New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-27
V47TERSON'S TRITMPH.

Il
Ry far the most interesting of all the Dem
ocratic State Conventions yet held was that
of Kentucky at Louisville on Wednesday
| There can be no mention of Kentucky Dem
ocratic Convention, no allusion to the Ken
lucky Democracy, that does not at once, every
where in and ont Of the state, suggest the
| name of the foremost man Of his party in his
| own State and the most picturesque figure in
| all the States the Editor of "Ihe Louisville
| Courier Journal The name that comes first
to the mind in connection with Kentucky De-
mOcracy is not that Of Carlisle, Blackburn, OF
Breckenridge but of Henry Wattcrson. The
convention of Wednesday had unusual interest
because WatteIson was in it for all he was
worth. and as usual, when he sets out to do
anything in Kentucky, got there with both
feet The meagre report of the proceedings
shows that he was in fine form; that without
apparent effort, but with sort of coyncss that
seemed like sclf-eifacemcnt, though unmiXcd
with elf-dStruSt, he took the convention fairly
off its feet and worked his own sweet will
with it.
1t was against odds that he had set ont to
do this. lie was dealing with an emotional
people people more easily stirred by the
magic Oh IL lldUlt VI tHc iluSioH vi "' '"N''
personality than by considerations of expedi-
ency or appeals to the cooler Judgment And
it so happened that the name on the lips OF
these people was one that Wattcrson himself
more than anybody else had endowed with
magic the ideal personality was an illusion OF
his own creation If Mr. Cleveland is the
most popular candidate with Kentucky Dem
ocrats to-day, as he undoubtedly is if his name
arouses their enthusiasm and his personality
attracts their devotion, it is because they know
him only through Henry Wattcrson's brilliant
tributes and vivid charactclizatonS. and are
worshipping the ideal he created. The idol
before which the Kentucky state Convention
was in danger of prostrating itself was of Wat
tcrsons own setting up: his the halo, his the
pictured loneliness of the >tar-Eyed Goddess
that lowered over the robust new divinity.
II was Wattcrson's delicate task, not to de-
stroy his own creation, but gently lift the idol
down. This he did with grace, tact and
eloquence peculiarly his own. 1t was per
sonal triumph worth noting.
So much then is certain. Henry WattcrSon
continues to be the brilliant, daShing leader
of the Kentucky Democracy. A great many
perscns who have no lote for his party, know
ing him. will have more tolerant ana kindly
feeling toward it because it shows such faith
in him. Congratulations on his personal tn
umph are by no means confined To his political
associates. No one doubts his sincerity or his
carncstness. lie is believed when he says he
wants nothing for himself. Nor docs any one
who knows him doubt that if he could have
his way the coming Presidential campaign
would be fought on the high plane OF prin-
ciple. upon issues fairly presented and frankly
discussed With all this he is not a thcoriSt
or idcaSt who contents himself with com
mending his ideas and theories to popular favor
simply by appeals to the reason or arguments
to the understanding. He fights TO WIN lie
means to fight fairl., but never forgcts that
il is an actual fight, in which all the elements
of grand strategy enter and the smallest tactl- |
cal advantage cannot safely he dcsplsod. lie
has won Kentucky. aS we have SAID, against
odds The danger he feared was that the emo
tiona KcntuckanS nigh be carried of their
feet by the magic of name and with burst
of enthusiasm and ftful hurrah commit them
selves before he could reach their ears or gain
their confidence. He surmounted 1t. What
they did do with hurrah was to appoint him
delegate to Chicago by reclamation.
A greater task is before him. II appear
ances can be trusted, majority Of the Chicago
Convention will favor the nomination Of Cleye-
land He believes it would be disastrous to
the party. and his aim is to prevent it, OF the |
opposition to Cleveland he will be the recog- |
nized leader, easily chief. His absolute indie
pendence and his position as leading exponent |
of the one political doctrine upon which Mr. |
Cleyeland's claim is based give him an infiu- |
cnce that, even were other things equal, no
other delegate can boast Upon him in the |
National Convention will be the whole brnt |
of the fight against Cleveland. 1t will be
harder fight than the one he has just made at |
home The effort to carry the convention off |
in hurrah will be better organized. and much |
more desperate. The two-thirds rule is in his
favor. but even with that the odds are very |
much against him. 1t will be the fight OF his
life But, whatever the result we may be sure
he will come up smiling.