De Alexander: “The success of that movement depended largely upon the pre-eminent fitness of the men who led it.”

More valuable still is his exposition of the Philippine question in its bearings on American life and politics.

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.

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