The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-07-17
The Democratic Convention.

caused hy the fierce conflicts of more than
ordinary significance. The nomination OF
Mr.. Cleveland was the result OF expe-
diency, purely. He never had any connec-
ton with national affairs, and save a
known sympathy with the doctrine OF free
trade, his views on questions affecting adj
ministrative policy ARE sealed book to the
country. His public services have been
limited to the duties of assistant attorney
for the county of Erie, N. y, sheriff OF
that county, mayor of Buffalo, and Gov
ernor of New York for the past two years.
He owes the position of Governor to no
commanding abilities of his own, nor to
his positive strength with the people, but
to the determination of the Republicans
to rebuke certain political methods which
detracted from the dignity and traditions
of the Republican party. His phenomenal
majority of $4,000, in State which gave
Garfield, the year previous, $1,000 major
ity. was not the result of popular sympa-
thy for his party, but the purpose OF
Republicans to administer chastisement to
offensive party machinery through the
means which would give emphasis to their
determination. Cleveland's vote in that
memorable contest of 1881 did not exceed
Hancock's of the year before more than
800. and was 5000 less than that cast for
Garfield in 1880. Many Republicans voted
for him, and over 100000 remained away
from the polls. Under such circumstances
and conditions he was chosen Governor 81
| New York, by majority unprecedented
in political contests, and abnormal from
the very nature Of the case. From that
time to this Mr.. Cleveland has been pos
ing as candidate for the Presidency,
trusting to party eXigencies and the accl-
dents of fortune to secure him the party
nomination. Mr.. Tilden on the retired
list, absolutely, and New York being a
necessity to Democratic success, Cleye-
| lands good luck in State contests gave
him prominence and Importance not
f, justified by any considerations which
should enter into national contest,
and secured him the nomination at
| Chicago, as result of sheer desperation
and the effective work of the only machine
organization present. drilled for the pur-
pose and acquainted with the methods
most generally successful where disorgan-
ization and decentralization prevail.
| Mr.. Cleveland's success over such prom
inent and representative Democrats as
Thurman, Bayard, Randall, Mcdonald,
Payne, Slocum, Hoadley, Carlisle, Butler
and others, is illustrative of the cowar-
dice of the party which made him its
| choice. 1t dared not appeal to the coun-
try on it's record. The men who stood In
the front in its past conflicts; who had
received the wounds and bear the scars
of it's most holly contested engagements ;
who are identified with its triumphs and
defeats, were ruthlessly thrown aside and
| Mr.. Cleveland chosen, who had never en-
| countered political foe on national the
atre or commanded the confidence of his
party, because of his defense OF its princi-
pies or organization. His only merit is
that he is a political nonentity in a ma
tional sense-so obscure that his views Of
party questions are unknown, except on
the tariff, and hence he is an appropriate
candidate for campaign of false pre-
lenses, deception and Discrimination.
Two fatal objections, however, present
themselves to the ticket as nominated at
| Chicago last week. While Mr.. Cleveland
has no record upon national questions, as
Governor of New York, he has been called
upon to act on legislation, which reaches
down to the consciousness of the people
and the cardinal ideas of Republican insti-
| buttons. His vetOes of important meas
ures affecting the interests of the labor
| ing classes-such as the five cent fare bill
and the twelve hour law-planted him
squarely with cooperative monopolies and
against the people. While these measures
were local in their immediate operation,
they involved, at the same time, princi-
pie, which is far-reaching in its effects
| and of broad application. 1t was recog-
milton and sanction of the right of mo-
nopolies to sap the vital forces of labor,
because it had no power of resistance and
no means of remedy. The whole and only
purpose of the vetoeS was to secure to the
street railroad corporations an enormous
per cent. on their investments, at the ex-
pense of the laboring classes, who were
driven to the necessity of workingssixteen
hours in the day, or surrendering their pO-
sitions as car conductors. and of paying
ten cent fare at certain hours in the day,
or walking. The evidence of these unjust
exactions is given in the large dividends
declared by the companies sub served by
the vetoes, and the enhanced value of the
stocks of the corporations. The issue
presented in the laws enacted by the Leg
islature and vetoed by Gov. Cleveland, was
Monopolies against the Laboring Glass
He decided with the former, because, as
is stated, he held some Of the stock, and
this has arrayed against him the fierce re-
sentiment and aggressive hostility of all the
labor organizations of the North, whose
time for effective protest will be in No
vember next-a protest from the rank and
file of the Democratic party against the
candidate forced upon them by the Demo-
cratic machine, operated by Tilden intlu-
ences and in the interest of wreckers and
spoilsmen such as Mr.. Tilden's whole life
attests him to be.
The antagonism of the labcring classes,
occasioned by Mr.. Cleveland s brief admin
istration as Governor, is accompanied by
another objection to the ticket equally
forceful and fatal. 1t is the failure by the
Convention which nominated it to recog-
nize the soldier element of the country.
Neither Mr.. Cleveland nor Mr.. Hendricks
can lay claim to sympathy from this large
and effective class of the voting popula-
tion of the Nation. Mr.. Hendricks, in
deed, is known to have had his inclina-
lions in another direction. He was sus-
pected of affinity for the knights of the
Golden Circle,'' an organization in his
State opposed to the prosecution of the
war. and in various ways manifested his