The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-07-19
'Fi.c coming asveolaaioa.
tFrom tho phIladclnhla Thnesl

CHICAGO, July l1.-All great rovolu-
tons are horn in violent throes, and
the desperate battle just closed in the
Democratic National Convention will
stand as II memorable illustration of
this truth. 1t was the most heroically
contested struggle / have ever known,
in thirty years as a witness of Prcsi-
DENTAL nominations, and every ele-
ment of ambition and jcalousy, Of
meanest hatreds of struggling spoiIs-
men and'of both petty and majestic
indiyiduGlIvalry was an intensifying
factor in the conflict. Onlya supreme
cause high over mon could have with
stood the repeated shocks Of the fierce
assailing hosts. No National Conven-
ton ever stood like the rock-ribbed
shore against the angry surges of the
spoilsmens storm as did the Conven-
ton of to-day. 1t was held in anarchy
for an hour in the midst Of ballot by
the cunningly devised strategy that
suddenly burst Hendricks hurricane
ON the body, which appealed to the
inspiring sentiment of historic justice.
Neither Grover Cleveland nor any
greater man could have withstood
such a acyclone. But the cause that he
was made to represent with such dis
tinctness alike by-iriend and foe so
strongly appealed to the intelligent
and considorate judgement OF the body
that its members stood like a wall of
adamant as the tempest ragged in the
widest fury around them.
1t was the most thoroughly dehber-
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
a quarter OF century ago. 1t was
not welded to Grover Cleveland; ii
was not for him as man; he had
fewer personal acquaintanees IN the
Convention than had any successful
candidate since Lincoln. He had 10
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 from East
and West, from North and South the
most conservative and resolute sup
porters OF honest government united
to nominate him as the tittest and
best leader of the revolution that pub
lie profligacy and debauchery so impe-
riously invite. n n
The battle in the Republican Con-
vention was unsuccessfully made to
rescue the party from its spoils system
and to elevate it to puer aims and
efforts. The great popular leader,
with the proclaimed methods and ex-
pectations OF the spoilsmen, command
cd the appeal to the approval of the
Republicans, but at u fearful cost in
the loss Of able and self-sacrifcing
men who revere the yet fresh tradi-
tions of Republican fidelity to public
integrity and lustrous patriotism
They followed the soiled Republican
| 1ag long afterits leaders had betra, cd
land forgotten the great revolution
that called it into the strife and gave
it victory, but they made their final
appeal for reform here month ago
and were defeated. In despair of Re
publican reform, they asserted the
highest and noblest right of the citizen.
They revolted and pointed as with
one voice to Grover Cleveland as the
one Democrat above all whose record
commanded their hearty support.
Then and not till then was Cleveland
Il prominent, a possible candidate for
President, and the battle for his nomi-
nation has been made upon issues so
clearand distinct that none can mis-
understand them. He was nominated
to-day not only because he was earnest
| ly and honestly chalnpioiied by the
best men and the best aims of the
Democracy, but also because he was
yindictiyely opposed by allwho believe
IN the moekery OF professed reform
before elections, to prostitute power
TO plunder after elections have been
won. s nii,t s5,3,,e 5e lae4i
Let none misunderstood the issue Of
the great conflict that is upon us
1t involves a sweeping political revo-
lution--not merely the transfer OF
power from one political party to an
other, but the revolutionary overthrow
OF the worst methods and purposes Of
Eboth parties and the triumph of the
best inspirations of every political
faith. 1t is not simply whether there
shall be Republican or a Democratic
Presidentnor is it struggle
to make James G. Blaine or Grover
| IUleveland the Chief Magistrate of the
republic. A revolution has dawned
upon both parties and it has been born
OF supreme. necessity. It's seeds have
been lavishly ustrewn by the Republi-
can abuses and Democratic follies oI
the past half generation, and they
4 have been wateredland nourished and
grown to apparent harvest timely thC
distinctly opposite men and measures
ldeclared by the two Chicago Conven
tons Of 1884. i'9nn $500 a..I
Cleveland will lose many Democrat
ic votes for single otfense of typlfying
practical, honest administration. The
blatant demagogues who hang on The
edges OF every hopeful party by turn
| viii decry him and the leprous jobbers
Of all parties will make common and
exhaustive battle against him. But
more than one hundred thousand mer
of sincere Republican faith in the
debatable States will openly espousC
his cause and press the result to sue
cessful revolution. New York will be
desperately contested, but the more
signal will be the Cleyland victory
Connecticut and New IIampshir,
promise to be Cleveland States ant
Massachusetts, will tremble in tho
balance between the Plumed Knight
and the man who is known only as {
rcsolutc honest public servant. d
| TLn n1,,n Nint will hn nt,n nf ILn nAn.-