CHAPTER VI.

THE LEADING JOURNALS ON THE NOMINATIONS-WHAT THE NEWSPAPERS SAY ON THE NOMINATION OF GROVER CLEVELAND AND THOMAS A. HENDRICKS-WITH BUT ONE EXCEPTION THE PROMINENT NEWSPAPERS OF NEW YORK CITY ARE OPPOSED TO BLAINE AND SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET.

THE present political contest will furnish an unusually good test of the power of the press in influencing political action.

The New York Herald the most conspicuous of all American newspapers, departs so far from its usual attitude of indifference as to print the names of the Democratic candidates at the head of its editorial columns and it goes into the fight with old-time enthusiasm. The Times, one of the two great Republican dailies, gives its support to Cleveland and it is joined by the Evening Post, a paper that has always been consistent to the honorable record of its founder, William Cullen Bryant, one of the founders of the Republican party. The Sun is strongly opposed to Blaine, and the Staats Zeitung, the great German daily, is earnestly for Cleveland. So also are the World, the Journal, Truth, the Evening Telegram and the Evening News. The Graphic, too, is for Cleveland. The Journal of Commerce is neutral and the Commercial Advertiser,

though Republican, is quite lukewarm toward Blaine and evidently will not exert itself much in his behalf. There remains only the Tribune, which led the Liberal Republican revolt of 1872, but now is the accepted Blaine organ.

To the anti-Blaine forces are also to be added such influential weeklies as the Independent, an old Republican organ with a very large circulation throughout the United States; Harper's Weekly, with its steadfast Republican record, and Puck, a very vigorous fighter. But this list might be prolonged indefinitely; it is sufficient to show that the press of New York city is all but unanimous in support of Governor Cleveland against Blaine.

The majority of the newspapers of other States, among whom we find the Boston Transcript, the Springfield Republican and other prominent Republican dailies have also declared in favor of the Democratic ticket.

The Boston Globe, one of the leading papers of New England, on the day after the nomination published the following editorial, which it headed "President Cleveland."

"The Democratic Convention at Chicago selected the next President of the United States when it bestowed the highest nomination in its gift upon Grover Cleveland, of New York.

"The Convention was composed of 820 of the best representatives of a party which has seen the birth and death of every other party, save one,

during our existence as a nation. The exception is the Republican party, and Grover Cleveland's nomination means that the grand old organization which has stood defeat after defeat for nearly a quarter of a century, will once more grasp the crown of victory in November and bury its great rival beyond hope of resurrection.

"Grover Cleveland is a man who challenges the support of every newspaper and every man who desires honest government. He will again set up that standard of honesty and the practical exemplification of good government which every lover of his country desires and has the right to expect from such an administration as the nominee will give to the United States. Hence Grover Cleveland will have the hearty support of the Globe in the campaign upon which we have now entered. "Of his triumphant election we have not a shadow of a doubt.

"We do not take any stock in the attempts of the Republican papers to show that our foreign voters will go for Mr. Blaine. In the first place, these Republican papers have insulted what they call the foreign voters times without number. Now, in the vain hope of securing some of their votes, they are extremely complimentary to men they earnestly despise. In the second place, the men designated have always righteously resented this constant reiteration of the statement that they are foreigners. They are here to stay. They are American citizens, and are proud of the fact. Many of them helped to fight our battles. They believe in this home of the brave, this land of the free, and are as proud of and as loyal to America as any of our citizens. They are as true as steel to the Demo

cratic party and its principles, and see that through their triumph will American citizenship be best protected, whether at home or abroad.

"Governor Cleveland will be supported by a united and aggressive Democratic party. He will have the votes of tens of thousands of independent Republicans. He will have the support of the larger part of successful newspapers of the country, both secular and religious. He will have the confidence and votes of the business men of the land. It will be shown that this poor boy who has worked his way up to the proud position which he now holds knows what it is to work day in and day out, and that he is a true friend of the toiling masses. It will be demonstrated in a thousand ways that he is the man upon which all the opposition to Mr. Blaine can best be concentrated. It will be shown that Grover Cleveland will be elected."

The comments of the independent newspapers of New York and New England upon Mr. Blaine's nomination are so positive that their meaning and intentions cannot be mistaken. The New York papers long distinctively independent are the Her ald, Sun and Staats Zeitung. The Herald believes that every man who cares for the purity of public life and the welfare of the country must regret such a nomination. It thinks, however, that the choice will be accepted by a large number of voters with something of grim satisfaction, as it will enable the party and the country to bury out of sight so bad a candidate as James G. Blaine by an overwhelm

"Accept my congratulation for your nomination, together with my hope and belief that you will be elected."

Winslow Warren, Secretary pro tem. of the Massachusetts Reform Club, at its dinner at the Parker House, Boston, forwarded this despatch :

"The Massachusetts Reform Club, of Boston, consisting of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, are rejoicing that you are selected to lead the opposition to Blaine. The club tenders its heartiest congratulations and assurances of enthusiastic support.'

United States Senator Randall L. Gibson, of Louisiana, said:

"I beg to tender my cordial wishes for your election and the assurance that the people of Louisiana will respond to your nomination in the earnest hope that it may successfully appeal to the moral sense and comprehensive patriotism and national spirit of the young men of the country, who must feel that the time has at last come to obliterate sectional and wornout issues, and to insist upon greater responsibility, a higher sense of honor, economy, and genuine reform of our common government."

The first invitation to participate in a public event came from the managers of the Cincinnati Industrial Exposition, who invited Governor Cleve