St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-30
FORTY YEARS AGO.
Z. Hfs,orr R-peaffra It.erf2

! Is History repeating Itseify
To the Editor Of the Globe
Many have noted the seeming parallel in
the lives Of the great Wing politician, Henry
Clay, and the defeated candidate for the pres
ideney. James G. Blaine, but ii is doubtful If
the resemblance of the campaign just ended,
I in many particulars, TO that Of 1874 between
the Wings and Democrats has received the
attention to which the many striking repeti-
tons Of history entitle it.
On the side opposed to the Democratic
/ party We find in 1874 and 1884 a distin-
guished orator, man so conspicuous in his
/ party as To be several times a prominent as
pirant for the presidency, but never reaching
the goal of bis ambition, one who had been
speaker OF the house of representatives, SEN
ator and secretary Of state.
| In 1874 and 1884 the Democrats selected
for their leader a man who had previously
been honored by election to the gubernAto-
rial Office Of his state.
In Governor Folks state there lived at
that time distinguished ex-president who's
public service and devotion TO Democratic
! principles had endeared him to the party Of
jefferson.
In Governor Cleveland's state there lives
an illustriOus citizen, Samuel s. Tilden once
elected president, and now occupy
ing a position in the Democratic
party similar TO Il at held by Andrew Jackson
in 1854.
Governor Polk owed his nomination and
election In large extent 10 the fact Of being
an intimate friend and associate of the in
valid of the Hermitage. Governor Cieve-
lands nomination and election has been n
a considerable degree influenced by the Sage
of Gramercy park.
The result Of the presidential election Of
lS44 and 1884 turned upon the vote Of New
York. when the inal outcome was for some
time In doub; because Of the small plurality
Of the Democratic ticket.
Tne candidacy OF Birney (AbolitIonist) in
1874, like that of 81. John (PrOhibitionist)
In 1884, drew sufficiently from the chief op-
posing party to cause the election Of the
Democratic ticket
NAMES AND NUMBERS.
The constitution Of the United States pro-
vides that the president and vice president
chosen bY the electors shall be resident of
the different states; hence, the name of the
state in which the candidate resides becomes
4 sort of adjunct to the name of the candi-
date, even the tickets used by the voters are
so printed.
Writing the names thus under eonsidera-
ton, notice how the parallel is still further
sustained.
Democratic candidate forty years ago, James
Knox Polk, Of Tennessee,
number OF letters. "a
Grover Cleveland, Of New York, Democratic
candidate 1884.
number Of letters. "a
Wing candidate in 1874, Henry Clay, OF Ken
lucky,
number OF letters 10
Republican candidate in 1854, James G.. Blaine,
of Maine,
number Of letters. 10
Counting the letters in the names Of An
drew jackson and Samuel j. Tilden We find
the same number, thirteen, in each. The
names OF }. G. Birney and J. P. st John,
the presidep tial candidates who insured the
election of Democratic presidents, by draw
ing from the Wing and Republican parties
respectively, contain the same number Of
letters.
THE FUTURE.
1t may be interesting to see how long the
seeming resemblance Of present events to
those of forty years age will continue. Some
Of the conspicuous events incident To Polk's
administration were reduction OF the tariff,
reforms in the various departments, a re-
turn TO more prosperous times, and the an
neXstiOn Of valuable territory.
Three Of these will individually be paral-
leled by like events during Clevelaud's ad-
ministraiion.
Will the fourth find like counterpart in
the acquisition Of territoryl
Probably not for the parallelism must end
at some point and likely this is the place of
| divergence. Yet if We employ the numeral
key used before, we have the following re-
suit:
Territory annexed during Folks administration: