The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-02-15
KENNA TAUGHT A LESSON.
West Virginia's Senator Runs Against
John Sherman and an Explo-
sion Follows
Kenna Learns for the First Tins that
the Democratic Party Originated
Land Grants

Young Mr.. Kenna of West Virginia, de-
spite his Senatorial honors, suffers consid-
erably from lack of fair brine seasoning,
and makes occasionally some pretty bad
breaks, says Washington special to the
Chicago Inter Ocean. He seems to get an
idea once in while that he has q mission,
and makes gigantic efforts to break down
men like Sherman, Allison, Edmunds, and
eternally ruin all their prospects in life and
annul all the results Of long lives of use
fulness by attacking their views on the tar
iff and kindred matters. He cruelty chose
Mr.. Sherman for victim the other day,
supposing that gentleman to be Presi-
dental candidate, and hoping to gain some
little advertisement from barking at an OBJ
ject of SO much importance. Mr.. Kenna
has been engaged ever since in collecting
the fragments of his dignity and self-re-
spect, and ruefully trying to stick them to-
gether. Mr.. Sherman made brief reply
to some of Mr.. Kennas state
ments especially touching land
grants. Mr.. Kenna had asserted that
all the great land grants to corporations
had been made BY the Republican party.
Sherman said: "Why, that is ridiculous.
The Democratic party began granting
lands to railroads long before the Republ-
can party came into power. Kenna fool
ishly challenged this statement and asked
Sherman to prove it. Sherman said:
"Why, the Democratic party made the first
grant of lands to the State of Illinois for
a well-known corporation. Your party
lodges behind the trust clause. That is
cowardly, for every one of you know now,
and knew then, that these lands were to
go directly to cooperation. Thomas A.
Hendricks and Reverdy Johnson. two of
the brightest lights Of your party, were the
strongest advocates of land grants the
country had. Hendricks arranged tue
whole Northern Pacific grant matters"
well, you can't name any other Demo-
Gratis that favored it," said Mr.. Kenna
weakly, and the galleries. out Of sheer
compassion, failed to laugh at the specta-
Gle. Following is synopsis of the Ohio
Senator's remarks
Mr.. Sherman congratulated his friend
from West Virginia on having proclaimed
the fact that the ranks OF the Democratic
party were closed, and that distinct issue
was 10 be presented to the people. That
part. had been in possession of power in
the House of Representatives for more
than ten years, and not single affirma-
tive proposition or measure as to the tariff
question bad been presented to the judg.
ment of the American people. If the
Democratic party had as Mr.. Kenna de-
clared, closed its ranks, and il there was
to be fair and manly contest between the
two parties on this great public question,
he would be delighted; but he did not be-
lieve that issue would be presented. Let
the Democratic ranks be closed. Let its
proposition TO reduce taxation he presented,
and the Republican party would be found
with its old ranks unbioken ready to ac-
cept the issue and let it go TO the people.
But for the Senator from West Virginia to
assail him for having expressed views ten
or twenty years ago which appeared to be
different from those he expressed to-day,
was rather small hole 10 creep out Of. I"
1t was true that since the tariff discuss ions