Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-17
Grover CIeyeland's DeGeat.

Grover Cleveland's Defeat.
Louisville Courier-Journal
When in the early days OF 1887 the
Cour'er-J0tTnat 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 by the assurance that the |
denomination 81 the president was inev-
liable and inspired by the truest desire
for his reelection. In the light of the
returns from the state OF New York all
tnat was said by us at that time reads
today ike prophecy. Mr.. Cleveland
goes down among his own people because
OF the friends he chilled into ind ifference
or converted into enemies partly through
overconfldence in the star of his destiny
and partly through the lack of those
amenities which go so far to make men
strJng or weak on occasions of emer-
ssseucy When the trial came there was
aiiteraiiy no one among the professional
polltcians to make the presidents fight
his hight; no one among the great capt.
talists TO advance considerable sums of
money; no one among the leaders in
preu oy the sublime energy of personal
NeVotlon, and no enthusiasm among the
masses other than that brought out by
Tue cold issue of tax reform or started
spssmodically by the figure OF the ..Oid
Roman" fitting through the confusion
and tumult of the FRAY.
10 all approaches for help, which the
president thought he had no right to give.
MS one answer was that this was NOT the
ADMINISTRATION bat the peoples battle.
nheh ne was ssked directly from nation
al democratic headquarters whether he
"tsSOr US or against US he smiled pleas
sn'iy and considered that which was only
half Jest, as an attribute to his integrity
as indeed il was though at the expense Of
his wisdom 1t Is true 10 say of him that he
did not raise his hand to help himself from
The beginning to the end OF the campaign;
tbs he did not encourage anybody else
T. heip him, and that in many cases he
dld not permit his official subordinates
TO help him This was magnificent but
1t Was not politics Undoubtedly it and
all that had preceded it made the differ
ence 10 the vote Of he State of New
York. Ii cost us and him the loss of it.
bul to turn from the personal TO the
political aspects of the contest. The
only states in the north which we carry
are the manufacturing states of Connect
cut md New jersey. where the tariff
Issue W. expected to cut the most figure,
where's he republicans make gains in all
the agricultural states of the northwest,
which are plasterad over with eastern
mortgages and compelled BY the tariff to
pay protection prices for whatever they
have TO buy. though getting free trade
prices for whatever they have 70 sell.
This snomnlOus outcome would be in
applicable if he tariff issue were alone
involved. But it was complicated BY the
sectional issue and the old soldier issue,
appealing to the ignorance and cupidity
of organized masses of the people
Moreover. revenue reform was denied its
full representation on account of the
democratic lack of the needfnl munitions
OF War. We were pocr in purse and
poor in leaders. We had not the re-
sources to stretch out along the whole
line. We bad to concentrate on New
York and Indiana. In consequence such
states as Illinois. Wisconsin, Iowa, Mich
igan and Minnesota were left to take care
of themselves MS 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 vet over.
1t is discouraging as it is useless to re-
n he nj pf hn
republican campaign. In argument and
oratOry it was weak enough. But in the
solid and working machineries of party
organization, in material resources, and
in veteran skill it was admirable All
its accidents made for the democrats
All its signs and portents presaged dem.
ocratic victory. But at the right time anC
in the right quarter, the money devil, 81
efficiently served by the genius, and Sc
wildly tvpifed in the person of thai
prince among the robter barons, Sen
ator Matthew Stanley QUAY, fxeC
and pointed his heaviest guns and Their,
was no resisting the volleys Of bood
they belChCd forth This is the mos
ominous feature of this political situa
ton. II intimates that we have reached
period 10 our career as 8 nation whe
corrupt engineries are more than matcl
for public opinion unsupported by tn
like appliances.
Governor Hill says well that Presden
Cleveland deserved better of the people
He did, indeed An hOnestcr, brave
man never occupied the White house, no
yet one who rendered the country great
party leadership was denied him. Til
gifts of magnetism and grace were nc
given him by the fairy that bent over hi
cradle in the hour of his birth. But 10y
atty, courage, integrity, devotion to dut,
rugged, self-reliant spirit, and sterI
unhsgging faith in truth were his, and |
surely can afford to step down and OF
with the sense that, however failingly b
was true to his convictions and made r
concessions 10 party claims or selfish il
terests of anv kind.
He may not carry with him into his r,
tirement many plaudits but no one VII
has ever encountered him will refuse hi
the respect which his conscientious an
fearless discharge of public obligation
challenges of all men, friend and fc
alike. Let us hope that In his own goo
time God will raise us II leader adequa
TO the needs OF the conflict as irrepress
bic snd aspne' sided as was that betwee
freedom and slavar7, free labor and slav
labor, and that, raising such leader,
will point out the way to the ultima
triumph of the masses over the classes
in the pouring down upon the heads
the just and the unjust, even as the dev
of heaven, equally the blessings and tt
burdens of government. THIS is the isst
OF issues. That Is the leaveD withou
which there can be nothing sweet
wholesome in our system of boosted d
mOcracy. That aud that alone will col
stitute the diviiing line of parties until
Is settled on the sldt of the people, or u
nj parties cease to represent the peop
and exist only to record the will of Il
plutocrscy.