EARLY LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES

OF

HON. GROVER CLEVELAND,

The Fearless and Independent Governor of the Empire State,

AND

CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

RECITING THE ANNALS OF HIS SUCCESSFUL CAREER
FROM OBSCURITY TO THE EMINENT POSITION

WHICH HE NOW HOLDS IN THE ADMI-

RATION OF THE PEOPLE.

ALSO, THE LIFE OF

HON. THOMAS A. HENDRICKS,

"CANDIDATE FOR VICE-PRESIDENT.

BY

THOMAS W. HANDFORD.

INCLUDING A HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,

AND LIFE SKETCHES OF PROMINENT DEMOCRATIC STATESMEN.

TOGETHER WITH

THE PLATFORMS OF BOTH PARTIES,

AND A MASS OF USEFUL POLITICAL INFORMATION.

RICHLY ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS OF THE CANDIDATES, AND OF THE
CHIEF DEMOCRATIC LEADERS, ETC., ETC.

MANSFIELD, OHIO:

THE HOME PUBLISHING CO.

BY JAMES CLARKE.

“THERE

PREFACE.

HERE are three questions," said the father of constitutional Democracy in America, Thomas Jefferson, "that I would ask of every candidate for public office: Is he honest? Is he capable? Is he faithful to the Constitution?"

The pages which follow tell briefly the story of the life of Grover Cleveland, Governor of the State of New York, and the candidate of the Democratic party for the office of President of the United States. There has been little in that life that is dramatic or sensational. Its incidents, though not without interest and not without their significance, will not be told in the language of eulogy, and do not gain by rhetorical embellishment. The story is simply that of an American citizen, endowed from boyhood with the power to do much hard work, and to do it well, animated by honest and honorable motives, and gifted with statesmanlike ability, which study, experience and elevation to administrative positions of great responsibility, have fully developed.

In his youth and early manhood he encountered and overcame no obstacles which any strong-willed, energetic and upright boy or young man in the United States may not also meet and hope to overcome. In his profession, the rank he won came with persevering study and the improvement of every opportunity. In political life, the great distinctions he has attained have followed each upon the faithful discharge of the duties of the positions to which he had been called before, and upon the confidence in him which his just administration of government inspired.