GROVER CLEVELAND'S BOOK "PRESIDENTIAL PROBLEMS"

These are the last paragraphs of "Presidential Problems" that became the memoirs of Grover Cleveland. He was reflecting on the Venezuelan-British border crisis of 1895-96. They are the words of man who was confronted by a world-changing problem. He chose to stand-up to the most powerful country in the world at the time and defend the countries of the Western Hemisphere based on the Monroe Doctrine.

Read his words and be in his head as he made the decision in this incident that probably saved America as a sovereign nation. America became involved in another Monroe Doctrine situation in the Spanish-American War of 1898. These two incidents represented the end of European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere. I spent the last two days reading this book and I have gained a great respect for Cleveland as a president. Most historians state that his first term (1885-1889) was good, his second, not so good. I beg to differ.

He was confronted in his second term (1893-1897) with a massive economic problem. He took measures that stabilized the economy, but he didn't receive the credit. He fought the gold crisis by enlisting the aid of J.P. Morgan and the rest of the evil bankers. They came through for the country and bought over $100 million of government bonds, to keep the gold reserve above the dangerous level of $100 million. Cleveland was a good president and he deserves a place in the pantheon of those presidents who took action to save the republic and succeeded. Here are the last words of his book. Read and enjoy:

But those among us who most loudly reprehended and bewailed our vigorous assertion of the Monroe Doctrine were the timid ones who feared personal financial loss, or those engaged in speculation and stock-gambling, in buying much beyond their ability to pay, and generally in living by their wits. The patriotism of such peoples traverses exclusively the pocket nerve. They are willing to tolerate the Monroe Doctrine, or any other patriotic principle, so long as it does not interfere with their plans, and are just as willing to cast it off when it becomes troublesome.

But these things are as nothing when weighed against the sublime patriotism and devotion to their nation's honor exhibited by the great mass or our countrymen--the plain people of the land. Though, in the case of the last extremity, the changes and suffering of conflict would have fallen to their lot, nothing blinded them to the manner in which the integrity of their country was involved. Not for a single moment did their government know the lack of their strong and stalwart support.

I hope there are but few of our fellow-citizens who, in retrospect, do not now acknowledge the good that has come to our nation through this episode in our history. It has established the Monroe Doctrine on lasting foundations before the eyes of the world; it has given us a better place in the respect and consideration of the people of all nations, and especially of Great Britain; it has again confirmed our confidence in the overwhelming prevalence among our citizens of disinterested devotion to American honor; and last, but by no means least, it has taught us where to look in the ranks of our contrymen for the best patriotism.