Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1888 — THE FORTIETH YEAR MYSTERY. [ARTICLE]

THE FORTIETH YEAR MYSTERY.

Strange Presidential Comparisons Evolved by a Chicago Man. The Chicago Inter Ocean printed last week a strange combination of facts relative to the political history of the country and its fortieth year repetitions. The contributation was from the pen of C." H. Chamberlain. In 1828 And 1868 respectively and in 1822 and 1872 respectively Gen. Jackson and Gen. Grant, two very popular soldiers, were elected. The history of these men were in'very many points identical. . Jackson was a man who stood by his friends and made his political appointments accordingly. This was also true of Grant. Jackson never knew when he was whipped—neither did Grant. la 1136 Mr. Clay, who was the greatest statesman of his day,asked the nomination for the Presidency. Forty years afterward Mr. Blaine aeked the nomination for the Presidency. In each case the claim was set aside for similar cause. When Van Baren was nominated in 1826 it was clearly undeistood that the Jackson wing of the party held the balance of power, but Van Buren dissapointed their expeclations. When Hayes was nominated in 1876 the Grant wing was supposed control, but events proved that there was nothing in it. . Van Buren and Johnson in 1836 and Hayes and Wheeler in 1876 were elected by grace of Congressional handling of the electoral vote. In each case the votes of the electors- were guided to a settlement. In 1810 Clay came again before his convention as a candidate, but General Harrison, of Ohio, who was chiefly conspicuous for his kindly heart and open hospitality, carried off the prize. In 1880 Mr. Blaine followed his fate and the route mapped out by Mr. Clay. General Garfield, of Ohio, received the nomination. He waa also popular with the people because 'f their belief in his integrity and large-heartedness. Clay again defeated in convention. Blaine again defeated in convention. In 1840 Tyler, who had been officially decapitated, was placed on the ticket with Harrison, partly to please the disappointed, delegatesand partly to down the ticket. The same was true in the case of Arthur in 1880. He had been summarily removed by Hayes and was what might be termed “a salve candidate.” Harrison was murdered by poison. Garfield was murdered by pistol. Tyler proved as a President the diiect opposite of what been expected. He was not what might be termed a strong party m n. The same was true of Arthur, except that while Tyler wss infinitely worse, Arthur was infinitely better than the people had supposed. In 1840 the young Abolition party (fighting against agreat evil) had so far materialized as to present a National ticket, “Barney and Earle.” In 1880 the young Prohibition party (also fighting a great evil) voted under he banner of “D ow and Thompson.” In 1844 Mr. Clay again called for the head of the ticket and his third call resulted in a rousing, enthusiastic nomination. Just so with Blaine in 1884. For the first time in the history of the country (Mr. Clay) the Presidential candidate stumped the country in his own behalf. Mr. Blaine also presented his claims in person forty years afterward. The people were carried by storm through the eloquence and sound argument of Mr. Clay, and it was generally conceded tha; he would be elected. The same was true to the letter in Mr. Blaine’s canvas. But — ■ . . Abolition had in 1844 become an important factor, and lessened Mr. Clay’s adherents by many thousands. So— Prohibition served Mr. Blaine in 1884. e Mr. Clay finally announced a policy of protection. ? This is just what Mr. Blaine did forty years afterward. Mr. Clay and Mr. Blaine were each defeated at last by silly prejudice. ’ In the case of Mr. Clay (who was a Mason) it was a wave of anti-Masonry tossed up too late to be subdued. It was the foolish alliteration? “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion,” that wap needed to determine the defeat of Mr. Blaine. Tn both cases New York was the pivot, and several days were required to determine the result. The President-elect in 1844 went up like a rocket and down like a stick—unheard of before and after. The loss of his best adviser left him during the close of his cfficial career at the mercy of his own inefficiency, and he disgusted even his own party. The President-elect of 1884 has lost his right hand man—Daniel Manning. In 1848 Mr. Clay was the foremost candidate of his party, but the choice of the convention fell upon a popular man, who had nothing but a military history and a handle to his name (said handle expressive of the love of the people), General («jch) Taylor. Mr. Clay had 97 votes and General Taylor 111 on the first ballot, aid the result of this convention practically ended Mr. Clay’s career as a statesman. The correspondent concludes as, fol - lows,which may be w tiue or false prophecy: 1

Mr. Blaine will fail as did Mr. Clay, and General “Phil” Sheridan will be the next President of the United States. | Mr. Alger, of Michigan, will be Vice President of the United States on the 4th day of March, 1889. Herein (this question of Vice President) we also find a repetition of history; but I will not itemize here.