The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-06
THB MEANING OF 1T.

Idh MhAN1Nd VI liz
The meaning of Tuesdays victory is not
obscure. The wayfaring man though a fool
may easily understand it if he will. For
weeks the opposition has boosted and blus-
tered, and had everything their own way,
claiming 90, 900 independent Republican votes
in New York alone, with a proportionate num-
Der in Massachusetts, and in some other States;
with a solid South to operate on as a basis;
with New York "sure" by a majority from
0 1000 to 1906 900; with Massachusetts,
Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Illinois,
Indiana and what not else. Mr.. Cleveland
was to have everything he cared for, while
Blaine was to get but the crumbs from the
electoral table. With Cleveland nominated to
make New York solid, and Mr.. Hendricks to
take care of Indiana, these two States, added
to the solid South, were enough to insure
Democratic success without looking further,
and whatever might be gained beside would
only add to the magnitude of the success ex-
pected. From the outset the independent
Republicans practically directed the campaign
for the Democratic party, and a meaner, more
scAndalous one never was conducted. They
began by debating the nominee of the Demo
cratic party, and selected the unknown and
untried Cleveland, over such representative
Democrats as Thurman, Bayard and McDon-
aid. No man but Cleveland would do. He
xu0a tha 49, - Z -. - L. -
the Nation into new paths of purity and re-
form; he was a man without reproaeh, a re-
former sans peur. 1t was useless to urge
that he was unknown. The answer was that
be was Governor of the greatest State in
the Union, by the largest major
ity ever given a candidate for that
office. 1t was equally futile to say that
he was untried and had no experience in ma
tional affairs. Having chosen the candidate
for the party, the independent Republicans
sounded the keynote of the campaign and
r.ecklessly plunged into a line of assault, not
ong in descending to the most dastardly
scurrility and personal abuse. This alone
would probably have overreached the aim of
those bent on the defeat of Blaine
and the overthrow of the Republican
and even better reasons for the rebuke admin
istered on Tuesday. Solid sectionalism, as
opposed to solid nationality, is and ever must
be hateful to the great mass of the people
who love their country and have its interests
at heart. The victory that seemed almost
within the grasp of the enemy and their new
and homogeneous allies that were ashamed of
their fellowship, was turned away from them
just when the critical hour came. The
conscience of the Nation came to the
aid of the party that saved this Nation from
dissolution at the hands of the Democratic
party, and once more the verdict has been
spoken against the unholy alliance of hungry
Democrats North with murderous Democrats
intent on a solid South above q solid and
united Nation. This was, perhaps, one of the
prime causes of the Republican triumph,
though there were other reasons that impelled
the people to refuse to place confidence
in the professions of the Democratic
party, preaching reform while greedily reach
ing with both hands for the spoils of Office.
The marvellous personal influence of Mr..
Blaine is without parallel in American poll
tics. Going into New York State against the
man who but two years ago was elected its
Governor bya majority of 1872, 900, he aroused
the dormant energies of the people so thor
oughly, and won their sympathy SO
fully, that this great adverse majority
has been not only disposed of, but
a decent plurality has been given in his favor.
He performed a like feat in Indiana. Visit
ing this State, the home of Thomas A. Hem
bricks, a petted and pampered 'favorite son.,
he actually rode right over him as if there
were no opposition at all, and easily wiped out
a Democratic plurality of IL, 900, and placed
in its stead odds in favor of the Republican
ticket. Alike influence was felt in Ohio and
West Virginia, and wherever he went
The splendid energy of his canvass was the
marvel of all who beheld it. Scoring every
thing like meanness and personality; but