hear of Grover Cleveland setting out for New York city to accept at a small salary the position of underteacher in an asylum for the blind, where at the time the since well-known Gus. Schell was executive officer.

He continued in this work two years to the great satisfaction of his employers, several of whom are still alive and bear testimony to his zeal and the faithful and efficient performance of his duties.

But to teach he did not believe was his mission, and consequently at the expiration of two years he abandoned it and literally started out to seek his fortune — only reversing the usual order, and infitead of coining to the great city he left it. His fiijst idea was to go to Cleveland. As he has since said, the name seemed a good omen. Bat his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted stock-breeder, lived at Buffalo, and he went straight to him for advice and guidance.

The uucle did not speak enthusiastically. " What is it you want to do, my boy?" he asked

" Well, sir, I want to study law."

"Good gracious!" remarked the old gentleman. " Do you indeed ? Whatever put that into your head? How much money have you got?"

To tell the truth he hadn't any.

" See here," said the uncle, after a long consultation. " I want somebody to get up my herdbook this year. You come and stay with me and help me and I'll give you §50 for the year's work and you can look round."

STUDYING LAW AND EDITING A STOCK-BOOK.

Here it is that we find the American boy now annotating short-horns out at Black Rock, quite two miles from Buffalo. But he kept his eye open for a chance to enter a law office while he was editing the stock-book, and one day he walked boldly into the rooms of Messrs. Rogers, Bowen & Rogers, and told them what he wanted. There were a number of young men in the place already. But young Cleveland's persistency won, and he was finally permitted to come as an office hoy and have the use of the law library. For this he received the nominal sum of $3 or $4 a week, out of which he had to pay his board and washing. The walk to and from his uncle's was a long and at that time a rugged one. The first winter was a memorably severe one, and his shoes were broken, and he had no overcoat. But he never intermitted a day. It began to be noticed that he was the most punctual and regular of the lads in the office. Often at night he was compelled to stand by the warm chimney in the loft where he slept and dry his feet after tramping the two miles through the snow. His senior employer had taken a copy of Blackstone on the first day of the boy's office experience, and, planting it before him with a bang that made the dust fly, said : — " That's where they all begin." There was a titter ran round the little circle of clerks, for it was a foreboding thing to begin with to the average lad. It appears, however, that he stuck to the Blackstone so well that he mastered it, and so absorbed was he in it one night that they locked him in and all went off. He spent that night with the book and never forgot it.