The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-10
A LITTLE LATE.
Henry Watterson at Last Talks About
Mr. Cleveland's Defeat.

After" in the Co,Tier.Jomnal tomorrow
morning:
"When. in the early days OF 1887 the
| C0uricr-,Jo,Tndl 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 of the President was newt
able, and inspired by the truest desire for
his reelection, in the lightof the returns
| from the State Of New York all that was
said by us at that time reads today like
prophecy. Mr.. Cleveland goes down
among his own people because Of the
friends he chilled into indifference or con-
verted 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 emergency. When the
| trial came, there was literally no one
| among the professional politicians TO make
the Presidents fight his fight; no one
| among the great capitalists 10 advance con-
siderable sums Of money; no one among
| the leaders inspired by the sublime en-
L
siasm among the masses other than that
brought out by the cold issue of tax re-
form, or started systematically by the fig
ure Of the old Roman, flashing fitfully
through the confusion and tumult OF the
fray.
"To all approaches for help, which the
| President thought lac had no right TO give,
his one answer was that this was not the
| Administration but the peoples battle.
| When he was asked directly from national
| Democratic headquarters whether he was
| for us or against us, he smiled pleasantly
and considered that which was only half
a Jest as all tribute to his integrity.
As indeed ii was, though at the expense
| OF his wisdom. IL is true to say OF
him that he did not raise his hand TO help
| himself from the beginning TO the end OF
the campaign; that lac did not encourage
| anybody else TO help him and that, in
many cases, he did not permit his official
| subordinates TO help him. This was mag
niiccnt, but II was not politics. UndOubt-
eddy It, and all that had preceded it, made
the difference in the vote OF the State Of
New York. Ii cost him and US the loss
OF it,
"But, 20 turn from the personal 10 the
political aspects OF the contest, the only
States in the North which we carry are
the manufacturing States Of Connecticut
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 plastercd over with East
crn mortgages, and compelled by the tariff
to pay protection prices Tor whatever they
have TO buy, though getting free trade
| L. Al 80. oil
"This anomalous outcome would be in
explicable II the tariff issue was alone in.
yuiyed. But IL was complicated by the
sectional issue aud the old soldier issue
appealing TO the Ignorance and cupidily Of
organized masses Of the people. Moreover,
revenue reform was denied lis full repre-
sentatOn on accounted the Democratic lack
Of the neediul munitions OF war.
We were poor IN puPc and poor
In leaders We had not tho re.
sources TO stretch out along the whole
line We had 10 concentrate on New
York aud Indiana. In consequence such
States rs Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michi.
gan and Minnesota were left 10 take care
OF themselves Ms best they might, and,
thus abandoned, their brave Democracy
sank beneath an overwhelming array Of
money andm thrown IN from without by
the Republican managers. In the North
west, We fear. the war Is not yet over.
at is rs discoumging as 1t Is useless TO
rccur 30 the general plan and tenor Of the
Republican campaign. In Argument aud
ofaiory Il was weak enough. hut In the
solid and working machinercs Of party
organization, In material resources and in
veteran skill Il was admirable. All its
accidents made Tor the Democrats.
Al is signs and poHents prcslgyd
y Democratic victory. But at the right
time and in the right quarter, the money
devil, 30 efficiently served 10y the genius
and 10 wildly typiiied In TIE person Of
that prince among tho rubbcr bar0ns, SEN
ator Matthew Stanley Quay, fixed and
pointed his heaviest guns, aud there was
no resisting the vollcys oi Doodle they
bclchrd forth. This h the most ominons
icaigrU Of tie political situation. II init.
mates that We have reached period in our
career ~ a nation when corrupt enginries
are morr than match for public opinion
unsupported by the like appliances.
Gov Hill says well that President
Cleveland deserved better Of the people.
lie did indeed. An honcstcr or drawer
man never occupied the White House, and
yet one who rendered the country greater,
purcr service. The kinghood Of party
leadership was denied him. The gifts Of
magnetism and grace were not given him
by the fairy that bent over his cradle In
the hour II his birth. Bul loyalty, cour-
age, integrity, devotion TO duty. a rugged,
sell.rcliant spirit aud stern, unhag-
ging faith In truth were his. and he
surely can allord 10 step down aud out
with the sense that, however iailingly, he
was true o. h.s convictions aud made no
concc eious 81 party claims or selfish ia.
forests OF any kind. lie may not carry
with him into his retirement many
plaudits. but no one who has over encoun.
tered him will refuse him the respect
which his conscientious aud fearless dis.
charge OF public obligations challenges Of
all mon, friend and Toe alike.
"Iet us hope that In Ills own good time,
God will raise NJ leader adequate TO the
needs OF a conflict, ~ irrcprcssible and
m one sided as was that between
freedom and slavery, free labor and
slave labor, and that raising such
a leader, lie Wilt point out the way
10 the ultimate triumph Ut the masses over
the classes, in the pouring down upon the
heads OF the Just and the unjust even "a
the dcws Of heaven, equally tho bless.
ings and the burdens Of government.
That Is the issue OF issucA That
h the lcaycn without which there
can he nothing sweet ~ wholesome In our
system Of boasicd democracy. That. and
that alone. will constitute the dividing
line Of parties until il Is settled ON the side
OF the people, or until parties cease 10
represent the people aud exist only TO
record the will Of the pluiocraey.