The herald., 1894-10-19
POLITICAL COMMENT.
The Voice of this Loader.

| campaign In Alameda county had an
aaspicioue opening. Senator White de-
livered a great speech. 1t dealt with
! great questions with the gravity and
dignity becoming q statesman. The
treatment was thoughtful aud patriotic,
as should be the treatment OF nations
economics and policee. 1t addressed
itself to the understanding and not the
passions, appealed to eober judgment
and not the prejudioes of the unlearned
and uninformed.
Senator White lifted current political
discussion far above the petty person.
alities Of cross roads politics. He rele-
gated national and state issues 10 their
proper spheres In the consideration OF
the public. He broke forth from the
narrow bounds Of local contention and
mere personal rivalries to deal with the
great and abiding principles governing
the policies of national life. He in
dulged in no claptrap, evaded no issue
and resorted to no subterfuge. He did
not Try to melead by special pleading
or conjura the judgment by sophistical
platitudes His address was the candid
argument OF q manly man directed to
the minds and consciences OF an intelli-
gent public. Stunning the mire OF per-
sonel detraction and the cheap arts OF
the demagogue he paid hls hearers the
high compliment OF addressing than, in
fitting language and tone, as patriotic,
sensible men and women. With the
voice of Garment conviction he vindicated
the claim OF the national administration
to honor and popular approval. He
sumsoned Democrats to party duty,
and called upon q candid people to pass
judgment upon the facts and not upon
the olamors and Misrepresentation OF
demagogues.
lie could not fail to be inspiring and
instructive. In his atatesmanlike
elucidation and vindication OF the policy
of the administration and the legislative
record OF his party, he dwarfcd and put
to shame the fustian and twsddle which
have been passing current for campaign
discussion.
Senator White has come none too
coon to recall Democrats to their party
duty and to their sober better senee "a
citizens and patriots. His words and
example cannot fail to give renewed life
and hope to that proud and militant
spirit OF reform which swept this land
two years ago. They revive, as did the
hask OF the Samaritan, the tagging en-
ergies that have grown tame in the ad-
vaRcement OF small aspirations and
numbed with the fetters OF purely
local contemplation. LET no Dsmo
cratic campaign he conducted without
Grover Cleveland's name in the 'front.'"
said the senator. That sentence is preg-
nant with meaning. 1t recalls the fam
ous message of 1887. 1t brings to mind
the three cam psigns which have since
ensued. The first came on with Mr..
Cleveland the target for the abuse and
Misrepresentation of every small dema-
gogue and large trust in the land, and it
ended in his defeat. But the spirit he
had aroused and the sentiment be had
infused into the people. found triumph
ant rein two years later, Again the
battle was joined, and the popular vic
tory for Grover Cleveland and tariff re-
form was complete at the polls. II has
been shorn OF eome OF its fair proper
tions in the senate, but the lettera OF
that undaunted spirit in the White
House to Chairman Wilson and Con>
gresham Catchings show that there is
no faltering or paltering. They summon
the Democratic hosts--the plain people
OF the land. the tillers OF the field and
the toilers OF the shop-to protect what
they have won and TO eliminate the i'm
perfections which remain.
Senator White comes as a messenger
and captain to the legions in California.
He addresses them with the fire aud
courage of old, and with an eloquence
that thrills and candor that com mands
admiration, he sounds the bugle call to
fall ia and line up behind the party's
great leader. 1t is like On electric shock.
A new spirit is abroad. The prodigals
who have bsen eating the husks OF in
dividual disappointment and petty dis-
sension are returning to the party roof.
and the people now realize that per-
manent tariff peace can only come after
the trusts have met their final Waterloo.
With vigor and power Senator White
pictured the situation. With few
changes the present tariff law is all that
is desired, but McKinlsyism has again
reared its head, threatening to undo all
that has been done, and to fasten again
upon ue the domination OF the trusts.
A permanent peace must De conquered
this time. And il can only be conquered
under the leadership of the captain who
has led the tariff reform hosts tor the
past seven years-Grovsr Cleveland.
Like statesman and an honest man
Senator White says so,. and the people
know he ia right.