Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-07-18
THE CHICAGO NOMINATION.

THE CHICAGO NOMINAIION.
The National Democratic party has
made a square issue for 1884 of Reform
in the government. 1t made the same IS
sue in 1876 and. won. Its candidate now
is man who has travelled the same fear
less route of reform that Samuel j. Tilden
trod. In his efforts at reform he
has spared neither friend nor foe. He has
reformed his own party as we'll as the gov
ernments, city and state, entrusted to him
by the people. In his administration he
has made no concessions to machine
politicians of any kind. For himself, he
has lived Straightforward, honest life
from the time be was ragged and hard
worked errand boy in store to the time
he is presented by his countrymen for the
highest place in the gift of the Nation
His whole record is that Of man of &C
tive not passive integrity. That is the
history given of him by his own party. 1t
is in direct opposition to the history of
James G.. Blaine given by his own party.
The American people have their choice
between their two records.
The nomination of Cleveland comes at
time when the people of this country are
believed to have become Disguised with the
now deeply rooted Gust On of making the
government of the nation matter for
private speculations and schemes. the out
growth of ideals" among politicians. This
disgust is believed to have been brought
about by the shameful custom hayidg re-
suited in placing shameless men in high
Office and filling the minor places with
mere henchmen for the greater managers.
IF this estimate of the condition of the
popular mind is correct, then the Demo-
cracy has given the nation man who is
in exact accord with the desired reform.
Some of his severest battles have been
Waged with the worst element Ct his own
party, and no man of his day has 50 COM
pletely sunk the partisan in the public Of
fetal. The American people who desire
reform in this matter have presented to
them the proper man for the work. The
vote he will receive from che Republican
party will show to what extent that party
is sincere IN its professions Of desire for
purer government, land his loss Of votes in
the Democratic party will show just ho"
far that party was entitled TO make the
claim that it was able to give the country
a pure government if entrusted with its
affairs. The American people will have
an excellent opportunity in November of
testing the professions of both parties.
The read er cannot help being struck by
the similarity between the situation in
1876 when Tilden was nominated, and that
at Chicago last week when Cleveland was
chosen. Both men had become conspicuous
in the national arena by local records as
Ieformers. Both had aroused bitter AMI
mosities in their own party. John Kelley
went to st. Louis with his Tammany or
ganization, brass bands, circulars. flags,
headquarters, and the like, and with a
more numerous backing of prominent New
York Democrats than he had last week,
60 oppose the nomination of Tilden. But
there was a tremendous pressure in the
nation for reform in the government, and
Tammany was defeated. Last week the
opposition of Tammany to Cleveland was
quite as bitter, and the ability showed on
the floor by the Tammany speakers was
even greater. Tilden entered the st.
Louis convention with All votes, Cleve-
land entered the Chicago convention with
1914 votes. Both were chosen On the
second ballot-Tilden over such COM
pettors IS Hendricks, Hancock, and
Bayard; Cleveland over Bayard, Thur
man. Mcdonald, and others. At both
conventions Reform was made the chief
issue of the campaign. and it may be in
teresting to recall the fact that the Re-
publican candidate of to-day was referred
to in the platform adopted by the eonyen-
tion that nominated Tilden thus-"the
annals of this Republic show late
Speaker of the House of Representatives
marketing his rulings as presiding off,
GER" There is this difference, however,
between the nominees of 1876 and 1884:
Mr.. Tilden was bitterly opposed by the
solid Republican party and press. There
was no independent Republican press en-
dorsing him and no independent Republi-
can clubs avowfng their intention to sup
port him. while to-day we find some of the
most influential Republican journals of
New York and Massachusetts, advocat ing