Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1887 — WATTERSON IN FULL FAITH. [ARTICLE]

WATTERSON IN FULL FAITH.

The Distinguished Krataddei Sees Nothing trat SueecH in Store for the Democracy—HU Views on Correait Political Topics. . [New York special] CoL Henry Watterson, of Kentucky, ■was seated by a .window in his room at the Everett House, coolly enjoying the faint breeze that struggled through it, when a reporter was received by him. The well-known editor was in his shirtsleeves. He was collarless, his feet were incased in maroon-colored slippers and were calmly resting on a chair in front of him. “Well, Colonel, what do you think of rthe political outlook now?” “I consider the present political situation the most picturesque and unique in the annals of recent history. But everything to me is as clear and pellucid as a mountain stream, and way beyond I see success for the Democratic party. The battle-flag incident and President Cleveland’s letter of declination to the Mayor of St. Louis, coming as they do now, a year before the nomination, just show the luck of that man. If 4he flag episode had happened six weeks before the election in 1888 the bloody-shirters might have used it to defeat Mr. Cleveland. Why, that chap that sits in the chair of the President at the White House is the very apotheosis of common sense. He is practical and crafty, and anything that comes within the orbit of his understanding he strikes it to the core and never makes a mistake. What he does understand he understands thoroughly and hits the nail on the head, and following closely on the flag •episode can but have a benefical effect. Why, his order in regard to the flags did not express near as muoh as the fraternal feelings exhibited by a meeting of the Pennsylvania veterans the ■other day with Pickett’s division at Gettysburg, and yet no spasmodic howl has been raised over that peace gathering. Those old soldiers exchanged captured swords and old battle flags, for aught I know, and yet the demagogues of the North and the bloody-shirt orators did not seize upon it as an incident worthy to haul over. The South does not desire the flags back, cares nothing for them, and I can tell you that all the outbursts in the North over the matter will not create any friction with the South, simply because we have no interest in it. Why, by Jove, the South is busy making money and hasn’t time to indulge in such things. The President’s declining to visit St. Louis after the flag hullabaloo and the things that have been said by some of the Grand Army men was the proper •course to pursue. Why, some crank like Guiteau, incited by the intemperate language that has been used, might fire on the President.” “Do you think, then, Colonel, after all this that the President will be renominated ?” “He will be renominated by acclamation and re-elected. There is no possible exigency that I can imagine uow which will defeat his nomination. It is one of those things that seem morally certain. He grows with the people. If Mr. Blaine runs against him he will carry nearly all the Irish vote of the country, but the German vote will go solidly for Mr. Cleveland. If Mr. Blaine desires to be nominated •of course it will be done. As to the Labor party, it will run a separate ticket and draw from both parties, but more, perhaps, from the Democratic. In the great fight the Labor party will be engulfed, and will not change the general result. ”