Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-09
WHAT WE KNOW NOW.
The Political Situation Four Years Ago
and at the Present Time.

a comparatively obscure man; now the
country knows him.
Four years ago Grover Cleveland
had mascot N the shape Of popular
| ignorance of his character; now he is
&" hoodoo" because the people have
gagged him accurately.
Four years ago Grover Cleveland
was rated as Civil-Service reformer;
now he has thrown off the mask and
parades boldly as spokesman
Four years ago Grover Cleveland
hypocritically declared that the eligi-
bility of the President for reelection
was a menace to good government;
now he stands as a second-term can
didate, who has unscrupulously used
patronage to secure denomination.
Four years ago the Republicans were
divided in their councils, and through
foolish chickering's lost the State of New
York, now they are acting in harmony,
and will carry the Empire State by a
large majority.
Four years ago the Democratic party
stood on Janus-faced protection plat
form; now they have boldly come out
for free trade.
Four years ago Sam Randall. prom
inent protectionist, was an hOnored
man in the Democratic party; now Hen
~ Watterson, a blatant free trader,
drafts the tariff plank of the party.
Four years ago Randall stumped
doubtful States, and told the working
men that the tariff was not an issue,
and that the Democrats were as
stanchly protectionist as the Republic
ans; now Mr.. Randall will probably let
the free traders manage their own fight.
-Four years ago the Democratic par
ty was unequivocally in favor of BIZ
metalism; now Henry Watterson. when
asked why the St. Louis platform is
silent on the subject, answers: Damn
silver"
Four years ago Grover Cleveland
pledged himself to give gold and silver
an equal show; now he is making a
bitter fight against the silver dollar.
Four years ago the Democrats prom
ised to reduce expenditures if they
gained control of the Government;
now the records show that the expent..-
itures have increased since 1884.
Four years ago, when there was less
than $500, 100000 in the Treasury,
Thomas Hendricks declared that 1t was
a perilous amount to carry, and prom
ised for his party to reduce the sur
plus; now there are fully 500. 600, 900
in the Treasury.
Four years ago the Democrats
shrieked: Examine the books and
discover Republican frauds;' now they
are silent, because the examination
has disclosed the fact that the Repub-
licans administered affairs honestly.
Four years ago the Democrats yelled:
Turn the rascals out;" now every
Federal Office that had no life tenure
attached to it is filed by a Democrat
and not one Republican has been prose-
cuted for fraud.
Four years ago the Democrats prom
ised to do away with political contribu-
tiOns from Federal holders; now
the Widow McGinnis' pig and other
contrivances exist to make the Office
holder come level.
-Four years ago under Republican ad-
ministration We had an efficient mail
service; now our post-ofhces, because
inadequately Differed, dump mail mat
ter into bays or burn il I'D.
Four years ago we had President
who did not convert his Office into an
engine to punish his enemies; now We
have President who vetoes a bill for
the construction of a public building
because the Congressman in whose dis
trict it was to be built dared to antag-
onize the Presidents views.
Four years ago no one knew what
views Cleveland entertained on so i'm
portant a question as the war for the
Union; now we know that he was
copperhead during that war.
Four years ago Union soldier could
vote for Cleveland without sacrificing
his self-respect, because the mans SEN
timents were unknown; now what
soldier so base as to vote for man who
selects deserving applicants for pen
sions as objects of mockery; who goes
fishing on Decoration Day, and whose
sycophantic instincts led him to make
the order restoring to the ex-Con-
federates the battle flags captured dur
ing the war?
-Four years ago a considerable num-
Der of voters who believe that a change
is good thing voted for Cleveland be-
cause the Republicans had been at the
head of the Government for twenty
three years; now these restless Great
upss will find their way back to the
Republican ranks, satisfied that their
experiment was a mistake.
Four years ago the fool-killer failed
to get around in time to put quietus
On the alliterative fiend; now all the
Republican donkeys are dead.
Four years ago Cleveland had not
basely surrendered the entire conten-
ton on the fisheries question to the
British; now he stands as the advocate
of a treaty which the Democratic Sem
ators, fearing criticism, voted solidly
not to discuss in public.
Four years ago Cleveland had not
consummated the extradition treaty,
which large number of Irish Demo-
Gratis charge was engineered by the
Anglomaniac Phelps to please the Brit
ish, and which contemplated the sur
render of political offenders to Great