The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-07-30
THE ISSUE STATED.
The Convention-the Platform
the Candidate-The Eve
of Political Revolution.

tiC Hdtioudi s'uNeupu VIII SaSsuu de a
memorable illustration Of this truth. 1t
was the most herOically contested strng-
gle have ever known, in thirty years as
witness Of presidential nominations,
and every element of ambition and jeal-
Ousy, Of meanest hatreds Of struggling
spoilsmen and Of both petty and majestic
individual rivalry was all intensifying
factor in the conflict Only a supreme
cause high over men could have with
stood the repeated shocks OF the fierce
assailing hosts. No national convention
ever stood like the rock-ribbed shore
against the angry surges of the sp"ils-
mems storm as did the convention of to-
day. It was held in anarchy for an hour
in the midst of a ballot by the cunningly
devised strategy that suddenly burst
a Hendricks hurricane on the body,
which appealed to the inspiring senti-
ment of historic justice. Neither Grover
Cleveland nor any greater man could
have withstood such cyclone. But the
cause that he was made to represent
with such distinctness alike by friend
and foe, SO strongly appealed to the in
telligent and considerate judgment of the
body that it's members stood like wall
of adamant as the tempest ragged in the
widest fury around them.
Ii was the most thoroughly deliberate
convention that has met since the orga-
nization Of the present parties, with the
single exception of the Lincoln conven-
ton that started the Republican revolu
ton in this city nearly quarter Of a
century ago. It was not welded to Gro
yer Cleveland; it was not for him as a
man; he had fewer personal acquaint-
ances in the convention than had any
successful candidate since Lincoln. He
had no factious support outside of his
battle with spoilsmen in his own state;
he had no sectional sentiment or interest
to rally under his flag. But from east
al d west, from north and south the most
conservative and resolute supporters of
honest government united to nominate
him as the fittest and best leader of the
revolution that public profiigacy and de-
baucherv so imperiOuslv invite.
The battle in the Republican conyen-
tion was unsuccessfnlly made to rescue
the party from it's sl,oils system and to
elevate it t purer aims and efforts. The
great popular leader, with the proclaim
ell methods and expectations of the
spoilsmen, commanded tie appeal to the
approval Of the Republicans. but at a
fearful cost in the loss of able and self
sacrificing men who revere the yet fresh
traditions of Republican fidelity to pub
lie integrity and lustrous patriotism.
They followed the soiled republican flag
long after its leaders had betrayed and
forgotten the great revolution that called
it into the strife and gave it victory, but
they made their final appeal for reform
here month ago and were defeated. In
despair of republican reform, they asser-
ted the highest and noblest right of the
citizen. They revolted and pointed as
with one voice to Grover Cleveland as
the one democrat above all whose record
commanded their hearty support. Then,
and not till then was Cleveland promi-
nent, possible candidate for president,
and the hattie of his nomination has
been made upon issues 50 clear and dis
| tinct that none can misunderstood Them
He was nominated to-day not only be-
cause he was earnestly and honestly
championed by the hest men and the
hest aims Of the democracy, but also be-
cause he was vindictively opposed by all
who believe in the mockery of professed
reform before elections to prostitute
power to plumber after elections have
been won.
Let none misunderstood the issue OF
the great conflict that is upon us. 1t in
wolves sweeping political revolution
not merely the transfer of power from
one political party to another. but the
revolutionary overthrow Of the worst
methods and purposes of both parties
and the triumph of the best inspirations
of every political faith. 1t is not simply
whether there shall be a republican or a
democratic president, nor is it a struggle
to make James G. Blaine or Grover
Cleveland the chief magistrate of the re-
public. A revolution has dawned upon
both parties and it has been born of s,l.
preme necessity. Its seeds have beer
lavishly strewn by the Republican
abuses and Democratic follies of the past
half generation, and they have beer
watered and nourished and grown to ap
parent harvest time by the distinctly up
posite men and measures declared by the
two Chicago conventions OF 1883.
Cleveland will lose many Democratic
votes for the single offense of typifyint
practical honest administration. The
blatant demagogues who hang on thu
edges of every hopeful party by turns
will decry him, and the leprous jobben
of all parties will make common and ex
haustive battle against him. But more
than one hundred thousand men Of sin
cere Republican faith in the debatablt
states will openly espouse his cause ant
press the result to successful revolution
New York will be desperately contested
; but the more Desperately it shall bt
fought the more signal will be the Cleve
land victory. Connecticut and New
Hampshire promise to be CLEVELAND
states and Massachusetts, will tremble il
the balance between the Plumed knigh
and the man whu is known only as :
resolute honest public servant.
The conflict will be one of the mos
VIOLENT and exhaustive of our politica
history. The Republicans have thei
} ablest leader. His undiscovered resources
are vast and will be employed in desper-
alton. His party has boundless mean
of warfare and they will he summoned
to the uttcrmost. There will be none,
for the venal, honors for the ambitious
plunder for thieves, promises for thu
weak and flattery for fools; but the very