New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-29
TILL FIRST.

A Presidential ticket composed OF Grover
Cleveland and Allen G. Thurman would be
strange one indeed. Mr. Thurman began to
serve his first term in Congress when the youCh-
full Cleveland was probably preparing 10 ceie-
brate the eighth anniversary OF his blrth. Mr'
Thurman was Chief Justice of the supreme
Court of Ohio before, if we are not mistaken,
Mr.. Cleveland made his debut in the use1ui
but not staltlingly conspicuous office OF ASSIST
ant District Attorney of Erie County. WINE
Mr.. Thurman was acting as the leader OF Cno
Democratic party in the Senate OF the oI1Veo
States, as he did for twelve years, MI. Ole'o-
land was experimenting hangings in bunaio'
and conducting them with peculiar ecOhoin!
for the benefit of his own pocket. Ihen oy
one Of the extraordinary surprises of American
politics he found himself whirled upward irom
the Sheriff's Office to the Presidents chaiF'
without the training, knowledge or ability that
would fit him to occupy it, And now IL Is pro-
posed that in the second and very subordinate
place on the ticket with him shall be piaceu d
man infinitely his superior in every quAiinc"-
tion. natural or acquired. Mr.. Thurman mas
committed errors in his public career but 1t Is
univers.lly conceded that he is statesman
having q profound knowledge of our system OF
Governments nan Of dignifed bearing in pub
lie life, thoroughly veiscd through his long
service in Congress in all practical questions OF
administrator, and in all ways better Quallhed
to be President than Mr.. Cleveland ever was
"a be Sheriff. Mr. Thurman could probably
forget in o few moments without any effort
moro than Mr.. Cleveland has ever known IN
law and craftsmanship, and still not have his
stock Of knowledge greatly diminished.
If Mr. Thurman is to run at all 1t should DO
for President 1t is true that he is seventy
FIVE years old. and somewhat iniilm, but II Nh
Cleveland should be nominated for Vice-Presi-
dent. it could be considered tolerably sure that
in case of election Mr. Humans death woulo
find comparatively young man, solidly built
and stout in the legs, ready to take his place
Mr.. Thurman, as a trained statesman, and
man of dignity of career and character, would
give lis far more presentable Administration
than Mr.. Cleveland could do, while the latter
would have ample opportunity dunng Jour
years silent occupancy of the presiding of1fcer
chair in the Senate to acquire vast deal Oh
useful information which he does not now pos
sess.
To ask the distinguished and venerable ex-
Senator from Ohio to take this second place,
especially in view of the calibre and record OF
the occupant Of the first place, is an extJaor-
binary draft to make upon the loyalty OF an
old party servant. Mr.. Thurman fought the
battles Of the Democracy in tho Senate in the
gloomy days when the party had only six repre-
sentatives in the body besides himself. lie
has always been ready to perform any service
in his power, and after maintaining this atti-
tude for more than fifty years his reward, If he
will accept it. is to be the cold potato OF
nomination for the Vice-Presidency This is
hardly fair 1t would be much better to turn
the ticket around and make it Thurman and
Cleveland. It's chances Of election might not
he any better than they will DO now, but at
least its brains would be in the head and not in
/ the tail