Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-20
- 80 ArailahIe Candida,e.

| Democrats are 50 anxious 70 win the
/ Presidency that they are timid about as
/ serting their convictions. and are afraid
70 do what their judgment tells them is
right. They are alarmed at every whisper
Of opposition, and are quick 10 make con-
4 cessions. even where such concessions re-
/ quire the abandonment. for the time BE-
| ing, Of principles. A great manT excellent
| Democrats, who are earnest believers in
tariff reform are willing 20 push the tariff
reform issue in the background because
the holder pr8ectionists alarm them
By predictions u ruin 10 the party
II il is urged. The leading
candidates for the Presidential nOmina-
riOn are Bayard ana Cleveland. There are
Few Democrats who do not think that
Bayard il the better man FOR President.
He has an experience in public affairs
which Cleveland has not, and be has at
tanned an eminence a. a statesman that Il
Is hardly probable that Cleveland viii
ever attain. Democrats all over the
country. however. are demanding the
nomination Of Cleveland because they are
afraid that a couple Of speeches that
Bayard made many years ago would Injure
his chances Of success II he were nOmi-
mated. They do not consider that what
the people want now in a candidate more
than anything else is integrity and states
manship. The people do not care much
what opinions a candidate entertained
fifteen or twenty years ago, 50 long as be
entertained them honestly and fearlessly,
and was not disloyal TO the government.
What they want 10 know is, what be Is
and what he believes now, and they want
to be sure that be is what he preteHds TO
be, and that he believes what
be pretends 70 believe. There
is no Democrat or Republican who viii
say that Bayard is not an honest man. an
able man and a safe man 10 trust with
the administration Of the government.
That be had the moral courage 10 say that
he favored a peace policy when that poll
~ was not popular, and that he thought
loyal men in loyal States ought 70 be paid
for their slave property, when public
sentiment was the other way, ought 70 be
mentioned u his credit. because il proves
that be is not a demagOgue. He has the
courage % do what be thinks is right,
regardless Of public clamor. There are
few public men who have courage Of that
kind. They ought to be given places Of
the highest trust, because they have the
Integrity and strength Of character neces-
sary % a pure administration Of The gov
eminent. Those who are parading Bay
ards speeches as an obstacle to his nomi-
nation. are either timid Democrats OF
those who are working in the interest Of
other candidates. II he should be HOmi-
mated. the speeches would cut no figure
in the canvass. At one time Greeley held
the same opinions relative 70
allowing the seeding states to 20
in peace, and Lincoln favored
paving loyal citizens for their slave pro-
perry. Il Is claimed for Cleveland that
he can carry New York. The same
claim is made for Bayard and with better
reason. Cleveland has made a good Gov
ern0r. but he has, at the same time, made
enemies. lie has lost popularity even in
his own city Of Buffalo. There is quite a
strong feeling against him in the city Of
New York. Bayard would encounter
none Of this hostility. He would get
both the Democratic vote and the
reform vote. The great majority which
Cleveland received as Governor did not
Indicate great popularity, because mis- to-
tai vote was very little more than that Of
Hancock in 1850. His majority was
largely due to the refusal Of the Republi-
cans 10 vote.
In the last quarter Of a century the
Democrats have made several mistakes
by seeking an available candidate rather
than one conspicuous for craftsmanship
and a lofty character. Now when so
much i being said about admins
tratiye reform, and when the people
are thoroughly Disguised with the cor
ruptiou in official circles, the most avail
able candidate is the one whOs judged by
his public career and private life, most
completely meets the popular idea Of the
kind Of a man the President should be.