Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1895-11-22
HENRY WATTERSONS SLAUGHTER HOUSE.

1t will be remembered that a gentle
man who lives in the state of Ken
lucky, and who for some years in the
past has been somewhat prominent in
the political affairs of that state and
the country, said some things which
were not very nice alb out that other no
less prominent, but more averdupoisly
inclined gentleman who now sits in
the White House. They were words
which cannot be said to be exactly
cOnsoling and productive of personal
comfort to the fat man who was at
that time gazing with modest but
wistful eyes at the Presidential Man.
sion. When asked by reporter as to
the availability Of Cleveland for the
democratic nomination in 1892, Henry
Watterson said that to nominate him
(Cleveland) would be to "walk through
the slaughter house into an open
grave" Everyone thought that such
scathing words as these uttered about
our beloved Grover were the oven
which would cook his goose. From
one end of the country to the other
the slaughter house" and "open
grave" were on every tongue. All
thought that when Mr.. WattersOn
made such awful predictions that
Cleveland's political days We're over.
But when the Chicago Convention
assembled Cleveland was the shining
star, brilliant as the sparkling diamond.
His name was the synonym OF all
that was democratic, and like heroic
knight he rode in triumph to the fore
front. He shone like the splendor of
the noon day sun; he wore the laurels
of power, and pearls of victory were
wreathed in his crown. And when
the day of voting came in it's wake
Grover was borne to the White House
on silken cushions and fiowery beds of
ease. Then the inquisitively inclined
honesty of heart what had become of
the slaughter house and open grave"
The curtains were drawn on the
scene and the next act which was pre-
sented was one of more significance
and amusement than the first. When
the democrats of Kentucky met in
state convention last summer, Henry
| Watterson, like the "star-eyedg goddess"
appeared as the conquering hero ofthe
hour He moulded the sentiments of
the gathered hosts, and swayed the
minds of his fellow partiZans in the
state where drunkenness is not vice
and intoXicationis pronounced virtue.
His policy maintained. His word was
| the law of the clause. 1t was a Wat
terson convention, for Watterson con-
troled it and Watterson's banner was
nailed to the masthead of the party.
But, 10, i'm the unerring tide of time
when the day of ballots came around,
it was found that the democrats of old
Kentuck, following the proud warrior
who sits at the editorial desk of the
Courier-Journal Office, were laid low
by the bayonet of the enemy and the
republicans won the day. He had
builded the slaughter house for Grover,
but it proved to be structure con-
structed for himself to walk through
and on the other side to tumble head
long and pell nell into the grave dug
for his burial.
Now, in the face of this peculiar
chain of events has not the nabob of the
White House right to sit in the
quiet of his room, reflect over his own
glory, and laugh at the erratic Henry?
Can he not place his ponderous face,
down on his arm and smile to think
of the joke the Colonel is compelled to
bear i'm sublime humiliation? Would
it not be consistent and natural for
Grover to giggle and wickedly point at
the Courier-Journal office, and say:
"Henry, that's one on you; how do
you like it? Ha! Hap
.