Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-11
WINDY WATTERS0N.
The Kentucky Editor Thinks He Knows
Why Cleveland was Defeated.

LOCiSf LILLE, NOV. lO--hT. W dcUeTsOu
says in the course of lengthy leading
editorial, entitled, Before and After" in
the COurier-Journal this morning:
When, in the earlier days of 1887 the
CourierJournal undertook to sound the
alarm, and TO warn the administration of
the dangers which its want of sympathy
with the Democratic party was invoking
we were filed with the assurance that the
denomination of the president was inevit-
able and inspired by the truest desire
for his reelection. IN the light of the
returns from the state of New York,
all that was said by us at that time reads
Coday like prophecy. Mr.. Cleveland goes
down among his own people because OF
the friends he chilled into Indifference or
converted into enemies, partly through
over confidence in the star OF his destiny
and partly through the lack of those
amenities which go so far to make men
strong, or weak, on occasions of emer-
gency. When the trial came there was lit
orally no one among the professional poll
ticians 10 make the presidents fight his
fight; no one among the great capitalists
to advance considerable sums OF money; no
one among the leaders Inspired by the sub
lime energy of personal devotion aud no en-
thusiasm among the MASSES, other than that
brought out by the cold issue of tax re-
form, or started spasmodicaliy by the fig
through the confusion and tumult Of the
fray
To all approaches for help, which the
president thought he had no right to give.
his one answer was that this was not the
Administrations but the peoples battle.
When he was asked direct from national
Democratic headquarters whether he was
for us or against us he smiled pleasantly,
and considered that which was only half
Jest as all tribute TO his integrity. As
indeed it was. though at the expense of
his wisdom IL is true to say OF him that
he did not raise a hand to help himself
from the beginning TO the end of the cam
paign; that be did not encourage anybody
ese to help him. and that in many cases he
did not permit his official subordinates to
help him. This was magnificent, but it
was not politics. Undoubtedly it, and all
that had preceded it, made the difference
in the vote of the state Of New York. 1t
cost us, and cost him, the loss of It.
But to turn from the personal to the
political aspects of the contest. the
only states in the north which we
necticut and New Jersey, where the tariff
issue was expected to cut the most figure.
whereas, the Republicans make gains in
all the agricultural states of the north
west, which are plastered over with
eastern mortgages, and compelled by the
tariff TO pay protection prices for what
ever they have TO buy though getting free
trade prices for whatever they have to
sell.
This anomalous outcome would be in
explicable ii the tariff issue were alone in
volved. But it was complicated by the
sectional issue and the old issue, appeal
ing TO the ignorance and cupidity of
organized masses of people. Moreover,
revenue reform was,denied its full repre-
arNr gr ion gs.N or In -
lack OF the needful munitions OF war. We
were poor in purse and poor in leaders
We had not the resources to stretch out
along the whole line. We had 10 concen-
trate on New York and Indiana. Ia con-
sequence. such states as Iowa, Wisconsin,
Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota Were left
TO take care of themselves as best they
might, and, thus abandoned, their brave
Democracy sank beneath an overwhelming
array of money and men thrown in from
without by the Republican managers. In
the northwest, we fear, the war IS not yet
over
1t is as discouraging as it is useless to
recur TO the general plan and tenor of the
Republican campaign. In argument and
oratory it was weak enough. But in the
solid and working machinesies OF party or
gapizatiou. in material resources and in
skill. il was admirable All its &C
cidents made for the Democrats. All its
81 gnS and portents presagsd Democratic
victory. But 81 the right time and in the
r Eht quarter the money devil so Efficient
~ served by the genius and so wildly typ
flied in the person of that prince |
among the barroas. Senator Mat
thew Stanley Quay fixed and
pointed his heaviest guns, and there was
no resisting the volieys of Doodle they |
belched forth. This is the most ominous |
feature of the political situation. Ii init |
"a as hot. d
career a. nation when corrupt eugineries |
are more than . match for public opinion |
unsupported by the Ike appliances.
Governor Hill says that President ClevS
land deserved better of the people. He did. l
indeed. An honester. Drawer man never |
occupied the white house: nor yet |
one who rendered the country greater. I
purer service. The kinghood OF party /
leadership was denied him. The gifts I'll |
and grace were not given him |