The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-29
HENRY HAIL!
washington Post.)

Will the Hen Henry Watterson, of
Kentucky, sab, permit us to entwine one
bashful bay leaf with his ambrosial curls
and welcome him as a returning wander
er from the fold of virile journalism and
stalwart politics? For months past-ever
since the meeting of the Chicago con-
vention last July in fact-we have been
bewildered and distressed by Col. Wat
terson's strange utterances. He astound-
ed us by his denunciations of the Chicago
platform and nominations, by his quasi
support of the Indianapolis farce, by his
frenzied and often incoherent maunder-
ings over "sound money" To-day we find
him restored once more to the front rank
of the Democratic column-as earnest, as
coura geous, as vivid, and as vertebrate as
of yore. All hail!
Mr.. Watterson's diagnosis of the Re
form Club demonstration is in his best
and happiest vein. 1t discloses the skill
full touch, the fine gift of analysis, and
the clear political prescience for which IN
times gone by, he has been justly cele-
brated. He reads Alright the meaning OF
that gathering of dola trous Mugwumps,
and sees with unerring vision the selfish
and yoracious ambition it was intended TO
promote and crafty. If he dealt leniently
with the fatuous arrogance which led this
handful of a mutual admiration society
to arraign a body of 6,5OO,OO0 voters as
fools and blunderers-if he contended
himself with the contemptuous epigram
that they reach their maximum at a
dinner table and disclose their minimum
at the polls"-it was because he felt that
the country would properly appraise their
stupidity and their conceit without much
aid from him. If he passed lightly over
Mr.. Clevelands bombastic impeachment
of the Republican party, and said much
less than he might have said as to Mr..
Clevelands responsibility for Republican
success last November, he did so because
his chiyalric nature prompted him to
spare a disarmed and a harmless foe.
But he left us in no doubt as to his esti-
mate of the occasion, and he left moth
| ing unsaid that might explain and en-
phasize its true significance. He affirmed
his recognition of the fact that Mr. Cleye-
| land himself brought about the Chicago
platform and the Chicago nominations;
he proclaimed afresh the thrice notorious
truth that for whatever harm the Re
| publican party may now do, he, more
| than any other ten men III the country
put together, is responsible.
We do not, however, share Mr.. Waiter
sons forebodings as to the peril involved
| in the ex-President's aspirations for 1900.
That he INDUCES these aspira tons, and
| that he is surrounded by band of SER
vile, industrious, and infatuated courtiers
| who will move heaven and earth to real
| ize them, we have not the very smallest
doubt. That we shall have four years Of
oracular outgivings by the sage himself,
and of pestiferous assiduity by his eager
| henchmen, is as certain as the rising of
| to-morow's sun. But that any legitimate
political organization with strength e.
| nough to carry ten election precincts in
| the whole United States will, in 1900.
even dream OF making Grover Cleveland
| it's candidate is uncomfortable upon any
| theory that credits the American people
| with patriotism and common sense. Mr..
Cleveland will no doubt have followers.
Modern civilization, even at this stage
of its development, has not eradicated
superstition and fetich-worship. But
| earnest and intelligent men do not or
ganize parties for the mere purpose of
having them destroyed, and so they will
| not invoke the only political talent which
| Mr. Cleveland seems to possess in any
marked degree. We think that we can
await with unruffled composure the out
come of the Mugwump activity which was
set in motion last Saturday night. The
waldorf Democracy" will cut a very
small figure in the equation of American
politics.
All the same, it is pleasant to have Mr.
Henry Watterson back In the ranks of
| the stalwarts. There never was, and
never could be, place for him in the
ranks of the hysterical idolators and fee
| bly, twittering Cuckoos that now consti
| tute Mr.. Cleveland's retinue.