Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-24
A COMPARISON.

Ordinarily it would be i'll pleading to
arraign a political opponent for lack of
human sympathy. But if the facts are
that the Democrats in charge of headquar-
tiers at Washington have not manifested
sympathetic interest in the sufferers at
Charleston such as the nation has a right
20 expect, then the facts justify public
comment. The st. Louis Globe Democrat
arraigns the Administration on this charge,
and it is justified in doing so. Mr.. Cleve-
land, from his north woods retreat (how
5hey used to abuse President Arthur for
MS love of rod and gum, did send a formal
response to the Queens womanly, whole
hearted and prompt expression of sympa-
Thy with the afflicted people of Charleston.
But then 4 dead silence tell between the
north woods and Charleston. So far as
President Cleveland's sympathy was con-
cerned Charleston heard nothing more
rom him. The press teemed with accounts
Of the houseless condition of the poor in
The stricken city, but it was some days be-
fore the Secretary of War could be found
and appealed to for army tents, and then
ne sent on a beggarly four dozen round
tents TO shelter 1900 people. The Secre-
larry was not, however, exhausted by this
charitable exertion. He dispatched after
che tents a couple of scientists from the
department to measure the earth assures
and examine the houses, and report if in
deed the people were justified in their
rear to return to them. 1t seems
never to have occurred to the Secretary
chat, whether the fear was well grounded
or not, it existed " all the same" and rem
dered immediate relief necessary. Here
ended the aid and sympathy of the Adj
ministration.
In the fall of the year 1871 4 great con-
Migration swept over Il portion of Chicago.
General Ulysses S. Grant was then Presi-
dent of the United States. General Sheri
dan was in Chicago at the time, and tele-
graphed to the Secretary of War the facts,
and instantly approval and unlimited,
vas given him to take and use all
The army tents needed to shelter the
houseless people, and his requisition for
1000 rations was confirmed at once
The President and Secretary did not stop
here. They flashed Geographic orders to
ell the military posts within two days ride
OF Chicago to send instantly to General
Sheridan all the army clothing, blankets
etc, that could be found, and within
.~venty-four hours trains, loaded with Coy
eminent supplies were rushing toward,
Chicago from a dozen different quarters,
and by this promptness great suffering was
agsuaged ard many lives preserved. While
the fire was yet burning a great relief
mass meeting was held in Washington, and
President Grant not only attended, but
pat his name down for 81 900 to the relief
fund, and telegraphed to Boston requesting
that the money raised to give him apubliC
reception there, be sent Oh to Chicago to
relieve distress, and to abandon the reoep-
zion. In the strong light of this compari-
son, how stands the record Of credit be-
tween Grant and Cleveland, between Re
publican impulsive and unconfned sym
patty, and the narrowness Of the Demo
cratic Administration? The people have
a right TO look at the facts as they are
and ask why it is That the stricken city Oh
The South receives so little even of the
word Of sympathy from those who sit in
power at Washington,