The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-23

time informing that body that the state
had entered into solemn contract with
the roads, and that it would be stain
upon the brow of imperial New York not
to keep faith with them. After the legis-
lature had adjourned the railroad com
mission, which includes democrat, a
republican and a representative of the
labor and antimonopolist interests, made
an investigation into the affairs of the
elevated roads, and found that after ali
the water had been squeezed out of the
stock they were not earning more than
four per cent. If Grover Cleveland had
not been an honest conscientious officer,
if he did not respect his oath, if he wished
to curry favor with the baser and corrupt
elements of his own party, if he had had
less of the Jacksonian spirit, he would
have signed the bill and brought disgrace
upon the Empire state. loud Applause. J
There never was feeling or emotion of
Grover Cleveland that was not in sympa-
thy with the poor And why should he
not sympathize with them? He himself
came from the merest dregs of poverty
and knew what it was to be poor. But
he possessed an indomitable will and true
courage, and could not be disheartened
by adversely; and when others sought
their bed at night he was studying and
fitting himself for the battle of life.
The next evening the Telegraph frankly
admitted that it had been mistaken about
Governor Cleveland and warmly com
mended his veto of the Five Cent Fare
Bill. 1t said:
AS will be seen by reference to the
report of last nights democratic ratifica
ton meeting at the opera house, Col.
Fellows, in courteous compliance with
the Telegraph's request, explained Gov =
ernor Cleveland's veto of the now
celebrated five cent fare bill The
explanation is satisfactory 1t leaves no
doubt that in vetoing the bill Governor
Cleveland saved the state of New York
from dishonor, and performed an act
which reflects credit upon his honesty
and independence. He could not have
done otherwise without disgracing the
commonwealth and himself and inflicting
an injustice upon the men who in good
faith had invested their millions in the
elevated railways.
We are glad that Col Fellows has
made this subject clear His explanation
reveals that instead of being acluated as
he has been falsely represented, by a
! disregard Gf the interest of the working
| men, Gov. Cleveland, in vetoing the bill
was prompted by a manly sense of justice
and a proper respect for the rights of
property. The Telegraph, while it
earnestly advocates the reforms now
sought 10 be accomplished by the political
organization which placed Mir Cleveland
in nomination, and while it has been and
is opposed to Mr.. Blaine and the gang of
treasury raiders who brought about his
nomination and will resort TO all means.
good, bad and Indifferent, to secure his
election, has not bestowed much praise
upon Governor Cleveland.
We admit that Col Fellows explana-
ton of the veto of the elevated railway
bill has given us a higher appreciation of
Governor Cleveland's character both as a
man and an officer, and led us to believe
that in antagonizing other measures
whose enactment had been urged by large
masses of workingmen and other import
ant elements of New York's large
population, he was governed by consid-
erations of sound public policy rather
than by his personal feelings or pre-
| iudices