Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-06-21
POLITICAL FETiCHISM.
A Vivid Fen Picture of Grover Cleveland
and His Followers.

| The alleged election OF Grover Cleveland to
the Preside.cy in 1884 was the most astound-
ing phenomenon in American politics. and il is
| doubtful whether its parallel can be found in
| the history of any nation Obscure men, igno-
| rant men degraded zen, have been elevated
| TO power, but il has never before occurred that
| q man possessing every acknowledged disqual-
| ifcation has been selected because of them.
| and elevated from the lowest 10 the highest es-
| tate without ever having expressed recorded
opinion upon any pubic question 1t is not
| known that he ever made a polit cal speech.
| tried an important cause. was member OF any
| legislative body, wrote a remembered para
| graph or expressed al intelligent idea; and
| after three years OF administration his politi-
| cal views, IL he has any. are matter OF sur
mise, even TO his partisans. Il remains uncer-
| tain 10 this hour whether his FRED lections in
| the war for the Union were til the North or
! the South and except that he furnished a sub
/ stitute when conscripted whom he subse-
Queatly permitted 10 die in the house il
is certain that he sustained personal re-
la.ion, either in seatlmept or deed, 10 the
| most momentous controversy of modern
| times He has Terceptible connection
with the categcry o: accidents TO which his
| elevation IS due. He has neither personal fol-
! lowing, popularity. admiration nor respect be-
! cause he had exhibited none of the traits nor
! atta.nmelts that inspire regard. He was not
! eloquent, nor learned. nor cultivated. nor
! agreeable, nor enteria ming, nor attractive in
mind, manner or person. His enjoyments
were those which found in the unrestrained
indulgence OF the appeiites and passions, and
his chosen associates were the companions OF
his orgies
From this inert a-d vacant mass the trans
cendental SITS and Puar sees OF our POLITICS
have made unto themselves a craven image.
10 which they bow down and worship with ig o.
min Gus icolatry AMI ESTABLISHMENT. They
declare that he possesses The courage OF Jack
SON. though tie first threat of public exaspera-
ton, like that aroused by the battle-fiag order
drives h m to retractiCI, and 10 the imputati on
OF unpopular acts to the indisc-etioa OF sub
ordinates. His tedious platitudes are de-
scribed as wisdom, ard his dull self-compla-
cency as impeTturbable poise and resolution.
II wearisOme rrotestatIons of purity. and of
antagonism to tie corrupt and malignant in
1uences of his party associates, are announced
Us evidences Of Official integrity, which justify
b S assumptions or superior honesty, and war
rant him in perpetUa.ly lnpugning the motives
OF mankind. He regards as enemies all who
are unable 10 concur with his swollen estimate
of his superlative prominence, and manifests
resentment toward all opponents, whether in
his own party or elsewhere. Having cheated
the "recormers " and bullied the renegades IN
the North he truckles to his masters in the
South, acknowledges his hypocrisy, admits
his treachery, and, not disconnected by ex-
OF his plain avowal that he would not ask
for d denomination. Devoid alike of magma
ton and OF conscience, he appeals
neither TO the sentiment nor to the moral sense
of the people. Attention will not be diverted,
therefore from the real issue of the campaign
by considerations personal to Cleveland. He
will be nominated not as a leader but as a
fetich-a thing endowed by superstition and
ignorance with fictitious attributes. There will
hp g IN to
popular enthusiasm for an Executive who con-
fessedly reached the climax OF his great powers
in refusing to approve an appropriation for a
public building in q country town. and vetoing
with ghoulish glee two-dolar pension bill for
a mutilated and disabled Union veteran. Par
adoxical as 1t may appear. the Administration
of Cleveland has resulted in incs;Imable ad-
vantage to the people Of the United States. 1t
has furnished additional evidence, IL such were
necessary, OF their capacity for self-goyern-
ment. There is no longer occasion TO despair
OF the perpetuity OF the Republic
The Democracy were Entrusted with power
upon pledge of economy and reform in the
administration of the Government. Reform
implies that there is something which needs
reformation. and the electors have the right TO
inquire whether this pledge has been kept or
violated. II Will be one of the most important
issues Of the campaign, and the evidence is
conclusive and overwhelming that since the
less ana dissOlute prost tuition of the public
service TO personal and partisan uses as that
which has occurred under this new dIspcnsatioD
of purity, sweetness and light, which was sup
posed TO have uShered in the political N lien
mum. The degradation is complete Even the
pretense of virtue has been dropped, and the |
unhappy victims of the mock-marriage are
treated with uEfeeling derislon and neglect |
Every department Of the Government has been |
transformed Into party machine. =
One OF the most profound and pervading i'm.
pulses OF the American character is an intense !
pride IN citizenship and in the institutions ard
the honor of the Nation. The Democratic party !
will be called upon to render account of Its |
stewardship in dealing with foreign powers. 1t |
is an unparalleled record of sycophaucy and |
imbecility No one can read its annals without |
humiliation, shame and Indignation. The fiasco !
In Mexico, the surrender to England, the dis |
graceful exhibitions OF boorishness and Ignor |
ance ut other courts, from ! chapter OF igno-
miny that fit ngly supplements the pol cy of |
selecting as diplomatic representatives OF the |
Government those who had only signal Zed |
themselves by efforts for its destruction.
But the issue that exceeds all others in i'm |
portance is suffrage in the South. There are /
153 votes in the Electoral College assured to the
Democratic party without any other effort than
that required to write the certificates of cleo
ton. Forty-eight more in the North Will give /
preme Court VIII be reconstructed upon the |
basis of host lily to the constitutional amend
menis and the statutes of freedom. Not only
among the white politicians. but among the
white voters of the South, there is settled |
and avowed determination TO eliminate the
negro as an element in the political problem,
and to suppress h = vote. In the language OF
the Senator from louisiana, the negroes are
to be persuaded 20 abstain from voting,
There is no longer any disguise or conceal
meDt OF this purpose. They citizens en-
titled TO vote, and generally Republican in pol
tiles and in several States are the majority:
but the election machinery being in the hands
Of the Democracy. they are either excluded
from the polls or the votes are suppressed and
destroyed. The election in louisiana, April Il,
IS an illustration OF the methods employed.
The State is undoubtedly Republican, and War
moth was unquestionably the choice OF the ma
lority OF the electors The Governor publicly
pledged himself to an honest election. admit
ting that frauds had been committed IN the
past which should not be repeated RELYING
upon these assurances the Republicans organ
zed and entered upon the canvass. The Gov
srnor, becoming terrified at the prospect of de-
ea:, issued orders TO fabricate and manufact-
are Democratic majo-ities, and The result was
spurious major ty so astounding that the only
'eply Senator Eustis could make was: 1t is
lone of your business That is to say by the
suppression OF ma1orltle>, py Dallot-OoX stuf-
Ing, by forging certificates OF election. Pres
dent may be chosen. Senators and Repre-
elected, who are TO decide every
question affecting the tariff, the revenues the
our relations, foreign and domestic,
he taxes OF every citizen, and guide and con-
rol the destiny OF the Nation for the coming
century, and II is none OF our business, Ifsuch |
Methods are 10 prevail, then constitutional |
elf government is AZ an end upon this CONT
leEt. Dahomoy and Zuiuland are no worse
senator j. J. IAq0iLs. Il, North Americda Revielr