New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-13
THE TWO CANDIDATES.

/ American people. lhey nave 1altn tlllV thc
| people will not intr1Ist tht Government to the
Democratic party nor prefer candidate con
spicuorsly lacking in necessary qualifications
/ TO one extraordinarily well qualified. They do
not build upon the idea that Mr.. Kelly or Gen
era Butler will help Mr. Blaine, or that IRISH
voters as a class will support him, or voters OF
! the Catholic faith, or wOrkingmcn rs class.
But they believe that a great number OF IN
divIdual voters, of these and all other classes,
will be swayed by Mr.. Bane's ideas and his
superior qualifications.
Grover Cleveland, a biographcr states first
became known i'll 1872, as County Sheriff. be-
cause of the neat and expeditions hanging of
two murdercrs." At that time James G.. Blaine
was surprising all predecessors as Speaker of
the House, the second Office i'll importance i'll
the United States Government. For twelve
years he has been adding to his knowledge,
while Grover Cleveland, until within the past
eighteen months, had no contact with public
affairs outside of his own city, and since that
time none outside of the State except such aS
the drudgcry of the Executive Office has per
mittcd. Even within the State, his errors and
his political associations show that he does not
know men well. Outside of it. he has had no
opportunity to attain that knowledge of public
men which is more necessary to a President
than almost any other qualification. But prob
ably no other American living has as wi!" and
thorough a knowledge Of public men as Mr..
Blaine has shown
Tremendous responsibilities attend a transfer
Of executive power from one party TO the other
To meet them with safety, President needs,
not only rare knowledge of men, but rare
LII. as la, ,ln r1t
legislation and diplomacy. Probably any or
binary member Of Congress has more OF citlhr
than Mr.. Cleveland. He has never been in
legislative body; has had no means of learning
the method, of Federal administration in any
one of the departments; and in one or two
speeches has exhibited unusual ignorance of in
tcrnalonal relations. TO choose such a man
for the grave responsibilities Of u transfer Of
executive power would be as sensible rs 10 set
a schooboy 10 build Brooklyn Bridge or 10
manage the Pennsylvania Railroad. He would
have to begin with far inferior ability, where
Mr. Blaine began more than twenty years ago.
Even then Mr. Blaine probably knew more of
public affairs and men than Mr.. Cleveland
knows now, and he has since served with great
honor in the House, in the Senate. and rs Secrc-
tary of State Vast experience and close study
have made Nj. Blaine beyond dispute he most
thoroughly equipped statesman of America.
Mr.. Cleveland is not known to have formed
All opinion of his own on any question of Ma
tional policy lie has constantly supported the
Democratic party in all its vagaries ana folics
and crimes, without a whisper of dissent. But
Mr.. Blaine has for many years been one of the
great leaders of National thought. His his
torical work clicits the highest praise, even in
Europe, for It's profound and comprehensive
craftsmanship. His opinions are matrIrcd,
tested and known. In clccting Mr.. Cleveland
the people would simply buy a ticket in a lot
terry.
Mr.. Clcveland's ignorance and incxpcricncc
would almost inevitably make him the tool of
somebody. As Mayor ~ was so guided by citi-
Zens who wanted local reforms that he filled the
Office with credit. But as Governor he has
fallen completely under the influence of the
Manning ring at Albany aud the County ring
here His ideal" with Boss Mclaughlin was
particularly discreditablc, because, from inter
course with Mayor Low, he must have known
full well the character of the gang whose sup
port he secured An intelligent man, he must
also have known the shameless corruption by
which the "coal-oil ring in Ohio slaughtered
Thurman and PendlctOn and gained success.
The exposure of Hubert .. Thompson bad been
50 complete that no shrcwd partisan Governor
would have vcntuTed to shield him, unless de-
pending on ThOmpsons ring for the gratiiica
ton of personal ambition. Governor Cleveland
did shield Thompson, and his reward is a nOmi-
nation for the Presidency. He was nominated
by the corrupt rings Of New York Brooklyn
and Albany, and by the coal-Oil ring of Ohio,
and only by means of ring methods so offensive
that they are no longer tolerated in any other
state than New York, even in Democratic
Convention.
1t can hardly be doubted that Governor Clevc-
land, if elected would be tool Of the same
corrupt rings. Ignorance of men and methods !
would put him quite at their mercy. He would
not know whom to trust, where to 90 for sound /
and PATRIOTIC counsel. how 70 influence Con- |
grc~s to wise action, or what measures could be |
employed. at home Or abroad ~ promote the |.
welfare of the Nation. But the rings would |
have mortgage on him. by their control Of his /
canvass and his party at vital points.
10 be q leader OF such party rs the Demo- |
cratic is bad enough to- be- its tool is worse. 4 /
powerful man like Mr. Bayard or General .
Butler could influence his party largely. for |
good or evil. Bul Mr. Cleveland is too small. |
hc has neither acquaintance, experience nor .
power what the tendencies Of thc Democratic .
party are, the country knows Grover. Glove.
land has never publicly resisted one Of lhcm.
what the crimes Of lhat party hive been. the
world knows. Mr.. Cleveland Is not known 10
have uttered word Of dissent 81 protest, Mr..
l'aynrd has opposed reputation, Mr. lloadly
Mr. Mcdonald initiation, Mr.. Randall
free trade almost every living Democrat has
been impclcd by his convictions, at one tmr or
another, 10 resist some bad tendency or measure
Of his party But Grover Cleveland has re-
sisted nothing All that has boon basc OF mcan.