Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-29
THE SOLDIERS VICTORY.
a Great Triumph for the Boys Who Wor
the Blue in 1SSl-65.

a Great Triumph for the Boys Who Wore
the Blue in 1SS1-65.
The exciting political struggle is at
last over, and victory perches on the
banners of their veterans.
They have vetoed the great vetoer
everywhere. From Maine to Cali
fornia, from the Lakes to the Ohio, they
moved against him and his in solid
columns, and routed him and them
everywhere.
The victory is decisive and complete.
1t is a Waterloo for Mr. Cleveland,
Colonel Matson and soldier-haters gen.
orally. They have been struck a
Knockout blow.
Cleveland entered the contest with
high confidence. He had, from his
point of view, abundant reason for
this. Money without stint was at his
command; he had the most powerful
machine" under his control that the
country ever saw. With the South so Sc
curely solid that there was no need of
any exertion in that section, he could
inc efatigable workers from 1t to re-
inforce the well-organized cohorts al
ready there. He had powerful news
papers in all the Northern States. A
strong majority of the papers in New
York were on the side of free trade.
This gave him a confidence which
led him and his friends to stoutly
claim California, Nevada. Colorado,
Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Mich
igan, New York, New Jersey and Con-
necticut. Sometimes they even claimed
Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas and
Nebraska. He claimed the most of
these even up to midnight of the day
of election, but every one has been
carried against him except New Jer-
sey and Connecticut, where the Pro-
hibition vote saved these States to
him.
The credit for his defeat is unques-
tionably due to the veterans. They
presented solid front against which
he could not break, and which proved
decisive in the closer States. The
time had come for them to express
their disapproval of him and his
course, and they did it most emphat-
ically. They forgot party affiliations
in resenting hostility to them and their
comrades. Had they divided as they
did when he was first elected his re-
election would have been assured.
Nor has their work stopped with the
defeat of their principal enemy. They
have defeated Colonel Matson in In
diana, and elected in his stead that
splendid friend of the soldiers. General
A. P. Hovey. Thus is Matson's treach-
cry properly punished.
They have also expressed their dis
approval Of the course Of the present
Congress in failing to pass the desired
pension legislation, by taking the con-
troll away from the party which is now
dominant in the House of Representa-
tives and giving it to the Republicans.
The pledged friends of the soldiers
will be in strong majority in both
Houses of next Congress. which with a
President elected when the pension
issue was made so prominent feature
Of the campaign, makes the outlook
for veterans rights very bright. Pos
sibly the decisive rebuke administered
at the polls may spur Mr.. Cleveland
and the present Congress into doing
something to make amends in the few
IL
life. II they do not. the next Presi-
dent and Congress will certainly re-
spond heartily to the wishes of the
men who saved the country.
Truly, it has been great day for the
veterans.-National Tribune CO. 4. RI