Recollections of Grover Cleveland

Front matter

RECOLLECTIONS

OK

RECOLLECTIONS

CHAPTER I Ancestry — Early Life 13

Mr. Cleveland's lack of interest in family history— First of the name on the American continent— Genealogical poem by the Rev. Aaron Cleveland— Marriage of William Cleveland- Birth of Richard Falley Cleveland— Enters the ministry- Pastorates in Caldwell, New Jersey, Fayetteville, Clinton, and Holland Patent, New York— Birth of Grover Cleveland— Mr. Cleveland's tribute to his father— Employment of the brothers in the Blind Asylum, New York— Recollections of Miss Fanny J. Crosby.

CHAPTER n Professional Career 28

Law studies- Habits of life in Buflfalo— Ideas on education — Admission to the bar — Assistant District Attorney of Erie Count} — Family representatives in the army— Early party affiliations—Defeated for District Attornej — Elected Sheriff of Erie County— Qualities as a lawyer described \)y Wilson S. Bissell.

CHAPTER HI Mayor of Buffalo— Candidate for Governor ... 42

Condition of city politics— Nominated and elected Mayor — Independent attitude in dealing with City Council— Close attention to public business — Frequency of vetoes and their positive character — Suggested for gubernatorial nomination — Asked to meet Daniel Manning— Letter from Edgar K. Apgar— Mr. Cleveland's reply— Visits State Convention at Syracuse— Letter of acceptance — Opinion about corporations — Remarkable campaign that followed— Elected Governor by an unprecedented majorit}'.

vi CONTENTS

CHAPTER IV

FAGB

Governor of New York— Presidential Election . . 56

Inauguration as Governor— Severe test to w^hich a new official is subjected — First annual message and his difficulties explained — Public questions discussed— Still the master of vetoes— Five- Cent Fare Bill — Appointments, labor, and first Railroad Commission—Second annual message— Working of Civil Service Reform Law— State business under better control — Discussed as candidate for President— Nomination by National Convention at Chicago— Letter of acceptance, conduct of campaign, and election— National Civil Service and the silver question.

CHAPTER V Organizing the Executive Departments • • • • 73

Inauguration as President— Delivery of inaugural address — Choice of advisers — Private secretary, Daniel S. Lamont — Daniel Manning — William C. Whitney — Three men chosen from the Senate for the Cabinet : Thomas F. Bayard, Augustus IT. Garland, L. Q. C. Lamar- William F. Vilas- William C Hndicott— Dealing with political managers.

CHAPTER VI The Work of Administration 83

Members of Cabinet not mere clerks— Some foreign complications—Mexico—Austria—England—Extradition treaty— Peril in Treasury— How the surplus was dealt with— Decline in cost of collecting revenue— Reconstruction of the navy— Mr. Whitney's methods and genius— Management of the War Department—Care in Department of Justice— Growth of the Post Office — Interior Department and its management— Public land policy — Attention to the Indian problem — Department of Agriculture taken seriously— Contest with the Senate— Attitude on pensions — Extension of Civil Service Reform Law— Tariff reform in earlier messages— The message of 1887— Character of administration.

CHAPTER VII The Campaign of 1888 106

The writer called to Washington— Preparation of Campaign Text-Book in the White House— Credentials-Working opposite the President's room — Discovering his working habits— The old-fashioned public reception— Mr. Cleveland's popularity with subordinates— Working with Cabinet officers at night- Methods of dealing with pardon cases— First meeting with President — .Approves of matter in the Text-Book— Opinion of the plan adopted.

CONTENTS vii

CHAPTER VIII

PAGE

The Presidential Interim . 122

National headquarters— Visit to Washington— Mr. Cleveland in New York — Preparation for Boston speecii — I'irst knowledge of methods of writing— Difficulties in distribution — Opening gun for campaign of 1892— Disinclination to run again and reasons given — Renomination inevitable — Demands for speeches and letters — Organization without plan or money — "Old Roman" banquet at Columbus — Reform Club banquet — Looking for a Vice-President— Not consciously a candidate — New York a political Mecca — A queer campaign — How it gathered momentum — Class of men interested in it— Few machine politicians — Course of events in California.

CHAPTER IX Preparation for 1892 144

Democratic State Convention in New York — Address at Michigan State Universit}' — Contesting delegation chosen at Saratoga — Two newspaper men taken into confidence — Plans adopted for dealing with newspapers— William C. Whitney's position — His interview in favor of Mr. Cleveland's nomination — His return from Europe— Energy and methods of work — Mr. Whitney assumes command— Conference at his house— Arrangements made for the convention — Meeting of conference in Chicago— Mr. Whitney's methods there— Anecdote of Whitney — Bourke Cockran's speech.

CHAPTER X CaxMpaign Management 166

Mr. Cleveland as a politician — The usual management difficulties — Notification response, no other speech — Stevenson's letter of acceptance— Election night- Satisfaction at end of campaign—President without obligations.

CHAPTER XI Making the Second Cabinet 174

New dealings with the newspapers— Mr. Cleveland's opinion of John G. Carlisle — Colonel Lamont — Hoke Smith — Hilary A. Herbert— Richard Olney— Secretary of State: Walter Q. Gresham — Three tenders of Agricultural Department — Kind of men desired for Cabinet — Tribute of John P. Irish — William L. Wilson of West Virginia— Public opinion of new Cabinet.

CHAPTER XII Some Foreign Conditions 187

The writer appointed Consul to Birmingham— Pressure for patronage— Diplomatic relations with England— Letter from

PAGE viil CONTENTS

Mr. Bayard — Effect in England of Venezuelan message- Celebrating Shakespeare's birthday— Letter from Mr. Cleveland—Attitude towards foreign relations— His opinion of Secretary 01ne> — Preparation of message— Hoke Smith's estimate of Mr. Cleveland's position.

CHAPTER XIII Later Campaigns— Bryan and Bryanism .... 202

Renewal of the writer's relations with Mr. Cleveland— His refusal to consider suggested renomination— Work of preliminary nomination canvass— Correspondence— Interest in Judge Parker's campaign— The Populist movement— High estimate of the Democratic party— Attitude of the silver Democrats- Letter showing deep feeling— Continued activity of the silver advocates — Distrust of Bryan— Convinced that latter would not be nominated in 1908— Last expressions of opinion on public questions- Letter to Mr. E. Prentiss Bailey— Sorrow over party division and impotence.

CHAPTER XIV The Insurance Episode 223

Disinclination to take post— Mr. Rvan's plan for bringing this about— Letter to Mr. Cleveland— His repl> — Chairman of the Board of Trustees— Difficult work at early meetings— Care exercised in choosing directors— Address to policv-holders— Collecting ballots — Satisfaction with the work— Opinion of Mr. Ryan— Fortunate excursion into public life.

CHAPTER XV Rivals— Predecessors, AND Successors 242

Alonzo B. Cornell- Charles J. Folger- James G. Blaine- Chester A. Arthur-Benjamin Harrison-William McKinley- Iheodore Roosevelt.

CHAPTER XVI Civil Service Reform

Jirn'*^1 *"^^''^^t in questions- Suggestion made by Professor VVillard Fiske through David B. Hill-Careful attention to public busmess- Valentine P. Snyder's expcrience-His criticism ot some Reform Associations-A new White House stenographer-First appearance of George B. Cortelvou-Mr Cleveland s admiration for him— Tribute to the merit system.

CHAPTER XVII Public Patronage

Wide range of opinion consulted-Did not stand upon position or dipity- Refusal to use offices for punishment of opponents -l-nendship and patronage- Pride in his appointments- Character of men put into office-Less public interest in second administration— How appointees became friends

CONTENTS ix

CHAPTER XVIII

PAi.E

Economic Questions 285

Their study taken up after first term— Special attention to early statesmen — Attracted to Mr. Tilden — Strong friendship for Joseph E. McDonahl — Resentment of weakness in public men — Opinion of John Sherman — Attention to general taxation — Not specially interested in its incidence— Relations to railroad control— Starting the Interstate Commerce Commission.

CHAPTER XIX What a Closed Room Revealed 301

Examining miscellaneous articles — Little interest in his own writings — One or two unique documents — Letter from the King of Samoa— Revelation of human nature.

CHAPTER XX The South 307

Intense interest in conditions in the South — Choosing Cabinet members from that section — Danger in interfering with balance in the Senate— The question of benefits forgot— Feeling about military branches— Pain given by changed attitude— Manifested in letters and conversation— Pleasure experienced by changes.

CHAPTER XXI Some Opinions of Men 317

Thomas F. Bayard— Mr. Bayard's opinion of Mr. Cleveland— Correspondence— J. Pierpont Morgan — James J. Hill — George Gray— Patrick A. Collins— Party position and associations — Attachment to his early political faith — Samuel J. Tilden: his knowledge of financial conditions — Preparation of the Warner letter on silver — David B. Hill — Hill's conclusions on his own ambitions— William E. Russell— John E. Russell.

CHAPTER XXII Party Position and Associations 334

How he chose his party — Passed through novitiate in practical politics — Attachment to principles — Set forth in veto of Texas Seed Bill — Pride in large independence shown by his party — Samuel J. Tilden and Mr. Cleveland — Represented same principles and policies — Reading of first presidential letter of acceptance — The Warner letter on the silver question — Prepared by Manton Marble at suggestion of Mr. Tilden — Opinion of Tilden — David B. Hill and the campaign of 1888 — Mr. Cleveland's expressed opinion — Mr. Hill's conclusions — William E. Russell and his relations to the larger politics.

X CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXIII

PAGE

Style in Writing and Speech 347

Deficiencies in earlv training keenly felt— Method of preparing speeches or messages— Unwearied industry— Dependence upon his own efforts- Ease and fun in private letters — Correctmg his earlier speeches— Opinion of his own style— Easy manner in conversation.

CHAPTER XXIV Public Opinion— Legislation— Courts 359

Disinclination to adjust himself to newspapers— Refusal to resort to usual methods- Appreciation of articles about himself— Not a manager of legislative bodies— High belief in judiciary and resentment of official criticisms— Care in appointing judges —The Chief-Justiceship.

CHAPTER XXV Friendships— Religion 3^9

Did not mix politics with friendship— Feeling in Buffalo— Enlarging circle of friendship in Washington— Appreciation of friends— Relations with Senators and Representatives— With legal associates and literary men — Correspondence with business men — Refusal to court newspaper editors— Capacity for friendship— His friendships largely political— Letters from Whitney and Vilas— Ingrained religious convictions — Opinion of the Bible— Believed ours a Christian nation— Interest in the missionary cause— Opposition to sensational preachers.

CHAPTER XXVI Some Contributed Estimates 386

John P. Irish: Return of the battle-flags— Insight— Tilden's opinion— Strength of policy.

William U. Hensel : At a barbecue— Manning and Cleveland- Curious gifts — His capacious memory — Pardons. Colonel Hilary A. Herbert : Reconstruction of the Navy — William C. Whitney's work— The gold standard— An amusing illustration— Relations with Spain.

George B. Cortelyou : Mr. Cleveland's career remarkable in many ways— Earliest relations with him — Methods of handling his official correspondence— Home life and character as a friend — Conscientiousness.

Appendix I. Chronology 407

Appendix II. Bibliography 409

Index . . 411

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING PAGE

Parents of Grover Cleveland 14

The Manse, at Caldwell, New Jersey. Birthplace of Grover

Cleveland 20

Daniel Manning: 52

William C. Whitney and his wife, Flora Payne Whitney . 76

William Freeman Vilas 80

Frances Folsom 100

Colonel Daniel S. Lamont 108

Mr. Cleveland at his desk 132

William L. Wilson 158

E. C. Benedict 168

John Griffin Carlisle 174

J. Sterling Morton 178

Facsimile of a letter written to the president of the Birming"-

ham Dramatic and Literary Club 194

FACING PAGE xii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Richard Olney ig8

Grover Cleveland, Morgan J. O'Brien, and George West-

inghouse , 228

Chester A. Arthur 246

William McKinley 248

George B. Cortelyou 260

Cleveland's second Cabinet 276

Samuel J.Tilden 288

Hilary A. Herbert of Alabama 312

Thomas F. Bayard 318

Patrick A. Collins 328

John E. Russell 332

William E. Russell 344

Dr. Joseph D. Bryant 370

J. Jefferson 382

Westland, the Cleveland home at Princeton 388

Grover Cleveland and his family at their home in Princeton,

New Jersey 396

Mr. Cleveland in academic dress 402

Preface

I HAVE explained the principles and policies that have guided me in writing this book. But no task like this can be executed without incurring agreeable obligations to many persons.

The Executors of the estate have generously given me 'permission to print letters written by Mr. Cleveland, and I have received useful suggestions from his sisters, Mrs. S. C. Yeomans and Miss Rose Elizabeth Cleveland.

I owe especial thanks, to Colonel John P. Irish of California; ex- Attorney-General William U. Hensel of Pennsylvania; Colonel Hilary A. Herbert of -Washington, D. C. ; ex-Secretary George B. Cortelyou of New York; Hon. Alton B. Parker of New York; and Mr. Herbert P. Bissell of Buffalo. They have all sent me useful contributions to history.

I have limited myself, in general, to letters written by Mr. Cleveland to me, but, during the course of preparation, a few others, confirming personal impressions and reports of conversations, have come from Messrs. Everett P. Wheeler of New York, Kope Elias of North Carolina, Thomas Spratt of Plattsburg, and E. Prentiss Bailey, editor of the Utica Observer, to all of whom my

XIV

PREFACE thanks are due. Mrs. William B. Hilles has permitted me to use four letters written by her father, the late Thomas F. Bayard, while our Ambassador in England.

Useful suggestions have been made by Dr. Joseph D. Bryant, ex-Secretary Charles S. Fairchild, Colonel John J. McCook, and Judge George Gray ; Messrs. E. C. Benedict, Morgan J. O'Brien, Francis Lynde Stetson, Frederic C. Penfield, Thomas F. Meehan, and Mrs. Wilson S. Bissell and Mrs. John E. Russell.

Colonel Samuel R. Honey, lately of Rhode Island, now living in England; ex- Attorney-General L. T. Michener of Washington; Colonel Robert Grier Monroe of New York; and Messrs. William F. Harrity, formerly Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, John J. Lentz of Columbus, Ohio, William Duff Haynie of Chicago, Josiah Quincy, Nathan Matthews, and Robert Lincoln O'Brien of Boston, have furnished information or verified references and have thus made me their debtor.

Nor can I overlook the encouragement which has come from many strangers who, during the progress of partial serial publication, have written me from every part of the country. My only regret is that, owing to the personal character of the book, it has not always been possible to use the information which they have furnished or to adopt their suggestions.

Although one side of a colloquy cannot be given in exact language, the substance of conversations has been reported with scrupulous fidelity. Whatever faults or merits any of these may have, no one else can be held

PREFACE XV

even to the smallest responsibility cither for them, or for the opinions expressed, or the conclusions reached.

The hope is indulged that the Chronology may afford the reader a bird's-eye view of a life; that the brief Bibliography may induce readers to go further ; that the unusually full Table of Contents may be a useful guide ; and that the Index may be found a real aid.

George F. Parker.

Winnisook Club,

Slide Mountain, New York,

September 8, 1909.

RECOLLECTIONS OF GROVER CLEVELAND

RECOLLECTIONS OF GROVER CLEVELAND

Introduction

After it became evident, in 1891, that nothing could prevent the nomination of Mr. Cleveland, I began to collect his writings and speeches. As it was to be a campaign for a personality, as much biographical material as possible ought to be available. Nearly everything dealing in a literary way with him, or his quick rise into national 'prominence, had been tentative, hurried, incomplete, and had failed fairly to represent either his attainments or his ability. Little material had been gathered which revealed the man as he really was, or showed what he had done, or how he had gone about it. In making my compilation, Mr. Cleveland gave every assistance in his power. He detected errors, suggested correct readings, and read proofs with his usual carethus fairly completing his public utterances up to that time. The volume contained no biography and no opinions or judgments of the compiler, other than a critical introduction or appreciation.

In August, 1892, after the Presidential campaign was well under way, it was represented to Mr. Cleveland that a comprehensive biography was needed. Although no part of my plans, I undertook it. Fortunately for the emergency, I had the material ready at hand — collected, in the main, from the lips of the subject himself. It included elaborate notes of conversations and incidents, memoranda, letters, and documents. The book was written in the overtime of eleven days, and issued in newspaper and book form some six weeks before the election. Its defects were obvious: but it did condense the available facts into small compass. It drew materials and inspiration from its subject, had been prepared at his request, and was published with his cooperation and oversight.

II

I THOUGHT then, and for nearly sixteen years afterward, that I had told my story, and prolonged absence seemed to confirm this opinion. But my plans were changed and, without seeking, I was again thrown into close association with Mr. Cleveland. It was a new case of propinquity.

From the beginning, the note-taking habit — part of the equipment of the old-fashioned editor — has stood me in good stead when the need came ; for, in dealing with Mr. Cleveland, as with other men or events, it had led me to record facts or traits, estimates of men, happenings, and opinions — many of them unconventional, but illuminating. He would certainly be a stupid man who, in the conferences incident to the discussion of the details of more than half a hundred addresses, saying nothing of an incalculable number of other interviews, did not obtain some insight into the mind of his neighbor.

It is inevitable that these recollections should deal mainly, though not wholly, with public questions and public men. His life, attention, and interests were closely linked with politics in the myriad forms it takes in this country. But, as a progressive man, he kept in touch with current thought, especially with new figures in it, and discussed in private a range of questions not touched upon in public. These would find a place in both note and memory, and in this way I gathered many interesting expressions of a man whose mind grew, day by day, to the end.

To a writer who is free from the thought or necessity for making copy, opinions, thus expressed and many times repeated, noted again and again in all their variations, became almost personified. There may not be agreement with them: but such association afifords many opportunities. When one knows and believes in the man, his philosophy becomes absorbing.

Ill

In 1893— after my long absence from the country was assured — I pressed upon three personal friends, already chosen for the Cabinet, the importance, for the truth of history, of having inside views of the administration, from beginning to end. The suggestion was well received, and I supposed, until many years later, that Daniel S. Lamont, Wilson S. Bissell, and Hoke Smith had collected and collated such a record. But the exactions of public life would have made it difficult even for practised writers, accustomed by training and habit to take notes of documents, discussions, conferences, instructions, or conversations. The effect is that, in this case, as in so many others, the real material of history has been lost.

In 1906 a little group of friends had worked out a plan which made provision for gathering, from Mr. Cleveland's still living associates and friends, estimates, in the form of opinions, and facts about his two terms as President. The materials were to be locked up for use until the time should come for telling the story of his life and service. Mr. Cleveland set no store by such things so long as they concerned him. More by accident than design, after his retirement, he wrote the illuminating story of some of the chief events of his two administrations as President for use as lectures or newspaper articles. When, therefore, he discouraged the proposed method, the plans were, in the necessity of things, dropped.

Nearly eighteen months later I was surprised to receive the following letter:

Princeton, October 7, 1907.

My dear Mr. Parker:

I have lately had a letter from Henry L. Nelson, whom you know well — now a professor in Williams College — informing me that he has a commission from the North American Review to write something about me and asking if I can furnish any material in his aid outside of the State Papers and "Presidential Problems" which he already has.

You know how thoroughly incompetent I am in this matter and how little I know about myself: but I confess to a desire that, at some time, there should be written, by some one, some things that will present the personal traits and disposition that have given direction to my public, as well as my personal, conduct.

I have written to Professor Nelson telling him of the book of speeches and letters you compiled in 1892 and saying that of all men yon would be the best to consult. If he applies to you I shall greatly appreciate any effort you may make in aid of the presentability of what he intends to write.

Sincerely yours,

Grover Cleveland.

George F. Parker,

120 Broadway, New York.

IV

Not long after, I went to Princeton and spent some hours with Mr. Cleveland discussing many questions— among them, that of bringing his writings and speeches up to date. For the first time in our association— or with any one else, so far as I know— he willingly consented that I should again take up this work, not with a view to immediate publication, but for the purpose of having them ready for future use. When it was discovered that some instalments were unattainable at the ofifice of the newspapers in which they had been printed, he supplied the missing numbers and showed some of the interest in this question that had been felt all along by his friends.

Lack of time, and stress of employments remote from writing, had driven from my mind any idea of contributing further to the elucidation of Mr. Cleveland's career. After finishing the sketch of 1892, I had written no more about him. But after his death the memories of twenty years came thronging back as if revealed in a vision. It seemed to me that I could tell a story which might be valuable to my countrymen as an estimate of a man known, in his nobleness and greatness, only to a few people.

Upon my return to town I took counsel with friends of my own and Mr. Cleveland, who insisted that it was a duty to pay this homage to his memory. I then began a search for the materials. In dozens of drawers, pigeonholes, boxes, and letter files, were documents, letters, notes of conversations, or minutes of organizations of which I had been secretary. More than a thousand carefully preserved letters, written by leading men in forty States, either to me or to Mr. Cleveland— during the prenomination canvass of 1 889-1 892— were taken from their dusty hiding-places.

With these aids the past lived anew. I found myself again in the atmosphere of campaign text-books; or in national conventions or committees, surrounded either by able statesmen or by pushing, eager politicians; or behind the scenes with the master mind of all. Thenceforth, business, rest, or interest in the things about me had to wait. I wrote on and on until the prescribed limits of two or three magazine articles had grown into the book here presented.

If these random recollections wandering at will from topic to topic — and thus remote from formal biography — have any value, it is due to the fact that they are personal and intimate. While not based upon the report of others, but resting upon knowledge, I have not relied upon memory for a fact, opinion, inference, or report of conversations, unless it was verified by note, memorandum, document, letter, or minute, or was checked by others. Before printing a line or being approached by an editor or publisher, the manuscript was submitted to those best qualified to know and judge, and in the course of partial serial publication, suggestion from any qualified critic has been welcomed.

It has been written with high reverence and a strong sense of responsibility. I have tried, as honestly as any man could, to carry out the wish expressed in the quoted Princeton letter: "that, at some time, there should be written, by some one, some things that will present the personal traits and disposition that have given direction to my public, as well as my personal, conduct."

VI

Few literary deficiencies of our time and country are more apparent than the absence of satisfactory studies of our commanding public men. Our people get little from books to aid them in learning or preserving the truth about their leaders, or in promoting that dignity of history without which a nation soon loses its sense of perspective.

Under existing conditions the difficulties are almost insuperable. The brevity of tenure in public life; partizan activity on lines which repress originality, if not thought itself; the attention given to whimsical and evanescent speech and writing; the flippancy of public comment and criticism ; the practical disappearance of the letter as a form of literature, and along with it, of diaries and note-books ; the frequent indifference of our public men to the claims of history; the ruinous tidal waves of sentimentalism which, now and again, sweep over our national life; and the truculent assertion of a false and belittling equality — all tend to reduce political biography to its lowest terms.

This absence of inemoires pour servir makes it exlo RECOLLECTIONS OF

tremely difficult for even the best-equipped historian or biographer to write, with fairness and with a decent regard for Hterary finish, of our public men. They are seldom surrounded officially by those endowed both with observation and literary gifts: perhaps worst of all, few contributions are made by women— whose letters, gossip, estimates, and opinions, have, in other times and countries and even in our own earlier days, enlivened and illustrated history, and, in a special way, biography : the record of human nature.

Our public men are themselves too busy to leave other than an official record; to do more than see swarms of reporters— each on the lookout for his little catchword — in order to discuss some temporary, snapshot phase of patronage or dispute; to defend themselves from idle or vicious criticism; or to forecast some cutand-dried policy. While in office, with its worries and its wearing, never-ending responsibilities, they have no time or strength, even if so inclined, to lay, firmly and sensibly, the foundations for a sane presentation of their cases in the court of history ; to save themselves from a return into obscurity; or to resent or correct hideous injustice. Out of office, the tide sweeps over them and, at its ebb, generally leaves them high and dry, bereft alike of power and of interest for a mercurial public.

In some instances, when the delayed memoir or autobiography finally reaches the world — often in the form of a subscription book with its few thousands of uncritical gudgeons — our once conspicuous public man has passed into the condition of neglect which encourages

GROVER CLEVELAND ii

and emphasizes, in each new generation, the conclusion that the past is nothing and that the present, with its noisy buzzing insects of the hour, is all that the world holds. In this somewhat disjointed study, I have sought, within the limits of ability and opportunity, to reveal the character of the man, as I saw it, and also to demonstrate that, when afforded the necessary scope, the qualities distinctive of our old-time Americanism remain as potent and encouraging as ever.

Other than the man under consideration, we cannot expect to find, anywhere in modern life, a finer product of democracy at its best estate. Earnest, honest, a lover of mercy, charitable in disposition and manner, as free as men may be from resentments, the country has not yet realized the blessing vouchsafed it in finding for high place a man with will, capacity, and courage— one who could and would tell the truth, without concealment or abatement.

/The whole of Mr. Cleveland's public life was a sacrihce for the public good. Whether in or out of it, he stood for the dignity of his great office, not because it was his own, but for the better reason that he represented his country before the world. He did not have to study for the part: it was a dignity inherent in the gentleman.

He had the quality now somewhat unfashionable: reticence. He never deemed it necessary to exhibit every emotion : to cry every thought or notion from the housetops. He would no more surrender to the passing whim of intimates, or listen to their protests, than he would when dealing with public clamor.

Welcoming the new when also true, he preserved old ideals and realities. He made the reform of abuses in public life a business: not a profession. He loved humanity in all its various forms : and sympathized with its joys and sorrows ; he hated hypocrites, shams, Pharisees, pretenders, and liars: he despised none but incompetents and toadies. The outstanding points in his character were: sturdy manliness, unyielding, inherent honesty of life and opinion, and the virility found only in real men. While the need for these qualities remains, his memory ought to furnish both example and inspiration.

IX

I HAVE not painted a portrait : I have only made studies. But, if anything that I have written shall conduce to a better understanding of the man, or of public life in general, or give my countrymen some conception of the steadiness and nobility of a Great Public Character, as it presented itself to me during the changes of twenty years, I shall be amply rewarded.