The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-11-17
.sBETORE AND AFTER"
Views OF Mr.. Henry Wattcrson on
ClcVcland's Defeat.

Views OF Mr.. Henry wattcrson o,
Clcvcland's Defeat.
ICourier-Journal.l
When in the early days of 1887, the
Courier Journal undertook to sound
the alarm, and to warn the admins
tratiou ot the dangers which its want
of sympathy with the Democratic
party was invoking, we were filled by
the assurance that the re-nominatiOn
of the President was inevitable and in
spired by the truest desire for his re.
election. In the tight of the returns
from the State of New York, alt that
was said by US at that time reads to-day
like prophecy. Mr.. Cleveland goes
down among his own people because
Of the friends he chilled into indiffer
ence, or converted into enemies, partly
through overconfsience in the star of
his destiny and partly through the
tack Of those amenities which 90 SO far
to make men strong or weak on uc-
casions of emergency.
When the trial came there was little
rsllyiDg done among the professional
politicians to make the Presidents
deht his dght, among the great Capita
lists to advance considerable sums OF
money, no one among the leaders was
inspired by the sublime energy of per
sonal devotion, and there WAS no en-
thusiasm among the masses other than
that brought out by the cold issue of
tax reform, or started spasmodically
by the figure of the Old Roman fash
log dtfaliy through the confusion aud
tulnuit Of the fray.
To ali approaches for help which the
give, his one answer was that this was
not the administration's, but the peo..
plea battle. When he was asked
directly from the national Democratic
headquarters whether he was for us or
against as, he smiled pleasantly aud
considered that which was only half
jest, as all tribute to his integrity. As
indeed 1t was, though at the expense
Of his wisdom. It 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 he did not co.
courage anybody else 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 aud him the loss of it.
But to turn from the personal aspects
Of the contest, the only States in the
North which we carry are the manu-
featuring States of Connecticut and
New Jersey, where the tarin issue WAS
expected TO cut the most figure,
whereas the Republicans make gains
Ia all the agricultural States OF the
Northwest, which are pastered over
with Eastern mortgages aud compelled
BY the tariff to pay protection prices
for whatever they have to buy, though
getting free trade prices for whatever
they have to sell.
This anomalous outcome would be-
inex xplicable II the tariff issue were
alone Involved. But It was compiica-
ted by the sectional issue and the old
soldier issue, appealing to the Ignorance
and cupidity Of organized masses of the
people. Moreover, revenue reform
account OF the Democratic lack OF the
ueedfui munitions of war. We were
poor In purse and poor in resources.
We had not the resources to stretch
along the whole line. We had to con-
csntrate on New York and Indiana.
Consequently, snch States as Iowa,
Wisconsin,, Illinois, Michigan aud
Minnesota were left to take care Of
themselves as best they might, and,
thus Abandoned, their brave Demo-
cracy sank beneath an overwhelming
array of money and men that came In
from the Republican managers. In
the Northwest, we fear, the war Is not
yet over.
It Is as dtscouraging as it is useless
to recur to the general plan and tenets
Of the Republican campaign. In argu-
ment 1t was weak enough. But in the
solid aud working machinery of Or
in material resources and
In skill, 1t was admirable. All lis ac-
cidents made them successful. All
signs preeaged a Democratic victory,
but at the right tune, and in the right
quarter, the Money Devil, 80 efficiently
served by the genius and servility
typided In tho person OF that prince
among the robber barons, Senator
Matthew Stanley Quay fixed and
pointed his heaviest guns, and there
was no resisting the bolts of DOODLE
they belched forth. This is the most
ominous feature Of the political situa>
tiou. 1t indicates that we have reach
ed q period in our history as nation
when corrupt engineers are more Than
a match for public opinion, uusupport-
cd bv the like applianees