The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-05


tons at critical moments. have been made
buT the olive branch blossoms only till the
p Ills are closed. The res are held by
hand of mail. Two or three minor chief
tains chronicallY sulk, but in general en-
gagement they are sure TO join the main
body. One exception to this rule reached
the dignity of the phenomenal. recall
citrant far enough from the city hall to be
almost out of reach, but still within the
limits of the county, marshaled his forces
last November and led them almost to the
last man, into the hostile camp. This dash
ing feat of political arms promises TO go into
history as precedent. 1t is scarcely posi-
BILE to imagine conditions under which 1t
can be repeated. Because of a purely local
communicable fouriSling town OF
Gravesend-changed natural sides. The
fierce heat of a personal fight consumed
party lines and turned the town, hitherto
overwhelmingly democratic, into repuoll-
can str onghold. The Juggernaut was jolted
violently; deviation would have saved it
rude shock. This case, however, does not
initiate against the proposition; one of the
most prolific sources of McLaughlin's power
is the sternness with which he stamps out
rivalry. Ruin follows rout; only those who
Internationally surrender can hope for
quarter, which even then is not always
granted,
What Mclaughlin owes to his silence cam
not be computed. No man on the continent
is more profoundly conscious of the truth.
Under all speech that is good for anything
there lies silence that is better" He listens
to thousand words for every one he utters.
Reticence is natural with him, but under
spurs which evidently draw blood, he has
occasionally forgotten the advice of Polo
MUS: Give thy thoughts no tongue"
More than oncs have his words come back
to haunt him. One memorable occasion is
especially worthy of recall. Klnsella dipped
his exasperating pen in NORWOOD and
Mclaughlin took the platform. Think of
the conditions at last the public were to
have a chance to listen to man to whom
listening was fine art. Hidden from 81 Sht,
credited with doipg all he did and much
that he did not do, occupying place ap-
pealing to nothing 80 much as the imagina
ton, certain divinity had hedged him
hitherto. The room for speculation con-
corning him was infinite. Surely the man
who nodded other men into or out of obliv-
ion must WELD verbal battle-ax fit to turn
the tide Of battle. 1t was with such thoughts
as these that an audience measured only by
the capacity of a large hall, gathered to give
him greeting.
The torrents of applause that swept over
the democratic leader as he bowed &C
acknowledgement did not dampen him in the
-
most exacting He was facing a multitude
with no training for the ordeal, and to make
the matter worse, something notable was
expected of him. A speech of perhaps two
hours duration followed. The most gensr-
GUS thing that can be said about it is
nothing. Mclaughlin wrote its epitaph
when the campaign was over. The precise
terms of the inscription on its gravestone
have not gone into history, but they were to
the effect that on resurrection day it
would not be disturbed. 1t is scarcely
fair to dismiss the effort without adding
that it might have been worse but not very
easily. From the disastrous effect of this
mistake Mclaughlin recovered without
trou lie. He must look back with equal re-
greet to his prophecy of last year, the fulfill
ment of which would have elected Cleve-
land. Predictions are always dangerous
and the same epitaph is in demand. A COM
plete absence of breaks like these would be
stranger than their presence in such
career.
Much more recent events have unsettled
the political weather in Kings county. They
have given TIE situation an aspect such as
will test the fathom of the grim commander
1t will not be surprising if from the nettle
of danger he plucks the flower of safety
At critical moments he is full of carefully
planned surprises. The opposing forces fall
into ambuscades just when they are begin
ming to believe that all traps have been
escaped. Mclaughlin nas the faculty of
doing at perilous moments perilous things,
but shocks that would unseat a Mexican
leave him still comfortable in the saddle.
And yet more conservative rider never
put spur into party or restrained it with
an iron wrist. This may have the favor Of
paradoxy, but it leads naturally to a dis
cussion of that quality to which far beyond
all others Mclaughlin is indebted for his
long leave of unchallenged power. His ap-
petite for power is unsuitable, but he is a
miser in its exercise This is the keystone
of the arch the foundation of the whole
structure. Occasionally ''the old man" does
put his hand on" but never under any cir
cumstanceS when he can avoid it. His gov
erment is rarely felt. Interference must be
a stern necessity when he INDUCES in it.
The chary use of his prerogatives makes
him paramount just when a deciding mind
is needed. With pretty fractional fights he
seldom or never concerns himself. This
keeps him out of many pot of boiling
water, saves him from countless personal
hostilities and makes him irresistible when
the final arbitrament falls into his hands.
Many of eve his closest followers will be
amazed to hear that battle after battle has
been fought with which, though he was
nominally the general-in-chief, he had really
nothing to do. No one can crystalline a
pOIlblCdl SlJudLlOu
Mclaughlin stands on the auction room
stoop day after day and listens with mex
haustible patience He is the reservoir
into which the intelligence of the hour is
poured and, reserving his judgment always,
the direction Of the current soon becomes
manifest to him. Sealed lips and open ears
make formidable combination. No man
is quicker to detect a prepondereuce of senti-
ment. Just when the tide has reached its
hight the leader indicates his preference
and what is called his programme is carried
out. The advantages of this policy are so
obvious that to point them out is almost as
superauous as to tell how many fives make
twenty. What looks like complia ice with
McLaughlin's will is really the triumph of
the party's choice. While seeming to initiate
he simply interprets. The man who plunges
into stream when it is racing like a mill
pond, does not guide the water, he floats
with it. When, however, the whip is finally
fourished it is apt to crack savagely. Per-
haps the cruelest evidence of this sounded in
Mayor Chapins ears. Two years ago it was
not easy to circumscribe his honor's future
He was comptroller of the state at an age
when few men have begun to accomplish
anything politically, and before that had