The Indiana State sentinel., 1888-06-13
A SPLENDID CONVENTION.
THE HIGH COURT OF DEMOCRACY.
Review of the Weeks Work at 81. Louis
Why Cleveland Was Unanimously Re-
nominated-The Vice-Presidency and
Indiana's Observation-Disclosures.

ST. LOUIS, June 7.---[Special. 1.-The
! great convention is over, and the partici-
pants are leaving the city tonight for
their respective homes we'll satisfied with
their work. They feel that they have full
! ly met the wishes and expectations OF the
| democratic masses of the country, and
that they have given the party platform
and ticket with which it is certain to
win "hands down" in November, what
ever the republicans may say or do at Chi
cago. Whatever may be charged by the
| opposition press the convention was
thoroughly representative body-one OF
! the most so that has ever been held by any
party in this country-and remarkably
| free from the pressure of official power, or
the influence of class interests. There
were not very many men OF national repu-
tation in the convention, which is to say
| that there were not many senators or
members of congress or other public Off
cials of any class. 1t was mainly composed
of good, honest, working democrats, close
to and fresh from the people, whose action
was inspired by motives Of the purest and
most unselfsh patriotism, and whose
course reflected the sentiment of their
constituents. They were all for Grover
Cleveland's denomination, because ninety
nine out OF every hundred democrats in
the country were for it, and not because
theslightest pressure had been exercisedby
the administration in any quarter to bring
about that result. The enthusiasm which
greeted every mention of Clevelands
name was hearty and spontaneous, and
nothingcan be farther fromthe truth thanto
represent the demonstrations in his honor
as in any sense artificial or forced or
strained. Cleveland, as the first demo-
cratic president in quarter of a century,
has naturally made profound impression
upon his party, as he has upon the entire
country. He has made good president;
his administration has been free from
| scandals; he has fought the monopo-
lies and the trusts; he has had
the courage to do. unpopular things
when his sense of duty dictated such ac
ton, and, best of all, lie has by a single
brave and manly act brought great issue
squarely before the country and put his
party in the right relations to 1t. 1t
would be strange indeed, il, in view OF
these things, the president should not be
enormously popular with his party.
The greatest amount OF interest has
naturally attached ITO the action OF the
convention upon the tariff question. The
charge was freely made before the con-
vention assembled that the platform had
been prepared in the white-house, and
that "Bill' Scott woIild bring it out with
him and the convention. would adopt
it, whatever it might, ProYe to be. The
charge was a silly invention There was
no cut and dried platform, no rough draft
of one even, sent outTronil Washington.
The platform as it stands is the outcome
of protracted deliberation by a committee
consisting of one delegate from every
state and territory in the country. As
| telegraphed so long ago az last Monday
evening certain Eastern politicians, among
them Senator German of Maryland, Ed
ward Cooper of New York and ex- Gov.
| Albeit of New Jersey, laid their plans
very carefully to capture this committee.
! They managed by some clever work
to get several men OF protectionist tend
encies on the committee as representa-
| tives OF states whose delegations were
heartily for tariff reform. Mr.. John
O'Day, for instance OF Missouri, was
put upon the committee with the under
standing that he wasf all right on the
main question" But hexoted for Cor
man for the chairman&hip, and supported
the "straddle" policy In sheu euearly sessions
of the committee. Bhen his course came
to the knowledge OF the delegates from
NIistouri they were highly Indignant and
called him to account. He attempted to
justify his action,n but the delegation
would listen to no argument upon the
\ II,
requested his withdrawal from
the committee. had he not iintimated that
he would comply with its desires in the
further deliberations of the committee.
Two or three other members of the COM
mittee, who were found to be misrepre-
senting the views of their delegations,
were sharply disciplined, and given to
understand that unless they toed the
mark on the tariff issne, they would eX-
pose themselves to grave political conse-
duences. Notwithstanding all this, how
ever, it is not unlikely that majority of
the committee would have adopted an
evasive declaration but for the announced
determination OF Mr.. Watterson and the
other outspoken tariff reformerS to carry
the question before the convention.
The tariff trimmers knew that this
would result in their overwhelming de-
IedJ, anu SO IncN y1clUcQ Win Tie OOSJ
possible grace. 1t was a splendid victory
for the reformers and puts the democratic
party on advanced ground. 1t meets the
question of the day bravely, with decla-
ration that has noifs or ands or butts about
it. The meaning of the platform Is so
plain that "he who runs may read" The
wayfaring man, though fool, cannot
mistake it. The party has shown, through
its convention, the courage of its convic-
tions. 1t has responded nobly to the
brave and patriotic craftsmanship of the
president. 1t has staked its all on
principle. 1t has made manly appeal to
the intelligence and the conscience of the
country 1t has raised full high the stand
ard of revolt against monopoly, and has
proclaimed its undying hostility to trusts
and combinations. Live or die, sink or
swim, survive or perish" the democratic
party is for a reform OF the tariff.
AS to the varying phases OF the vice
presidential contest they have been accur-
ately presented in these dispatches. There
has never been a moment since the dele
gates reached st. Louis that any other
nomination than that of Mr.. Thurman
was possible. This has been clear to
every intelligent and practiced observer,
and TO none more so than the
managers of Gov. Gray's canvass, who,
however, maintained the fight persistent
ly and pluckily to the last and never once
were compelled to admit to themselves,