The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-09
AN ISSUE BADLY WANTED.


| Those Birds of Ill-Omen, the Republic
ans, Hopping Around Aimlessly and Dis
cOn.Olately.
Our Republican friends are very
much perplexed as to what they can
furnish for an issue the next time they
go before the people. The bloody
shirt has become such venerable
chestnut that it no longer excites even
laugh. All the predictions of the
failure of the Democratic Administra-
ton have come to naught and the
hopes of split in the party have not
been realized. The fishery question
failed to materialize at the critical mo-
ment, and the venom of eX-ministers.
ex-secretarieS and ether extinguished
representatives of Republican manage
ment of the State Department, was
poured out in vain. The excellent judy
ment and calm, deliberative spirit dis
played by Secretary Bayard in connec-
ton with this question had the effect
of allaying the mischievous spirit
which the enemies of the Administra-
ton sought to stir up. The would-be
authorities on the foreign policy of the
Government attempted to make an is
sue out of the Cutting affair, with the
same fruitless result. Congress also
refused to furnish the desired issue to
our bewildered Republican friends.
for it has been incontestably shown
that the Democratic House acted as a
wholesome check on the extravaganza
and inscriptions measures of the Re-
publican Senate. The popularity of
the President has increased in proper
ton to the virulence of the attacks
made upon him. His manly, consist
ent course in connection with the
Civil-Service law and his trenchant
vetoes of jobs and swindling schemes
have gained for him fresh proofs of the
esteem and affection of the people
whose interests he has heart.
Never was there an Administration
so shameleSsly attacked and misrepre-
scented and against which all the bat
teries of SANDER and falSehoOd were so
industriously piled. But the cowardly
methods of warfare employed by the
enemy have had a boomerang effect,
and the demoraliZed host that so long
ruled the country in the insolence of
unbridled power, and could not at first
be brought to realize that the people
had driven them forever from the po-
sitions they had abused, are now look
ing around in pitiable perpleXiLy for
an issue. The time for search is be-
coming uncomfortably short. The
country is prospecting under Demo-
cratic rule; abuses have disappeared
from the offices of the Government;
economy has succeeded extravaganza
and peculation, and confidence
has been re-established in the
business world The elections
this fall will have an important bear
ing upon the control of the Senate dur
ing the latter half of President Cleve-
lands Administration. Twenty-Five
Democrats and twenty-sIx Republicans
hold over from the present Congress,
and of the vacant seats the Democrats
are certain of nine and the Republic
ans of the same number. The doubt
full Legislatures on which will depend
the political complexion of the next
Senate are those of New York, New
Jersey, Connecticut, Indiana, Michi-
gan, California and Nevada. The
Democrats need five of these to have a
majority in the Senate. They have
good chance of carrying New York,
New Jersey, Indiana, Michigan and
Connecticut. The cause of the anxiety
of the Republicans for an issue is,
therefore, easily explained. The last
bulwark of Republicanism" is in great
danger OF being carried away, this fall,
by the party which has earned the con-
fidence and support of the people,
AlbdRy ArQuS