John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[470] had, that it would be better for his party, his country, and himself to take a second election. It pointed out the influences and arguments which would be brought to bear, and, although it cast no doubt upon the good faith or upon the firmness of the President's determination, it declared that nothing but time and experience could shed a conclusive light on the question. As the sequel showed, the editor was both correct and prophetic, for in spite of his earlier convictions' Cleveland was not only renominated twice, but the second time was re-elected after an interregnum of four years.

During the whole of Cleveland's administration, and, for that matter, during the entire twelve years ending with his second term, Dana maintained the position of an independent with Democratic leanings, but it would be impossible within the limits of this narrative to epitomize the discussions in which the Sun was engaged. Such an epitome would necessarily touch upon every branch of human activity, for all were watched and commented upon by the editor and his able assistants. The newspaper had come to be recognized by the reading and thinking public, not only as the most enterprising, but as the most original and most interesting journal of the times. There was no subject which it hesitated to discuss, and none which it did not illuminate.

One of the most absorbing topics of the day was the overflowing treasury of the general government, and how to reduce the continually increasing surplus. Many suggestions were made and considered, but the one which received the Sun's heartiest approval was set forth in Tilden's letter to the speaker of the House of Representatives, urging that no reduction of taxation should be made till a proper and adequate system of sea-coast defence had been constructed and paid for. It regarded this as far preferable to a free-trade tariff. Later it discussed the