The Hawaiian gazette., 1884-11-26
THE AMERICAN ELECTION
A DEMOCRATIC VICTORY.


one of the most remarkable contests in the history
OF this Republic. It differed from the famous
campaign of 1850. in which Breckenridge, Douglas
and Lincoln contested for great principles. with
strong passions and desperate resolves ending in
civil war; the feeling on both sides on this ooea
SION being only less intense. But il was in uany
respects quite as remarkable 1t was the CLOSING
battle of the Constitutional war as Il NAV -
termed, which has been waQed between NORTH ard
South since the Confederacy was suppressed by
force OF arms.
James G, Blaine, the Republican candidate for
President Is the representative of the sjtaIvaTti,
Republican sentiment he having himself first nse,]
that expression, which came latterly, hovever. 10
be identified with the Conkling wing Of the uartv,
as opposed TO the Garfield wing. His was Likewise
the mind which conceived the Reconstruction
policy in opposition to President Johnsonss scheme
of rehabilitating the South, and which, for better
or for worse, was adopted. Blaine, therefore has
done more TO make the Constitutional history of
the United States in the past quarter Of century
than any other public man in it. His nomination
for the Presidency by the great party which he has
SO often led to victory, was only Just recognition
of his merits, and fitting Acknowledgement 81 Ms
right to leadership. General John A. Logan. no
minated as Vice President on the Republican tick
ct is prominent Western soldier and United
States Senator from Illinois who made great war
record, and whose services in civil life have baan
important if not distinguished The Republican
candldates were therefore strong men, admittedly
the strongest their party could select.
Inc Democratic candidates were Governor
Cleveland of New York State-"the Reform Convey
nor''-and Thomas A. Hendricks of Indian.
formerly Governor of that State, who held second
place on the Democratic ticket in 1876 with San1nel
j. Iilden. MIR. Hendricks therefore may be classed
with THE Claimant Tilden, who continuea 10
cherish the delusion that he was cheated out If
the Presidential succession Hendricks had in
this way personal claims upon the Democratic
party, but 1t Is probable that he owed his nomina-
ton TO the fact that he alone could carry Indiana
for the Democracy, which he certainly did Mr.
Hendricks was strongly opposed to the Union
cause during the war, but confined himself to
speech; and this was brought up against him during
TINS campaign with telling effect. Logan had also
been pro-savery man before the wai, had offered
his services to the Confederate Government, but
was kept within the line of loyalty by his wife and
his subsequent services atoned for his youthful En-
ror, which was sentimental rather than of policy.
THE DoLIERs.
Nothing could be said against Cleveland re-
cord as he had always been loyal to the Union,
and, like Blaine, had served his country in the
feld by proxy. His record as Mayor of Buffalo
and Governor of New York State was excellent;
but he had offended Tammany Hall, and was
therefore opposed by it tooth-and- nail. In the
National Convention John Kelly and his lieuten-
ants opposed Cleveland's nomination and declared
he could not carry the State, threatening 10 bolt
the ticket So also did General Butler, who want
ed the nomination himself; and the latter subse-
quently accepted the nomination by the National
Labor and Greenback parties. Butler bolted the
wheeled into line, and supported, although not
unanimously, the National Democratic ticket,
Cleveland had vetoed several bills which the work
ingmen wished passed into law, and this was used
against him by Butler and the Republicans
The bolt in the Republican party, consequent on
Blaine nomination, was very serious. 1t was led
by q. w. Curtis of Hdypsy's Weekly, Carl SchurZ
Henry Ward Beecher, and other prominent but
peculiar Republicans. who challenged Blaine's
fitness on the ground of proved personal dishonor
in the corrupt of his position as Speaker of the
House of Representatives. Several Republican
newspapers in New York, Boston, Philadelphia
and other cities joined the boilers and openly
championed Cleveland This detection was exceed
lngly serious, but it was offset by the bolt of the
rish-American party, who swung of from the
Democracy and joined Blaine's standard, on
account of his assumed hostility to the British
Government.
Another disturbing element besides that of But
Ter and the Labor party must be noticed. General
st. John was nominated for the Presidency by the
Prohibitionlsts. He also made an active cam
paign, and although his vote was not large vet as
il was chiefly drawn from the Republican party il
suihcedto give small plurality TO Cleveland in
New York State, and SO elect the Democratic
ticket Buffers vote in New York was chiefly
drawn from the Democratic ticket, but the excess
of the Prohibition vote over Buffers count NAV
fairly be taken to represent the plurality of Cleve
land over all.
THE CAMPAIGN.
The campaign was remarkable for the personal
canvass made by Blaine whose speeches in mum.
Der, appositeness and force have never been eT
celled, If indeed they have ever been equalled by
any public man. The London newspapers acknoyf-
edge that Gladstone's Midlothian canvas was NOT
equal to it. The field was much broader which
Blaine covered. 1t was a continental area and he
spoke TO over fifty millions of freemen and women,
appealing to their patriotism, and holding aloft
the standard of protection to American labor and
American industries" Cleveland made but few
speeches, and these uuimportant and towards the
close of the campaign. The two Vice Presidential
q n Nna M as.NNY
votes.
SANDER AND ABUSE.
If the campaign had rested here it would have
been WELL but the ghous of American politics were
abroad and Governor Cleveland was denounced as
hbertlne, debauchee and drunkard by the Bap-
fist and other Protestant clergymen OF ALBANY
These vile accusations were taken up by the parti-
san press and repeated dd HaHsedm. Not to be
outdone In vileness, an indianapolis Democratic
paper slandered Blaine, whom il accused of seduc-
4 ing his wife before marriage, and this too was
taken up and repeated by the Democratic partisan
and independent Republican boiling newspa.
pers blane at once instituted proceedings against
the offending newspaper, which are still pending.
But pen and pencil were vigorously employed in
blackening Blaine's character for personal intec-
rity, and the deplorable spectacle was presented
to the world by leading American newspapers, of a
man worthy to wear the purpe"-to rule as Pres
ident of the United States-who had committed
and was capable of committing, offences which
should consign him to penitentiary for life This
u
the reputation and fame of American journalism
THE ELECTION.
On the Fourth of November, 1884, the sovereign
peoples wearied out by the din and noise of the
preliminary skirmish, the beating of gongs parade
of uniformed clubs, burning of blue lights nearly
sufocated by the smell of "yillainous gunpowderh
and hoarse with shouting, proceeded to deposit
their votes IN the ballot boxes. 10 their credit be
1t said that everything passed off quietly because
American citizens are law-abding above all things
hare r.a.N.., u.
As was anticipated the "solid South" cast its vote
for Cleveland and Hendricks, giving them l53 votes
in the Electoral College, with 201 necessary to
make choice. The Pacific Coast States went
solid for Blaine and Logan, California giving Re
publican majority of over Il, 600 votes, although
the entire election machinery in State, city and
county, was in the hands of the Democrats The
Congressional delegation is solid Republican. A
Republican Legislature has been elected which
will choose Republican Senator III room of Far
ley, Democrat, whose term expires on the Sd Of
MARCH 1885. Senator John P. Jones of Nevada.
will succeed himself, the Republican ticket having
won. Oregon was also Republican.
WAITING FOR TIE NEWS.
Immense crowds surrounded the newspaper bul-
letin boards during the count for three days yary
ing little in numbers night or day. and the great
est excitement prevailed. Indiana was at one time
claimed by the Republicans, but was subsequent
ly conceded to the Democrats Wisconsin was
said to have given a Democratic majority and
Michigan to have elected fusion ticket, which
shut out Blaine. Neither statement was true both
States going Republican, but they created great
Democratic enthusiasm for the time.
EXCITEMENT AND SUSPENSE.
When it was announced that Cleveland had car
ried New Jersey and Connecticut it was seen that
everything depended upon New York, with its So
Electoral votes, and betting ran high on the re-
suit, the fluctuations at the pools being telegra-
phed all over the country the best indication of
the state of public feeling. Meantime returns
came in slowly from New York; and some San
Francisco papers charged the Western Union
Telegraph with delaying news in the interest of
gamblers. On the fourth day the returns closed
with reported plurality in New York for CIeye-
land of between ten and twelve hundred. At once
the cry of fraud was raised by the Republicans,
and Blaine demanded that accurate count be had
The Democratic National Committee issued an
address to the country claiming the election for
Cleveland and appealing for support to resist the
contemplated Republican usurpation. The feel
ing became intense but the New York Su and
others opposed TO Cleveland reluctantly admitted
his election. Meanwhile the official count bv
counties began on the 10th instant, and continued
till date, when Cleveland is found to have a plur-
atty of l.24l votes in New York, which gives him
its So electoral votes and Is more than is ueees-
sary TO a choice in the Electoral Collegege. The
official canvass Is barely completed but the result
will not be changed.
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Have nearly gone frantic with ioy and some liz