Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1889-01-24

Mr. Cleveland came on the stage -four
years ago with iattering prospects. Al.
though Democrat, he was not responsi.
Die for h'S party'> bad record, and no one
was disposed to discount him on that aC.
count II was in his power, and his alone,
to redeem his party in a measure, and give
1t some color Of rcspectability if possible
and obtain from the country another lease
OF power The people to considerable
extent were not altogether satisfied with
the Republican party, aul were very well
prepared for such an innovation, for such
1t seemed to be His party saw this point,
and were all agreed from the fist to give
him all the rope he wanted, and allow him
not only to execute but dictate the party :
policy, No President ever had more free
dom. Had he proved sufficient for the oc-
ca>Ion and been reelected. h.. would have
deserved and received the homage Of tine
whole country. 1t was the one grand op-
poriunity for the Democratic party
tunity i, gone Was il possible for him to
have done better. Not as Democrat.
As matter OF fact, the general policy Of
the party j. Objectionable to the country.
1t is utterly unable to grasp the situation
as it exists to-day, and is not in sympathy
with the heart Of free, independent and
IL Ia
pose the Republican party, and seek to
gain strength and favor by maintaining =
continual warfare. While this is a mis-
take from which it has always suffered, it
would be unlike itself to correct the error
Another fatal error is the supposition that
the people are ignorant, and don't know
how to vote only a. they are told Great
things were expected from Judge Thur
mans Stumping tour, telling the people
that thu tariff Is tax on the hypothesis
that because he said it the people would
believe it. one might 20 on for hours
pointing out the different peculiarities of
the Democratic party, but 1t would only
prove what everybody knows, that the
party has not progressed an inch since
Jackson's time
Mr.. Cleveland might have withheld his
wayward pen from vetong that Depend
cnt Pension Bill. and saved his party, but
it would not have been Democratic YOU
know. The soldier element is power in
this country yet. and when aroused can
carry the election for either party. as
would be for its interest; not only the
veterans and their sons, who are equally
numerous perhaps, but still greater class
of orr citizens. who stand as near the
soldier in sympathy to-day a. in the dark
days Of the war Another opportunity for
the President to show himself worthy Of
his exalted position, was in the fishery dis
pute The display Of a little strength of
character at the first, would have enlisted
on his side a powerful sympathy, and he
would have been sustained by the entire
country But instead of that he let the
opportunity slip out Of his hands, to the
shame and disgust of every true American
He might have recommended the admis-
sion of new territories, and to that exteLt
disarmed his opponents in the late cam
paign He might have objected to the re-
turn of the rebel battle flags, but not as a
Democrat. He might have denied himself
the pleasure of sending a present to the
Pope of Rome as bid for the Irish vote
mi nf b.4x u, do
AT least he might have let the tariff ques
ton alone, or been reasonable in present
ing it, and thus deprived the opposition of
the privilege Of constituting it as meaning
free trade in the essence.
But what's the use to 90 on and recount
what might have been? The case is made
up, and the jury have returned a verdict
Guilty of suicide in the first degree"
A dismal failure. There is not in the
least, particle of hope or consolation to
be drawn from it by the most sanguine
Looking back over this administration one
experiences a sensation similar to that
produced by the recollection of season
of sickness where everything else is for
gotten but the swallowing of a dose of
salts If had been a Democrat from
childhood, or from the day of my birth
even, would give it up now. The past
affords no comfort, the future no hope
Dark indeed must be the night upon which
Democracy has entered, in this year of
our Lord 1889
Once more the Republican party has the
field undisputed. No one expected so
much just yet, if at all; but, by judi
cious use of power, may hold over lndefi-
nitely. No one will care what the defeated
party will do or will not do. The ques-
tion is settled that no good thing can come
out of it. All eyes will be turned on the
Republican party, and the country is ripe
for some very important legislation.
Nothing can be more important in Re-
publican government than that every man
who is entitled to vote should have that
privilege, and have his vote counted. Our
form of government is seriously endan-
gered, if anything less than this is know
ingly tolerated.
The time has come too when the SER
vices of every soldier should be remem-
bered, and his just claims recognized.
Except an insignificant opposition the