The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-06

and combining With this success behind
him he really Imagined he might be named
for the presidency and would have given
his followers the word to unmask their bat
teries if w. c. Whitney had not scared the
German that Cleveland was bound to win,
and that If he stood out against the Win
ming movement it would hurt him in Mary
land.
CURSED AS A GUTTER.
Germans followers waited in vain for the
word. So did the friends of other candi-
dates. The courage of the Machiavelli of
Democracy forsook him, and he fell into
line for Cleveland without a whimper He
and his friends had organized the opposi-
ton to Cleveland. Other candidates had
been encouraged to take the field. All were
to stand together, and after Cleveland was
defeated the best man among them was TO
gather up the prize But German fiunked
and the game was lost. He flunked because
he could not quite figure out how he was
to be the winner even if Cleveland failed.
The chances were that William r. Morrison
would have been nominated had German
had the nerve to stand his ground. But
he did not, and when that convention was
over there were Democrats from Maine to
Texas who were cursing German as a cow
ardly gutter.
Gorman's hobby for years has been get
ing even with" Cleveland. When the eff
fort was made to repeal the Sherman law
the boss saw his opportunity. This was an
other field in which intrigue counted for
more than sincerity and honest force, and
or course it was too good a chance to be
lost. Though pretending to be very much in
FAVOR or repeal, he actually used his infiu-
ence IN the cloakrooms to defeat the admin
lstratlon. He wanted a compromise, and
was about to carry his point through dick
ers and chicanery.
The decisive moment came and Germans
scneme seemed sure to succeed. The COM
promise was to be adopted, and the admin
lstratlon was to get q black eye. 1t was a
sunday. Just at that moment q new Rich
mond came into the field 1t was Judge
Gresham. With few well directed strokes,
oellvered by means of driving furiously from
the residence of one senator to that of an
otner IN transform and late at night he
spolled Gormans game and the administra-
ton won its first and practically it's only
victory in the halls of Congress during that
administration.
still German waited for a chance to s'get
even With Cleveland. He found another
opportunity when the Wilson bill came M
LOT actlon IN Congress. The history of that
measure, Gorman's success in destroying 1t
as a simon pure Democratic scheme of leg
Isiation his twisting of the bill over to a
nsaiL protection measure, the sugar schedule
scandal and the long delay, the unwilling
ness of President Cleveland to sign the act
ana ms escape from direct responsibility by
permitting it to become law AUTOMATICALLY
all are well remembered. This was a tri-
umph Tor German over Cleveland, and it
MADE him happy till the gathering storm
penlno MN In his own State of Maryland
90 when his warfare upon Mr.. Cleveland
nnad largely contributed, gave him worry
III thS Autuie. Inc storm mas broken at
last, and German must step down and give
way to Republican.
German is not a man of great ability He
could never be the leader of masses of men
as his enemy Cleveland was as Mckinley
Is, as other really great men have been
through the force of an idea. He has won
a certain sort of prominence as a manipu-
lator. He could never rise higher than this
level. 1t is not in him. He has never con-
trlbuted a real thought to political or eco
nOm1c discussion in the Capitol. A man
VINO maintained himself in politics and in
the Senate only through collision with a
corrupt and brutal machine in Baltimore
could not ascend to the height of a truly
national leader
Though of late years he has occasionally
made several notable speeches on the floor
OF the Senate, particularly his recent as
sault upon President Cleveland, he is not
an orator His voice is thin, but far-reach-
ing, and at times it rings with what to the
unlnltiated appears to be the true feeling
But those who know the man see only act
ing in his most effective performances
When there are tears in his eyes they ex-
pect to see him glance up at his friends in
the press gallery and wink to them as much
as 10 say: Wasn't that beautifully done?'
German is senator who won leadership
adroit. He knows how to play upon the
weaknesses and the vanity and the selfish
ness of men, He is amiability itself when
he has a purpose in view. He is fond of
giving dinners to men, dinners at which
political schemes are talked over In these
oleaginous and devious vs., by an as
sumption of leadership before that
quality was generally reco in him. by
a Difference to older senate lhich pleased
them and a helpfulnesS to l. younger ones
which attracted them, he managed to make
himself the Democratic leader.