De Alexander: “Thus far Conkling's success had been as unexpected as it was dazzling.”

Human, dramatic, interesting, absorbing, there is philosophy of national and political life back of it--a philosophy which not only furnished interpretation of past events, but offers guidance for the future....

Indeed, his administration admittedly ranked with the best that had adorned the State for a century, and his friends, including Independents and many Stalwarts, rallied with energy to his support.

He had been an honest lawyer as well as an upright public official, and the people believed that his stubborn independence and sturdy integrity would make him a real governor, the enemy of rings and bosses, and the foe of avarice and…

In accepting the Democratic nomination Cleveland had the great advantage of not being obliged to refer to anything of which he was ashamed.