Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-10-30
SHERMAN'S MARCH.

Senator Sherman has been speaking
at Petersburg, Va. He was introduced
to his audience by General Malone, the
Republican boss OF Virginia. In intro
ducing Senator Sherman, General Malone
said that the distinguished Senator from
Ohio came to address their reason and
not their prejudices. Ii the synopsis of
this speech as telegraphed is correct,
then the people of Virginia have very
peculiar kind Of reason, If this speech
addressed that reason. 1t looks as
though the speech had been addressed
to their prejudices and not to their rea-
son. Senator Sherman said that If
it was meant that by the waving of the
bloody shirt he had sought to renew the
animosities of the war, then there had
been grave mistake. His Mt. Gilead
speech certainly looked as though he
wanted to revive those same war animos-
tiles, and this was the idea that was gen.
orally entertained of that speech. The
issue in the South, he said, was not that
which was the issue in the war, but now
he arraigned the war upon the ballot
box. He reiterated his old assertion that
had the colored people of the South been
allowed free ballot, James G. Blaine
would have been President to-
day in place of Grover Cleveland.
The Senator charged that it was Fitzhugh
Lee who was trying to revive the men,
ories Of the war by the manner of his
canvass. General Lee has conducted his
canvass after the same style that the
canvass for Mr.. Blaine was conducted
last year, if the accounts are correct.
That canvass was conducted on the prin-
ciple of brass bands and brass buttons,
with paradings and shoutings. The par
aphernalia and tawdry OF elections have
got to be about the most essential things
nowadays, and if such things indicate
patriotism in Republicans at the North
why should they not show patriotism
among the Democrats OF the North?
When Senator Sherman stated that the
Democrats adhered to the doctrines of the
extremists at the South regarding States
rights he stated that which was false.
Nor do the Democrats seek to belittle the
National Government; and because many
Democrats prefer the doctrines OF free trade
to those of protection, it is no sign that
they are not anxious for the advancement
and development of American industries.
Men may honestly differ rs to what is
best for the common welfare of the coun-
try, and yet all be seeking merely to pro-
mote that common welfare. 1t is too
common practice for the adherents OF
one political party to impugn the motives
of the adherents OF another another polit-
ical parry. Among speakers on the plat
form there is probably not one in ten who
makes sweeping charges that believes
those charges. The true theory in this case
is to make the charges hard to beat. All
this tends to destroy sincerity in politics,
and insincerity in politics is a dangerous
element.
There was nothing very smart nor
statesmanlike in the remark that
the rascals have been put in place
since Mr.. Cleveland's Inauguration
in place of being turned out.
Neither is it smart for a. portion
OF the Democratic party to say that
the election OF Mr.. Cleveland meant
to "turn the rascals out" The election
OF Mr.. Cleveland meant better govern
ment, and the country is having it. That
which American politics most need is a
healthy infusion of tone.