The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-11-15

And now lew o. we W aNhlnSbVh
eorrespondenfs are attempting to
make the people believe that Presi-
dent Cleveland did not expect to be re-
elected. This is The yeriest nonsense.
He not only expected TO be reelected
but he expected the majority in his
favor TO be simply overwhelming. lie
felt confident Of carrying all the donl't-
full states. and be fully expected TO Sc
cure the votes OF half a dozen states
which other men regarded as surely
Republican.
II would have been a remarkable
thing II the president had not been
confident OF Democratic success. He
was in no position 10 learn what the
popular opinion OF his free trade views
really was. From the very day that
he entered the White house he had
turned bis back upon the real leaders
Of his party and surrounded himself
with sycophants. whose fate was linked
with his own and with impractical
theorists who had fully pursnaded
themselves that the people Of thecoun-
try were clamorous for free trade.
The presidents close personal adj
yisers during the campaign we're his
private secretary. Lamont, Postmaster
General Dickinson and Representative
Scott. The first named was one Of the
presidents creatures. and was entirely
devoted to him. He saw through Mr..
Cleveland's eyes and heard through
his ears. II Is altogether probable
that be, too, fully respected Democratic
sHce<ss. and II he did not. he was far
too shrewd to brave the frown Of his
master by representing 70 him the
true state Of affairs. Postmaster Gem
eral Dickinson was eonfdentof Demo-
cratic success. He had mounted
Cleveland on little pedestal and fell
down TO worship him, thinking In the
blindness OF his devotion that the en-
tire American people was doing the
same Thing. Even on the day OF the
election he declared that Cleveland
would surely carry Michigan, though
every man who had studied the situa-
ton in that state knew that 1t would
70 Republican by an overwhelming
majority. As for Scott, he was 50 con-
fidcnt of Democratic success that he |
wagered many thousand dollars on
the result and was too much amazed
10 give voice to his ideas when he dis
covered that Harrison was elected.
Besides these personal advisers, there
was coterie OF free traders upon
whom the president relied for advice
and information. 1t was these men |
who first persuaded him to take up
the cause of free trade. They had as |
sured him that 10 do so would render
his reelection certain and they doubt
less believed that IL would. Idle and
impractical dreamers. all OF them,
they s1nquestionably believed that the |
people we're with them until they read |
their mistake In the election returns. |
Carlisle was the chief of these political
advisers OF the president and Mills and
Watterson were his fieutenants. IL is
scarcely to be supposed that they |
would give Mr.. Cleveland clear in
sight into the state of the popular |
mind. Added TO all else the chairman |
of the Democratic national commit |
tee, TO whom Mr.. Cleveland would |
naturally have looked for correct infor-
nation, was wretchedly incompetent |
and was himself utterly deceived. |
Until the evening of election day he |
was claiming that Cleveland would /
carry New York by hundred thous-
and majority, though all impartial |
observers had united in the belief that /
tho state would go for Harrison.
In such an atmosphere the head OF /
. stronger minded man than Mr..
Cleveland would have been turned. /
He fully expected triumphant reel.
cotton and ii is safe to say no man in
The United States was more surprised |
and disappointed than he at the result .
Of the nppeal to the people.