The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-11-23
Nhe Iexall aud Uews*
A MANS CROWN.
The Lessons OF the Election as Told oy
Editor Williams.
IGreenyille News. |

better lesson in the election or last
Tuesday than the success OF a party or
the triumph of political contention,
It was the most magnificent assertion
in modern times Of the strength OF
honesty and courage.
All who will look back into our later
political history will recall the fact that
a few years ago the two great parties
Of the country had virtually no issues
but false ones. We were fighting the
fight OF 1seO-65 over and over again.
No questions of political economy no
matters osliving interest to the people,
were being debated. The newspapers
were full Of accusations and denials OF
.soutrages'' in the South, Of discussions
of the numbers of rebel brigadiers IN
Congress and of the South's alleged
purpose to control the country and
take vengeance for the defeat suffered
in war. Mr.. Cleveland was elected
president in 1884 almost without an
issue. The Irish question, the South
ern outrages question and all manner
Of foul and horrible personal assaults,
involving the most sacred domestic
and private affairs Of the candidates,
made that campaign meaningless ana
disgusting.
Mr.. Cleveland revived the tariff issue
and forced it into our politics. Both
sides were afraid Of it and both tried
hard to evade it because each party was
divided on it. Cleveland refused to
heed the threats, warnings or prayers
of either side. He was sure he was
right, he was convinced that the ques-
tion ought to be considered and decided
by the American people and no power
could turn him from his purpose to
force its consideration and decision.
He had given the country an admins
sration free trom r.proach. The people
seemed to be contented and Congress
had done practically nothing. All the
indications were that the president
could 60 before the. country on his
record and secure his own reelection
and the triumph of bis party, and that
fact was urged on his attention con-
tinually by many of the influential men
and newspapers OF that party.
he sersi ted in putting the tariff
question before the country and Con-
gress. He urged it with all the power
he could command and made the fight.
He was defeated. Many of US can re-
collect the bitterness with which be
was assailed by Democrats everywhere.
They declared, truthfully we think,
that mis- stubbornness in forcing con-
flict on dangerous issue had brought
the defeat. He did not deny it. He
seems to have believed after the elec-
ton of 1855, as he declared before be
sent his famous tariff message to Con-
eress, that the question was one on
which the people had not been properly
informed and in which the protection
lists; had, at that time, all the advant-
age. He did net finch or give back an
inch. He was sure he was right and
cheerfaAlly staked his own political fate
and the temporary supresasey- Of his
party on lis convictions. He continued
as a private citizen the fight for tariff
reform he had begun as president and
under his leadership and influence the
cause became so strong that the Repuo-
licars were forced to meet the issue.
They met it by undertaking revision
of the war tariff, SO long undisturoed
and endured, under the protective
theory.
The issue was squarely made and met
at last. Two years ago it went before
the people and they declared by an
overw helming majority and in the
light of public discussion in which
every fact and figure and deduction
was analyzed, that Cleveland was right
and Mckinley was wrong.
The leaders of Cleveland's own party
many of them very reluctantly
were forced by the sentiment of the
people to follow MS lead. The party's
machinery and mach of its strength
and character were against him, but
all were overcome by the tremendous
pressure Of public sentiment. He was
nominated against the protest and re-
sistance OF the foremost Democrats IN
most of the States and amid many
predictions of disaster. He has been
elected by the most tremendous vote
and majority in our political history.
He has defeated General Harrison IN
the States north af the Potomac
would have defeated him if not one
Southern State had voted.
The lesson ought to be impressed on
the heart Of every man that honesty
and courage ir good cause must win
sooner or later. The triumph may be
long delayed. It may be brought about
by circumstances, events, conditions
which no buman imagination or wis
dom can foresee, but it must come.
Truth and justice will prevail and
those who stand for and with them
will prevail with them.
The temptations to cowardice and
lodging and evasion are very strong.
It is much easier to dodge issues than
TO make them. It always appears so
much more pleasant and profitable to
swim with the tide than against it. A
little surreader or concession to the
argument and urging Of friends or the
apparent drift, a little yielding to the
threats or bribes or batteries Of foes,
often promise so much of reward or
comfort. The opposite course is hard
one. We have seen Cleveland have
bitter experience in it. Four years ago