The ex-President’s article not only triumphantly vindicates his
administration but congratulates its author upon the eminent service he
rendered the republic in a critical hour when a labor strike jarred its
foundations and threatened its overthrow.
It may be sheer coincidence that Mr. Cleveland’s eulogy upon his
patriotic administration and upon himself as its central and commanding
figure appears on the eve of a national convention composed largely of
his disciples, who are urging his fourth nomination for the presidency
for the very reasons set forth in the article on the Chicago strike.
However this may be, it is certain that of his own knowledge
ex-President Cleveland knows nothing of the strike he discusses; that
the evidence upon which he acted officially and upon which he now bases
his conclusion was _ex parte_, obtained wholly from the railroad
interests and those who represented or were controlled by these
interests, and it is not strange, therefore, that he falls into a series
of errors beginning with the cause of the disturbance and running all
through his account of it, as may be proved beyond doubt by reference to
the “Report on the Chicago Strike” by the “United States Strike
Commission” of his own appointment.