Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-06
r,,.x,xscYyIyG PROCLAMATION.

president Cleveland celebrated the elec-
ton OF Mckinley and Hobart Wednesday
by issuing a Thanksgivng-Day prociama-
ton. in which he referred TO the
"Almirhty's watchful care, which has
shielded US from dire disaster, and point
ed out TO us the way OF peace and happi-
ness"
Rut there IS something else that this
land has cause to be thankful for and
this Is that we are soon to have an end
of the administration of Mr. Cleveland
There were many people who hoped Tor
the election of Bryan; others hoped Tor
the election Of Mckinley. and some pre-
tended TO hope for the election of Palmer.
but about 90 per cent Of the whole
voting population of the United States
is heartily glad that we are soon TO be
rid Of the incumbent of the presidential
Office.
ITntil Cleveland raised his hands to
strike down his party. the Republicans
had no words severe enough to condemn
the rneanness Of his administration. If
they have changed their tune recently. it
Is because he has done the Republican
marty good service. But for him the
Democratic party might have had en- in
definite lease OF power. He alienated
everybody who could have been Of SER
vice 10 us. and stood in the way of every
other candidate for the presidency.
Had Mr.. Cleveland year ago an
nounced that he was not an aspirant for
a third term. the results Of the recent
campaign might have been different from
what they are. He easily enough found
a way, when the people Of tho United
States first took him up, to declare that
he favored only one term for the presi-
DENTAL Office, but he conld find no way
20 declare that he would not accept a
third term. Under the guidance and ad-
vice of Mr.. Cleveland. as we most firmly
believe the indianapolis ticket was put
up; put up to decoy Democrats from
their party allegiance and to lure them
into the Republican party.
With this instrument. manipulated by
Mr.. Cleveland. and with the most
enormous corruption fund ever raised
anywhere, TO pervert free suffrage, the
Republicans and their allies have APP
parently elected" their nominees. But
this campaign will be remembered as a
campaign where the presidency was
bought, just as that of 1876 is remem-
bered as the one where the presidency
was stolen. Yet the President in his
proclamation INDUCES in a lot of plati-
tudes, as If all the sharp tricks and big
buying and minor meanness of the party
III eli ffc.,
not well known At this very time Cleve-
land, Olney, and Carlisle, all of whom
still pretend 10 be Democrats, are en-
gagged In cutting off the heads OF officials
for the crime of supporting that gallant
Democrat and Incompatible tribune OF
the people-William Jennings Bryan. Ii
was perfectly right and proper fol-
United States officials to support Nc
Kinley, but II was wrong for them tc
support Bryant Thank Heaven, no such
doctrine prevails in Virginia. Here In
this State the ticket that won was The
Democratic ticket-not a fusion ticket
not an Indianapolis ticket-but the ticket
of the overwhelming mass Of white
voters.
That the people of this country have
much 20 be thankful for all must admit
II is not for the President TO direct theii
gratitude in this matter. Ours IS 9
fruitful and beautiful land. which bal
been highly blessed by the Almighty
And His goodness 20 us has extended
through the centuries since we stepped
upon these shores and occupied the wild
Sands OF a savage country. Lot us Civ,
thanks for our land, for our rreeasa. e
worship as we please. for form Of gov
eminent capable OF standing even wors,
shocks than the present one and for IN,
firm conviction we have that. though
selfish and designing men may triumph
for awhile, under tho guidance OF Goo
the country will sooner or later righ
itself and go forward fulfilling that be
nign mission which seems to have beer
ordained for It among the nations of thu
earth.