The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-05-21
Luck and Pluck.


We made brief allusion last week to he
unique Lecture OF Rev. ] J. Lafierty, in
the Rooms Of the Young Mems Christian
Association Oh Luck and Pluck. 1t
was feast of reason and a flow of soul, 2
such a rare combination OF erudition,
philosophic deduction and refined wit,
that the time consumed i'll its delivery
passed off imperceptibly, with regret that
the limit had been SO soon reached. In H.
lustration of the text of the address DR..
Lafferty dwelt for some moments on the
brief and remarkable history Of President
Cleveland and the singular good fortune
which first drew him into public life and
has continued to attend his public career.
Prominent among the lucky incidents which
had contributed to his present elevation, he
mentioned the fierce encounter between
Roscoe Conkling and James G. Blaine. in
1872, on the floor of Congress. The feeling
of antagoniSm between these two dlStln-
guished politicians. both of the same par
ty. which had its birth in the now historic
CttCH QiiCOpSu 0SollIcp tiiN O.hiNf
on that occasion. had its consummation in
turning the scales against Mr. Blaine and
| in favor of Mr. Cleveland in November last
! But for that, Dr.. Lafferty claimed, the re-
suit would have teen different. The rain
| W hich fell on election day, he assumed
kept enough of rheumatic Republicans in
| the country districts, where the Repnbli-
can strength lies in the State of New
York, from attending the polls. to deter
mine the result for the Democrats. The
| Dalmonieo feast, where the ''bloated bond
| holders manifested their concern for Re-
publican success, drove enough OF the
common people from the Republican tick
ct to have given it success. The allitera
| tive of Dr. Burchard, by which Rum.
ROmanism and Rebellion played so eff
fectiye a part in disgusting large Catho-
| lie Republican following not only in New
York but throughout the country, was de-
cisive of the returns in that great State.
! Had either one of these incidents not Oc-
CURED, the belief was expressed that Mr..
| CLEVELAND would not be now President.
| They were indicative of the Luck ? of'the
President and the influence fortuitous
| events and occurrences have in determin-
ing individual destiny. DI. Lafferty, how
ever, did not make the application to the
strength Of parties, for the significance of
the incidents mentioned was that it was no
confidence in the Democratic party which
found expression at the ballot box, but the
effects of mere freaks of passion and pref
dice, shown at an opportune time to revo-
lutionize the political complexion of a
great government. and place in power a
political force that had been repGlsed and
condemned by the popular judgment and
the popular conscience for a quarter OF q
century. The little things mentioned.
the absence OF any one OF which would
have brought about different result. and
not one of which had reference either to
party principle or administrative policy,
are accepted by the Democratic party as
popular approval and upon that premise
they base their calculations for a lease of
power beyond one Presidential term. 1t
is possible, but not probable. that such
may be the case. Doubtless the President
sees clearly how the party now in power
| could SO win the confidence of the cOun-
| try that successive administrations might
be scored to its credit. But the forces
with which he has to intimately DEAL are
incapable of looking beyond the present,
and are bringing such a pressure upon the
Executive and his constitutional advisers
that the promise is for four years of en-
ure. The indications now are that the
! lines will be strictly and severely drawn
| between the Democracy, representing no
defined principle, and only ambitious for
spoils, and Republicanism, with its won
| derful achievements in government, and the
marvellous prosperity and progress which
have attended the country under its con-
troll. Such succession of lucky incidents
may not again occur in the lifetime of a
nation, and they certainly will not be soon
repeated, if the country is to be brought
face to face with promises unfulflied and
pledges broken. To make the admins
tration Democratic in the offensive mean
ing of that term, would be to write its
doom. 1t will not only put the Republic
can party ON its good behavior, and result
in avoiding mistakes of omission or
commission. but it wiii bring INTO di-
rect contrast the history and work of
the two great parties and limit Demo-
cratic reign to term that is the out
growth Of accident aud the product of the
merest Luck
These deductions are not DIR. Lafferty's,
but they are none the less logical and true,
and show what a prolific theme it was
ture-''Luck and PLUCK