Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-16
n the direction of reform. Itwould seem to

in the direction of reform. Itwould seem to
have been political wit on the part of the
Democratic managers in New York City to
have accepted this movement and TO have
joined iu the election OF MAI Who had al
ways been Democrat. but whose character
and services were so high that good men de-
manded generally that he -hould be retained
in the public service. But, as have said. =.
long before this the Democratic leaders had
found that in the practical management of
politics they were in the saddle. and the NOM
mating conventions of the two branches OF
the New York Democracy joined in rejecting
Mr.. Nieoli AMI is setting up a. his opponent
an old-fashionel. worn. bruised. anil battered
New York City politician, whose personal
character vas not high, and who has been
crony vi aid bene feiary at the hands OF
Tweed in the worst DAYS of New York Citys
corruptions.
The business men of New York. the indie
pendents, the Reformers. aud Republicans
generally accepted the issue, and contest
almost unequaled in intensity and bitterness
ensued. Here, Senators. vas the opportunity
for the President no, only TO say but TO do
something for reform. If, in accordance
with his declarations in favor of non-inter-
ference of Federal office holders, in
elections he had. including himself as the
head of all Federal official life, determined to
keep aloof from the contest, he still might in
maI<aways have breathed expressions Civ
ing aid and comfort to the men in New \ ork
City who were lighting against thieves and
robbers and bribe-takers aud bribe-givers iii
the interest of good government. All of
the -o-callei reform element in New York
CITY that had hitherto adhered To the Presi-
dent looked to nm for some such expression.
How bitterly were they disappointed. The
President was now completely in the hands
of the party leaders in New York. whose
stern rule had always been 10 support regu-
lar nominations and to shoot down boilers
and deserters.
While the contest was at its thickest, ami
men eyeryw here throughout the country
turned their eyes expectantly upon the result
and when the battle had become one of na-
tonal importance. and when the issues were,
seemingly. well nigh evenly balanced, great
Tammany Hall ratification meeting was held
in the interest of Mr. Fellows, the Tammany
Hall and County Democratic candidate for
| district attorney in opposition 10 Mr. Nicoil.
have before me full report of the proceed
ings of this meeting and of the parties who
participated therein. Their names have not
| DttU Iuuil upJlt tAit iAshe Va tt'iA 'Ni-
vice reform association heretofore made
known to the public. General John Coch-
rane called the meeting to order. Congress
man S. ). Cox presided. State Senator
Raines, of Monroe was followed by the can
didate, Colonel Fellows, and Hon. Charles
A. Dana, editor of The sun. Speeches were
also made by George Blair and Congressman
william McAdoo, of New Jersey. The fol-
lowing letter was read:
| 1t will be impossible for to comply with your
courteous invitation to meet with those who propose
10 ratfy tomorrow evening the nomination OF t!e
united Democracy. with a hearty wish that every
candidate an your excellent ticket may be trinn-
phantly elected, am yours, very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
The report of the meeting further says
that Governor Hill wrote that previous en-
gagement prevented his attendance, and said
a good word for the Democratic State and
| local tickets. and that William NJ. Springer,
of Illinois, teIegraphcd to Col Fellows that
he hoped he would be elected, as did also
| Senator German, of Mary land.
! The "Reformers, Mr. President, were
out in great force that night. The extent of
| the Presidents contribution in money to the
election of the New York ticket | am not
aware Of 1t has been stated to have been in
the form of IA check for 81 900, and have
never seen the statement denied
OF this attitude of the President Mr.. Carl
Schurz said, only few lays later
What malignant enemy of President Cleveland
was ii that induced Mr. copper
He referred to Mayor Cooper, the old
mayor
TO from him that most unfortunate letter in
termeddling in New ork city politics on the side of
the typical dead beat" candidate for AN office
which is the guardian of the public honor? II the
President had had true friend III your councils that
friend would have strained every nerve to confirm
his Discrimination to descend from the high dignity
of hi- Office; TINT friend would not have failed to
remind him of lSe1, when the meddling of the ma-
tiouA administration with New York State politics
resulted in The most sweeping opposition victory ON
record that friend would have struggled TO the bit
ter end against the publication Of the Presidents
letter after the new revelations concerning Mr.. Eel
luwss career, in ignorance of which, have no
doubt. that letter written. and after lea ming
which trust he would wish it never had been
written.
| shall 4ay nothing in cNtruaion of the fact that
the President permitted himself to be so misu>ed
But certain it is that the bitctrst enemies of the
President and the Democratic party could not have
dealt them more vicious blow. For more than
thirty wears have been an attentive observer of
political events, and never, never have witnessed
more wuut0n reckessncSs of party leaders, sasritc
ing the interests and good name of great munich
pality, the character of national admiuiS ration,
well a. the interests OF thcii party and cause, to
their laundering folly or their small >ctiishne-s.
~ SCI III It-t III vi fNtliuiL tHt
question which he raises as to the Presidents
interference being deliberate and determined.
read the following letter, which likewise
appeared and was used in this remarkable
campaign:
NEW loRK, November 4.
tx Mayor Edward Cooper has received the follow
ing letter from President Cleveland
"EXECrTIVE MANSION
WASHINGToN November =, lsS7.
q I'M | 10 nat III hI
clippings YOU send and now before me amount to
enough to even raise doubt concerning desire
local tickets in the coming election. You know that
am very much inclined TO abstain from any inter,
ference with New York city campaigns, fully beliey
ing the people of that city to be quite competent to
manage their atAirs. Ii surely ought not to be con
sdered any Interference however, when say in
replA to your letter that the newspaper extracts
Nnich Won inclose totally misrepresent wishes
and hopes in regard 10 the fate of YOUR Democratic
local ticket shall be very much pleased to il
entirely successful know nothing which, if
were voter in New York, would prevent nv sup
polt of Mr. tellows's candidacy without the least
misgiyines 10 his fitness and with considerable
personal satisfaction. Please present my congratu
lations 10 Nj Hewitt upon his excellent letter pub
lished this morning.
"iouts. yer, truly,
"GRovER CLEVELAND.
"HoN. EDWARD COOPER"
In Massachusetts, where removals from
office, though numerous and covering nearly
all the important appointments, were not
sweeping as in other States, dissatisfaction
existed in the Democratic party, which plain
ly manifested itself in the State convention.
The Presidents appointments were criticised,
the retention of few Republicans in office
was denounced. the platform was made to
suit the spoilsmen, and instead of renominat-
ing Mr.. Andrew. who had to some extent
represented the reformers. in heading the
Democratic ticket last year ex-Congressman
Lowering was set up in his place, and the
convention adjourned with howl against re-
form and with the avowed purpose of getting
along without and snubbing the reformers.
So plain was the purpose and the bias of the
Democratic party in the State that hundreds
perhaps thousands, of the so-called indepen-
dents who had voted the Democratic ticket in
the last Presidential election determined to
withhold their votes from Mr. Lowering, and
in the end many of those votes were cast for
Governor Ames, his competitor.
The President did not fail here to add to
the discontinue of his Independent allies.
When Collector Saltonstsll who visited
Washington a few days previous TO the cleo