Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-07-22
WHAT IT MEANS.
The Issues Presented by the Nom
nations Of Blaine and Cleve-
land.

Col. A. X. Mcclure, the veteran cd
itor of that able and influential Inde-
pendent paper, the Philadelphia
Times, thus sums up the political sit
uation:
All great revolutions are born in
violent throcs, and the desperate bat
tic just closed in the National Demo-
cratic Convention will stand as
memorable illustration of this truth.
1t was the most heroically contested
struggle | have ever known in thirty
years as witness of Presidential
nominations, and every element Of
ambition and jealousy, of meancst ha-
treds Of struggling spoilsmcn and
Of both petty and majestic individual
rivalry was an intensity ing factor i'll
the conflict. Only supreme cause
high over men could have withstOod
the repeated shocks Of the fierce as
sailing hosts. No National Convcn-
iion ever stood like the rock-ribbed
shore against the angry surges of the
1poilSman's storm as did the conven-
ion of to-day. 1t was held in an
archy for an hour in the midst of Il
ballot by the cunningly devised STRAIT
egy that suddenly burst II Hen tricks
hurricane on the body, which ap-
pcalcd 10 the inspiring sentiment Of
historic justice. Neither Governor
Cleveland nor any greater man could
nave withStood such cyclone. Bu,
the cause that he was made to repre-
sent with such distinctncss alike by
Trend aud foe so strongly appealed 10
the intelligent and considcratc judg-
ment Of the body that its members
stood like a wall of adamant as the
empcst ragged in the widest fury
around them.
1t was the most thorou h'y dc j c.
ate convention that has met since the
organization of the present parties,
with the single exception of the Lin-
coin convention, that started the Re-
publican revolution in this city nearly
Il quarter of century ago. 1t was
not welded to Grover Cleveland; il
was not for him as man, he had
fewer personal acquaintance in the
convention than had any successful
candidate since Lincoln. lie had no
factious support outside of his battle
with spoilsmen in his own state; he
had no sectional sentiment or interest
to rally under his flag. But East and
West, from North and South the most
conservative and rcsolute supporters
of honest government united to NOM
mate him as the fittest and best leader
of the revolution that profigacy and
dcbauchcry so imperiously invite.
The battle in the Republican Con-
vention was unsucccssfully made to
rescue the party from its spoils system
and to elevate 1t to purer aims and ef-
forts. The great popular leader with
the proclaimed methods and expecta-
tions of the spoilsmen, commanded
the appeal to the approval of the Re-
publicans, but at fearful cost in the
loss of able and self-sacriiicing men
who revere the yet fresh traditions of
Republican fidelity topublic integrity
and lustrous patriotism. They fol-
lowed the Soilcd Republican flag long
after its leader had betrayed and for
gotten the great revolution that called
it into strife and gave it victory, but
they made their final appeal for re-
form here Il month ago and were de
tcatcd. In despair of Republican re-
form they asserted the highest and
noblest right of the citizen. They re-
vollcd and pointed as with one voice
to Grover Cleveland as the one DEM
ocrat above all whose record com
manded their hearty support. Then
and not until then was Cleveland a
prominent, possible candidate for
President, and the battle for his NOM
ination has been made upon issues so
clear and distinct that none can mis-
understand them He was nominated
. to-day, not only because he was earn
cstlv and honestly chamDiOned by tile