The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-06-18
Woe to the Conquerer.


umns to partisan discussion. There
is much in the result OF such con
fict as The contest for mastery at
Minneapolis that is as stirring and
tragic as the description of II field
of battle, with the sanguinary lists
of the slain. The fierce onslaughts;
the determined resistance; the
skillful but vain combinations of
accomplished strategists; the sell
fishness and treachery ofambitious
leaders; the constancy and devo-
tion in the face of impending dis.
aster; the final defeat and the cap
ture, though merely figures borrow
ed from war, are scarcely less
painfully realistic than an account
of a military campaign.
In surveying the field of Mime
apolis, with its numerous wrecks
of political fortunes, the first figure
that strikes the mental vision is
that of Governor Mckinley, who
meant to be faithful to Harrison,
but whose loyalty could not with
stand the proof. His theatrical
polling of the Ohio delegation, with
its solid vote in his favor, was cal
culated to inspire succeeding dele
cations to join the movement. Sue
cess would have sanctified the
stroke. Failure has condemned it;
and Mr.. McKinley's discontinue
was no less complete than that of
the combined leaders who have
used him to make n diversion
against Harrison. Mr.. McKinley's
completely in this business, coyly
as it was disavowed, will not be
forgotten till the end of his days.
But the most pathetic figure
amid the political ruins of the Min
neapolis Convention is that of
James G. Blaine; and the lesson of
his fall is so obvious that it need
hardly be insisted upon in lay
sermon. a popularity largely fac
titious and insincere has been rap.
idly succeeded by a reversal of the
popular Judgment that was only
too we'll deserved. In spite of
many grounds of misgiving, there
is no dispute that in the manage
ment of the State Department Mr..
Blaine had done much to modify
the hostile opinions of political foes
who had formed the worst estimate
of his character as a public man.
With the high responsibilities of
his station had disappeared that
reckless Jingoism which had made
him an object of profound distrust
in the conservative mind of the
country. 1t was believed, at last,
that his strivings for the Presiden-
cy were at an end, and that his
dearest wish was to administer
the foreign affairs of the country in
such way as would best rebound to
its welfare and to his own honor.
There were few persons, and
these the most suspicious, who did
not accept the Clarkson letter as a
genuine and sincere expression of
the feelings and purposes of its au-
In Nvh
Mr.. Blaine at his word, combina-
tion was formed by cabal of dis
appointed and revengeful politi-
clans to make him a stalking horse
for the Presidency in order to kill
off Harrison. OF the character of
this movement, and of the designs
of all concerned in it, there can be
no two opinions in the full light of
events at Minneapolis. But, al
though there was a time in Mr..
Blaine's career when none would
have doubted his entire connivance
with almost any conspiracy to pro-
mote his interests or ambition, few
thought so ill of him as to believe
that he had a share in this move
ment.
How we'll Mr.. Blaine justified
the good opinion of his countrymen
was soon seen in his visit to New
York, under the preteXt of joy
Gus family occasion, to hold night
ly communings with the anti-Har-
rison leaders in the Fifth Avenue
Hotel. Then followed, upon his re-
turn, his curt letter of resignation,
in the midst of official duties,
which left no longer any doubt as
TO his Presidential designs and fit
ly closes Il story Of political perfidy
that has few like examples in the
history Of the country. But retrib-
utive vengeance has made the pen
atty commensurate with the crime
The fiasco at Minneapolis has been
so complete as to touch the domain
of the ludicrous and to deprive the
chief actors of any just claim to
popular sympathy. Though the
nnnngnpnr 40 / t,gtnl nn ct,nh on