Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-05-17
Eight INDICTMENTS.
What Triumphant Democracy" Has Ac-
compiished in Three Years.

compiished in Three Years.
The other evening that Bourbonic
"Reminiscences of the days of General
jackson called the lroquois Club, of
Chicago. gave its annual feed and
drunk, and, of course. wound up the
ORGY by speech-making while the
champagne was freely passing around.
This annual gathering of the men who
furnish brains for the Democratic party
of Illinois. and pretend to possess what
little character remains to that politi-
cal organization, would be in no sense
remarkable were it not that 4 man of
eloquence and some pretense to culture
was called out to respond to the senti-
ment of the Triumphant Democracy"
This man was General Black, a gentle
ERE who achieved good reputation
as a volunteer officer during the war
of the rebellion, and has since been
recognized as a man of reasonably
good instincts, until he allowed him
self to be placed in such intimate per-
sonal and political relations with
Grover Cleveland that his good quail
ties have become tainted by the asso-
citation.
In addressing himself to the subject
of Triumphant Democracy he took
occasion to belle his political oppo-
nents and publicly SANDER the institu-
tons of his country, but he forgot to
enumerate what particular things the
Democracy was triumphant in. Let
the Tribune assist him by supplying.
briefly, some of his omissions:
l. 1t is triumphant in restoring the control of
the destinies OF the Republic to the men who
for four years struggled TO destroy the Union.
=. 1t is triumphant in multiplying the National
constitution by depriving the representatives
of race from participating in the rights OF
free men through an ulfettered ballot
3. 1t has been especially triumphant in dis
franchising six hundred thousand American
citizens in Dakota because they have the
sturdy manhood and righteous common sense
to vote the Republican ticket.
f. 1t has been triumphant in defending the
ballot-box suffers and taliy-sheet forgers OF
Indiana and Ohio, though it has not been sue
cessful in preventing some of them from land
ing in the penitentiary.
3. 1t has been triumphant in negotiating a
treaty with Great Britain which will, if in
dorsed by the Senate, bankrupt the sturdy
American fishermen of the Atlantic coast.
6. 1t has triumphantly drawn from tax-rid-
den people SIS L0J0010 of currency, and thus
congested the vaults OF the National Treasury,
while the arteries OF commerce throb feebly,
threatening paralysis to the industries OF the
Nation.
Z. 1t has reduced the efficient mail service of
four years ago to the condition or the merest
mad Cit-=l-C Car
form phrase to be laughed at.
8. 1t has, in the department presided over by
General Black himself, interposed delays in
the payment of tensions, and formulated new
and unheard OF rules for their adjustment until
the comrades OF this recreant soldier Of the
Union, their widows and orphans. have became
the charity-pensioners of the town and county
and 4 burden upon the common pauper-funds
of almost every community in the land.
1t is not for the want of material,
but lack of space only which precludes
the indefinite extension of this indict-
ment The Union soldiers, carrying
honorable marks of Rebel bullets upon
their persons, will not be proud of this
eloquent Iroquois orator and hired de-
fender of the Cleveland Administra-
ton. 1t is pitiful to see good soldier
SO recreant to the noble cause for
which he shed his blood as to become
the champion and mouth-piece of the
principles against which his young
manhood warred. General Black
holds what the world calls position,
but pays more than it is worth by be-
coming the attorney of a modern mon
prel Democracy. -MinnenDOIis Tribune.