Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-11-24
REED AS A PROPHET.
The Warning He Gave the Democrats
Recalled in Striking Way.


The Warning He Gave the Democrats
Recalled in 4 Striking Way.
New York Press
The reputation OF the Cleveland
administration and the Democratic
party by the American people is un-
precedented in its force and unanimity
But the Democratic leaders cannot say
that they did not have fair warnings
The Press repeatedly pointed out
during the obstinate battle on the tar
if that the passage of the bill which
the people had already condemned
would assuredly bring about sweep
ing Democratic defeat in every north
ern State. Ex-Speaker Reed, i'll that
memorable debatein the house OH Au-
gust IS ,foretold in mastery sentences
that were propleticof the overwhelm-
ing catastrophe which the treacherous
and incompetent Democratic man
ayers were preparing bring upon
their party. On that occasion Mr..
Reed said:
The gentleman from West Virgin
ia and his compatriots appear before
us now, not as the triumphant REFORM
ers, marching to- glory at the sound
of their own sweet voices. They are
little babes in the wood, and it will be
found pretty soon that they were left
there by their uncle in theWhiteHouse.
And can hear the coming of the lit
tie birds bearing the ballots that are
to bury them out of sight. But their
fate is of small consequence. Their
disappearance is the least of this
event.
"Great Cod has not this country
suffered enough during the past
twelve months, that these men should
come and assure it that these ravages
are TO continued tell you, when
the people of this country get an op-
poftunity to express their opinion
of it you will listen to it more intent
ly and with sadder hearts than you
have to-day. l wish could congrat-
ulate the country upon something and
| will-upon the speedy departure of
incompetency.
"You will cry for the mountains to
fall on you after you have passed this
bill. You know you are in the last
ditch, but I want to tell you that you
are in the deepest part of that ditch.
The Democrats of the house, con-
scious of their own dishonor, knowing
that they were defying the will OF
the people, aware that their course
was absolutely indefensible upon
grounds Of justice and patriotism, en-
deavored in vain to howl down the
great Republican leaderas he outlin-
ed the fate of their party and pointed
to their own political extinction. But
Thomas B. Reed would not be howl
ed down. His fearless words rang
like clarion above hostile shouts and
Kisses, and they are echoing yet in the
ears of Democratic politicians as they
contemplate, in panic and amazelnent
the mighty avalanche of ballots under
which their party is submeig ed.
Grover Cleveland, as he read the re-
turns which told that his administra-
ton had been condemned in Amer. an
history, must have been unable to
shut out their sound. William l..
Wilson, as he witnessed his own State
torn from the Democratic mornings
and carried bodily into the Republi-
can columns, must have recalled with
acute humiliation that scene in
which he and his followers listened in
powerless wrath and dismay to the in
dignant prophecies which pictured
the punishment i'll store for them.
The wreckers of American prosperity
have indeed been buried, and buried
deep. In all the list of prominent
Democratic representatives hardly one
has escaped. Wilson, Bynum, Spring
er, Dockery, Harter, Holman, Hatch
and many others almost equally well
known are upon the roll of dishonor
and defeat.
Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee.
West Virginia aud North Carolina
have reinforced the solid North in the
patriotic task of crushing the party
whose abominable tariff policy has
impoverished the whole American peo-
pie. Thomas B. Reed prophecies have
been fulfilled to the utternost word.
The people have asserted their man
hood, upheld American institutions,
and given Republican principles the
most magnificent vindication they
have had since the second election Of
Abraham Lincoln.