Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-31
NAP0LE0N'S IMITATOR.
No Longer Grover Cleveland But Ma
pOle0n B0naparte.
Hail Grover the First: Emperor by
Self Election
Chicago Evening journal.


President Cleveland intended TO trust his
chances for denomination and re-elec-
ton to his lucky stars and the Demo
cratic party. But it appeared as if these
agencies would fail him. Governor D. B.
Hill, of New York, and S. j. Randall, of
Pennsylvania, were looming up as pos
sible candidates against him. 1t became
evident that without an aggressive cam
paign there would be no hopes of unani-
nifty in his nomination, and his friends
knew that fight in the convention would
be certain to cast shadow on his pros
poets throughout the campaign. The
long headed Democratic politicians, see
ing this long before he did, urged him to
decisive action, making the question of
the tariff the main issue. The Washing
ton Post, the Democratic organ at the
National capital, spoke out emphatically
on the subject. 1t said:
'The Democratic party has now reached
point where it cannot afford to tolerate
infdelity to the Democratic creed. And
least of all things can it afford to have
the Democratic Administration feeding,
at the public crib, men who work in the
vineyard of the enemy. In plain terms,
it is time to have done with political
prudery and to let every so-called Demo-
cratic Representative understand that
support of this bill is the test by which
the Administration will try his Democracy
President Cleveland did not object when
Federal prestige was used to unhorse
Randall in Pennsylvania. Without the
aio of the Administration Mr.. Randall
could not have been deposed. Is Presi-
dent Cleveland too fastidious to let Mr.
McAdoc, of New Jersey, a close and
doubtful State, understand that a Demo-
cratic Administration will not find corn
for the oxen that ploughed the Republican
field? The same kind of fire that was
built behind Randall in PENNSYLVANIA
should be used in the cases of McAdoo,
Foran and any other so-called Democrat
who declines to go with his party in the
hour of Feed.
"Thete are emergencies in politics as
Ia war that try the mettle of commanders.
Mr.. Cleveland has done admirably in lay
ing out the campaign. Will he suffer a
repulse in the initial skirmish by reason
of expressive fastidiousness? Or will he
use the ample means in his power to in
sure victory?"
This was a meance to the President,
predicting defeat if he failed in the exer-
else of his power to the utmost stretch
for the purpose of forcing the schemes
of his Immediate supporters of the Dem
ocratic party and on the country. This
plain talk was followed by similar, but
still palmer, language from mug wnmp
free trade paper, the Philadelphia Rec
ord. which said:
at may be said, for the purpose of
stiffening the backbone of all the Demo
Gratis who are trying to do right at
critical moment in National affairs, that
if Grover Cleveland were the man And ew
Jackson was he would not only veto every
bill that would MAKE sore hearts in kick
ers of the Randall and Sowden stripe, but
he would use every Governmental bludge-
on, sandbag, brickbat, derrick and maui
that came to hand in his Office of plenary
power to teach gnat-soaIed soreheads
that they could only disgrace the party
at enormous personal inconvenience and
deep humiliation"
This brutal appeal to the aggressive
side of the Presidents temper soon bore
fruit. He was not slow in taking the
hint. A Washington dispatch in another
mugwump paper of a later date gave out
as follows;
"There is no longer any use in trying
to disguise the fact that the president of
the United States has entered upon the
exercise of his rights as citizen and is
taking an active interest in the prepare
tions his party is making for the next
campaign. He is using his influence not
only to bring aboUt the selection of his
own choice as candidates for President
and Vice President but he has prepared
the Democratic platform in his mind, and
is now instructing the leaders of his
party in the principles he wants adopted.
Although the President is entirely with
out political experience, and although he
was never the Chairman of political
committee in his life, nor a delegate to a
convention, he is one of the ablesJ and
shrewest politicians ever seen in Wash
ington, and that includes all who have
participate in the affairs of this broad
land. When he came to the White House
he first subdued his Cabinet, although it
was composed of men in the most part
of greater study and experience than he.
Next he subdued Congress, and pow
dominates both the Legislature and the
Executive branches of the Government"
The progress of events indicated by
this paragraph was simultaneous with the
advance of the President in reaching the
frame work of his plan of the campaign.
First came the the advice, reading like 6
threat, from the central Democratic Or
gan. Then came the mugwump organ,
instructing him in coarse language to use
force and violence against those who
should refuse to get on their knees before
him. Following this closely, in its order,
was hint from a mugwump source that
the President was moving, or had moved,
and was asserting his superiority to the
politicians, to his cabinet, and to Con-
gress. Now, lastly, comes proclama-
tion from the Washington Post, announc
ing the Napoleonic assumptions and tao
tics of the President. Read:
"When Napoleon the First concluded
to become Emperor of the French, he
crowned himself. It was an interesting
thronged with the greatest men and wo-
men in the world. There were Kings,
Queens, Princes, Generals, statesmen,
scholars galore, all assembled to grace
the triumph of the conqneror. First in
come to crown the Emperor.
When the critical moment arrived, how
ever, Napoleon took the imperial crown
and crowned himself. Pope Plus was
but spectator.
"a similar scene will occur in the city
of st. Louis on the Sth day OF June, in
this year of grace, 1888. Mr.. Grover
Cleveland has summoned National
Democratic Convention to nominate him
for the Presidency OF the United States
and $50 delegates will assemble to do his
bidding. But they will really have moth
ing to do. When the time comes to vote