St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-24
ST. LOUIS GETS 1T.

Inc selection or 81. LOUIS as the place
for holding the next national Demo
cratic convention was the best possible
outcome of the tangled state of affairs
the national committee had managed to
create by permitting factional leaders
like SCOTT and GoRMAN to bring their
personal rivalries into the committee
meeting. In one sense it was a misfOr-
tune that this factional war was sprung
at time when such general harmoni-
Gus relations seemed to prevail through
out the party organization. In another
sense it is fortunate that the fight did
occur, as it developed into fact suspi-
ciOn which was lurking in the public
mind that certain well known Demo-
cratic leaders were in the actual service
of the opposition. and were awaiting an
opportunity to knife the administration.
On the face it looks as if the struggle in
the committee over the place for holding
the convention grew out of the fact that
Mr.. SCOTT having supplanted Senator
GORMAN in the confidence of the preSi-
dent. the latter was disposed to. have
revenge, even at the cost of wrecking
the national Democratic organization.
But, in truth, the secret of the struggle
lies deeper than that. 1t is not alto
gether a pleasant prospect for Demo-
Gratis to contemplate, but as long
as the situation exists, it may
as well be understood, and met
in the proper spirit. There is no use in
attempting to conceal the fact that there
is we'll defined conspiracy among the
corporations including the trusts, the
land rings. the various combines and
railroad syndicateS to down President
CLEVELAND. Nor are they over nice in
the methods they select to accomplish
their ends. In this conspiracy are a
few persons in whom the Democratic
party has reposed confidence and who
are now attempting to play the Judas
role. They are the representatives Of
the small fractional element of the
party, whose individual interests are in
conflict with the party's principles. In
other words, they are for high tariff and
protection for the sake of protection,
while pure and unauthorized DEM
Ocracy means limiting the tariff to
strictly revenue basis.
1t was this element, led by Senator
GORMAN, who created the ruction in
the committee. Taking advantage of a
popular sentiment in favor of San
Francisco they allied themselves with
the friends Of that place. Mr.. SCoTT,
who poses as spokesman for the presi-
dent, was indiScreet enough to make an
issue against San Francisco in favor of
Chicago, and thus gave GoRMAN'S fol-
lowers an advantage. MiStaking San
FranclscO's local popularity for all evil
dence of anti-adminiStratiOn strength
in the committee, GORMAN and his
henchmen forced the fighting on that
issue and played openly hand that
they had previously intended to keep
concealed. The result was that the
wisdom of the committee had to
assert itself by knocking both
SCOTT and GoRMAN out of the
ring and selecting place that was not
identified with the success Of either
faction.
A June convention in ST. Louis will
be suItry sort of an affair, but there
was no alternative for it, except to
jeOpardize party success. The holding
of the convention in st. Louis this year
will revive the memories of 1876, when
TILDEN and HENDRICKS were elected
and afterwards defrauded out of the
election. This ought to be an inspira-
ton to the national Democracy to put in
the field clean ticket OH a clean plat
form-such a platform as SAMUEL J.
TILDEN or THOMAS A. HENDRICKS
would be willing to stand OH if they
wprp alive