New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-06
Mr. STEPHENSON on THE STUMP.

The Democratic candidate for Vice-PresidsRt
has been INDUCING in some more historic
"reminiscences This time in Missouri. 1t Will
be remembered that in his opening speech at
bloomington, H.. no urged the election of
Cleveland for President and himself for Vice
President. and the restoration of the Demo
cratic party to full control because OF the
Louisiana purchase by Jefferson, the assertion
Of the Monroe Doctrine by Monroe and Mad
son. the public services of General Jackson
and the greatness Of Stephen a. Douglas. HE
TRIBu-NE has directed attention 10 an omission
in his historical references Of twenty four rather
imnortapt wears between 1860 and 1884, when
something was going on that hgures IN history
quite rs largely as the Louisiana purchase or
the Monroe Doctrine and some persons were
on deck who loom up quite As distinctly on the
horizon as General Jackson.
We observe that since he started South he
has got away from the Louisiana purchase and
the Monroe Doctrine and General Jack son. and
has struck in upon what is called the recon-
struction period from 1865 to 1874. During
that period. which he describes a. the " satur-
MALTA Of disagreement" he says the states
Of Alabama and North and South Carolina were
robbed and plundered at dreadful rate. The
mnutencss with which he details the history
Of the saturnalia' in these States indicates
that he has made 4 somewha careful study OF
the subject. with "A view of using 1t on the
stllulp rs an argument in favor Of the election
Of the Democratic ticket. The form in which
he puts IT j. that. ~ the satnlnalia took
place under Republican administration during
the reconstruction period twenty years ago. 1t
is liable 10 be started mp again If President
Harrison should be reelected and the Kepub-
lcanS placed in full control. He forgcts several
things As for instance. that events have
placed il beyond the power of the Republicans
10 start Nd the "saturnaa'' in South Carolina
which. under Governor Daniel II. Chamberlain,
took the lead in being mi>goyerned." 4" plum
dercdr and "robbcd' Mr.. Chamberlain is in
the Democratic pary-a warm supporter OF
Cleveland. II ia only through Clevcland's cleo
ton that South Carolina is in danger OF the
return " Chamberlain.
For various other reasons we think Mr..
Stevenson makes u mistake in dwelling with so
much apparent earnestness upon the compare
lively brief period of reconstruction twenty
wears ago as furnishing an argument for put
ting the Democrats in power One VIII suffice.
IL did not answer twenty years ago. when the
conditions were well known and the argument
should have had force, il at any time. IL failed
10 impress the people or change the vote, even
when Chamberlain was on deck in south
Carolina and fragrant It is infinitely weaker
now that twenty years have gone by and Chame
bellan f. here in Newiork supporting Clcye-
land Time and circumstance have diluted
that sort Of stuff 10 thlnneSS that makes dish
wafer a powerful compound by comparison.
Then. too. il NAV a. well be remembered by
Mr. Stevenson and the men of his sort en-
gagged in hurting oratOry at the masses that
the people whom they are trying to influence
are not fools Upon about 80 per cent Of those
who listen 10 the appeals to vote the Demo
cratic ticket on account Of General Jackson's
being a great leader or the reconstruction period
being saturnalia" they will have only the
effect 10 excite inquiry as to why the Demo
cratic party does not appeal Ia its own recent
record as emitting it to public confidence in
stead of going into ancient history and shaking
M the dry bones Of General Jackson or paving
over the threshed straw Of twenty years ago.
And their natural conclusion will be that the
argument shows weakness, that they are hard
ND for campaign material. broken winded,
"sparrine for time" Then, too, most signiG
cant fact Of all is that they cannot go into
history ut all without leaving out the Nations
most critical and most glorious period.
President Harrison is not man who deserts