The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-06-21
THE CONVENTION.

THE CONVENTION.
Beyond the merely formal matter OF
selecting delegates 10 the state and con
greSsional conventions, in regard 70 whom
there was no strife or special interest, there
was nothing 10 call out 50 large and Jealous
an attendance at the Democratic County
Convention on Thursday, aside from the
general earnestness felt in the common
cause II was gathering that showed the
party in the county 10 be awake, harmoni
Gus. up and dressed, and ready TO go to
work-such a gathering as is always the
sure precursor Of victory in this county AT
the polls.
The mere perfunctory business of ap-
pointing the delegates TO the conventions
indicated was readily disposed of, and then
came the matter of real interest, which
was no doubt at the bottom of the unusual
" large attendance. That matter was TO
give an earnest and emphatic expression
on the great and vital question, who shall
/ be the standard bearers in the great pres-
Dental contest TO come off this season ?
The withdrawal of Tilden--for hitherto
everybody had been for Tilden and
thought Of no one else--had made this a
question of immediate and pressing inter
est and in its solution the Democracy OF
this county are as competent TO speak and
have as good right 10 be heard as the
democracy of any other location in this
country. And the answer they gave is one
that finds not only prompt echo through
out the land, but will be enthusiastically
ratified at Peoria and Chicago. They de
clared unanimously and enthusiastically in
favor of CLEVELAND AND MCDONALD for
the Presidential ticket and CARTER HAIR
RIsoN for Governor of Illinois.
On the retirement of Tilden from the
field the name of Grover Cleveland pre-.
sents itself naturally to the Democracy not
only on account Of the unquestioned merits
of the man, but on account of his pre-
eminent availability. As Governor of
New York he was elected by the largest
majority ever cast for any candidate in this
country, and in his conduct of the Office he
has displayed not only signal ability but
straightforward, unpretending desire to do
his duty, without regard to political conse
quences and without affectation or dema-
gogism His administration has shown
such honesty, sincerity and good faith that
i, has been respected by Republicans as
we'll as Democrats. As he was practically
supported by the Reform Republicans of
New York in 1882, such support account
ing largely for the immense majority he
received, so his honesty, his earnestness
and his practical reform administration
have made him doubly acceptable to the
same Republican element this year, assur-
ring him again of their support and thus
placing his availability on a footing that
raises him far above any other candidate
that has yet been named.
And the mention of Mcdonald for the
vice presidency was no less happy. Among
living Democratic statesmen he has few if
any peers, while as a western man his
choice is peculiarly fitting; and represent
Ing, as he does, a doubtful state, his candi.
dacy will insure democratic success in that
state and thus a democratic triumph
throughout the Union.
Nor is the suggestion less happy one
of Carter Harrison as the Democratic
nominee for Governor. As mayor of Chi.
cago he has developed administrative
ability of higher order than was shown
by any other man ever placed in that try
ing position while as a political leader his
wisdom and address stand demonstrated in
the fact that under his guidance Chicago
and Cook county, that had been for years
overwhelmingly republican, have been
made permanently democratic by from
five to ten thousand majority. Under the
same wise leadership there is every reason
10 believe that Illinois, hitherto regarded
as one of the most reliable of Republican
states, will also be made permanently and
overwhelmingly Democratic. So we say
with the convention, "Hurrah for Carter
Harrison" and let his eagle cream!
"
BLAINE's WAR REcoRD.-At the meeting