The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-11-24
THE ADVANCEMENT OF Mr.. CLEVELAND.
Editor Dana on the Purpose of the
Retiring President.
A Leader Who Did Not Care a Copper
for His Party.
Bribery and Intimidation Used by
West Virginia Democrats.

New YORK, Nov. 23.-The Paris CORES
pondent of the Herald interviewed Charles
A. Dana yesterday on the late elections and
ELECTED from him the following views
son general principles" said Mr.. Dana,
"in order to insure the President second
term of office. there must be something of
special and unusual Importance to comment
him to public favor Cleveland had no such
element to aid him. On the contrary, he was
handicapped in many ways. He had no
strong personal friends He was cordially
disliked by the leaders of the Democratic
party and the political directors of the
Democratic press. Even before the election
do not believe there was a more unpopular
person in the United States than he, and
after next March, when the game is all
over, the universal wonder will be how such
a man as Cleveland ever came to fill such a
high position. During his administration he
did no hing to win the confidence and sup
port OF his party, in fact, he did not care a
copper Tor the real interests of the Demo-
Gratis. What he worked and schemed for
from beginning to end was the welfare and
advancement of Mr.. Grover Cleveland. In
his manner toward his supporters he was
always cold and oyerbearing, and he never,
teous or accommodating. He thought him
self to be man of destiny, and so far above
his followers that he could kick them about
as he pleased. He has finally discovered his
mistake. He was always trying to produce
sensation which would make people talk
about him. He did not choose any given
line OF action so much because he believed in
IL as because he believed in its advantages
for himself. He did not dare to veto either
the Oleomargne bill or the River and Har-
nor Dill, although he was convinced that
they were both unwise. He did veto lot of
pension bills because he saw an opportunity
to SET people talking of his prudent over
sight over expenses without alternating any
OF the influential classes. His knowledge
on all subjects was superficial. In many
things he made mistakes as to what would
really rebound to his advantage. His
negotiations of the fisheries treaty and the
extradition treaty did him much harm among
the Irish and the fishermen. If he had not
been politically dead already of course his
position on the tariff would have finished
him.
This last election has, therefore, settled
the free trade question. No party can sue
ceed In the United States which wavers in
its adherence. to- protection. California
wants protection for its wines ard woolens
and fuits; Alabama wants it for its iron, and
so VIII Colorado in time. The whole West
wants 1t for manufactures and industries,
which are springing up there as if by magic.
uc GhSt has always wanted III and the
South will follow suit. The Democrats
were beaten in fair fight because they de-
served to be. There was never an election
more quiet and orderly. There was never
one with less corruption at the polls. To
talk about Cleveland having been knitted in
New York by Hill and Hewitt is nonsense.
Those two men aided rather than injured
the Presidential candidate. The bitterness
aroused in New York State by these fac
tlonal 1ealousies resulted in drawing out an
enormous vote, which always helps the
Democrats. Furthermore, Hill gained thou
sands OF votes among Republicans opposed
to restricting the sale Of liquor, and many
such men were thus led 10 cast straight
Democratic ticket Ii the Democrats had
chosen as their candidate a man without
Cleveland's host of enemies, and if they had
excluded from their platform anything
which might be construed as leaning toward
free trade, think there is no doubt they
would have been successful. As it is they
are set back where they were twenty years
ago, and they have a Republican majority
against them in both Houses.
AS TO the coming administration, / am
sure Blaine will be Secretary of State, unless
he should refuse, Warner Miller win prob
ably be offered either the Treasury or the
Interior Department. Harrison, IN a decided
measure, owes his election to the resolute
stand taken by Miller ON the liquor question,
which has drawn thousands of votes from
the Prohibition party, all so much clear
gain for the Republicans. suppose Harri-
son will make clean sweep among Demo
cratic officeholders; his party believes in
civil service reform-for themselves"