Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-09-03
Glance nc the History OF Elections
The Cleveland dAfimiuistration.

tWsshinston Cor. Cleveland Plain Desler.l
"As q matter OF fact there never vet
has been a President who has had 30
difficult position to fiif as Grover
Cleveland" said an official high In au-
thority te-dayr''He has been q close
student OF political parties, and under
stands fully the mislakesthat have been
made by the men who have gone before
him He does not propose TO make the
same emistakesif fhe can helpit. Thediffi-
culties Of his position do not alone lie in
the fact that the country is 80 much larg-
er than it was whenany other Democrat
sat In the chair Of state, although that
is serious enough. No other man ever
came to the presidency after twenty
four years ofcontinuous rule by the OPP
posite party. Rings and machinery had
become thoroughly organized, and were
being manipulated with great skill.
These must be broken up and affairs
put on a proper business basis
Cleveland came into power much as
Harrison did," my friend continued.
Harrison was elected by union of the
old line Wigs with the Jeffersonian-
Democrats, under the lead of. Tyler.
The campaign of 1910 was grand ma
tlonal frolic, and the campaign of 1884
was a grand openingof the sewer pipes
of abuse and the flood gates of filth.
Grover Cleveland was nominated by
the Democrats and was elected by the
union of the Democrats and the best
element of the Republican party. Mr..
Cleveland appreciates this and remem-
bers to whom he is indebted for his cleo
tion. There Is no reason IN the world
why all the elements ofstrength should
not be held together. Mr.. Cleveland Is
. Democrat and will ever be true to
Democratic principles. No one will be
hurt by his course. Now what will be
gained by quarrel? Who will pro fit
by offending the very respectable allies
who joined with the Democratic party
to drive the Republican octopus from
power and clean the Augean stable of
official corruption. Let me tell you no
man will ever again be elected President
in this country who can not command
the respect and votes of the elements of
this nation who helped elect Cleve-
land. A very brief glance at the histo-
ry of elections will show that am right.
We will go back to 1874. In that year
the election was thrown into the house,
and by correct bargain between John
Quincy Adams and Henry Clay the
formerwas elected and Clay was put in
the cabinet as secretary of state.
'In 1928 all elementsj joined to put the
stamp of disapproval on this corrupt
bargain, and Jackson was elected. He
made q satisfactory President and was
reelected in 1852, and in 1856 Van
Buren, succeeded him by scratch In
184O the hard times and various other
causes contributed to very large defec-
ton of the Democrats under Tyler, who
Joined with the Wings and elected Har-
rison. The Wings seemed disposed to
ignore their allies and made an open
and disgraceful war upon Tyler, who
soon succeeded to the Presidency. What
did they gain? Why, they simply
drove the Tyler men out Of their party
and made victory easy in 1874 for James
x. Polk. But the Wings had not
learned wisdom even. They picked up
Zachary Taylor in 1848 and on the
strength of his Mexican war record and
because no one knew what his politics
were they elected him. Through. the
providence of God he also was soon re-
moved, and the Wings proceeded to re-
peat the quarrel they had waged with
Tayler. To be sure, in this case it was
an internal strife, like the one some
hot-headed people would like to see the
Democracy engage in. The Wings
divided themselves into factions and
indulged in all the nonsense imagina-
BILE. There is no doubt but this quarrel
contributed very largely to their defeat
in 1852, when Pierce and King were so
easily elected by the Democrats.
"In 1850 the Republicans and Free
Sellers elected Abraham Lincoln be-
cause the Democrats split into factions.
Lincoln had q minority of the popular
vote, but was elected.
'"The war, its. issues, and the wonder
full machine that was developed by the
Republicans kept that party in power
for twenty-four years. That party
would be in power to-day undoubtedly
had it not been for its factional fights"
"Who do you consider the people are
who are trying to strike up discord in
the Democratic party?"
"They are, in my opinion, very large
ly Republicans, but they are assisted by
q paper or tive in the Democratic party
that always kick and never contribute
anything to the real strength of the
party. The rank and file.of the party
iike Cleveland as well as could be ex-
pected." .ggI
aDo you hear anything that would
indicate any disposition not to indorse
the administration in any of the COM
ing State Conventions"
II certainly hear nothing of that
kind.n s.
"All hear is an occasional grumble
about the office changing not going for
ward faster, and as matter of fact it
would be Impossible for it to move fast
er with any degree ofsafety at all. The
President must know something about
the people he appoints. The Repub-
lican leaders would Hike to see clean
sweep, and then they could turn to the
Mugwumps and say: There you see
how your Democratic PRESIDENT turns
out, don't your Nothing would please
them like the opportunity to say this.
But they will not get the opportunity
to say so.'
ae Tired, Languid, Dull,