Omaha daily bee., 1888-02-24
The Democratic National Convention.


The national convention OF the demo-
cratic party will meet at st. Louis on
the 5th Of June. There was vigorous
struggle between the five cities that de-
sired the convention, and the victory OF
the representatives OF St. Louis should
commend them to the heartiest regard
OF their constituents. The selection OF
that city rendered necessary recon-
sideration of the earlier action of the
national committee designating July
as the date of holding the convention,
and IL will meet month earlier and two
weeks in advance OF the republican ma
tional convention. The result indicates
that Mr.. Cleveland had either expressed
no wish as to when and where the con-
vention should be held or that his
desire was disregarded. The suppo-
sition has been that he felt good deal
of concern about the matter, but it now
seems probable that this was a mistake,
and that the committee was enabled to
act free from any administration in
huence.
Except for the possible local influence
to be exerted by tho convention, the
place of meeting is perhaps not a mat
ter of very great Importance, and on
this one ground the committee would
doubtless have acted more wisely if it
had chosen Chicago or San Francisco,
and particularly the latter. 1t will
meet in a democratic stronghold where
its presence will have no other effect
than to intensity the ardor and en-
thusiasm of democrats, who do
not need any such stimulus,
and where perhaps the greatest
qualification OF the delegates will be in
the knowledge that they are not, as the
facetious Senator Vest EXPRESSED it,
feeding a republican city on demo-
cratic sponge cake" So far as the chief
| work of the convention is concerned, it
will undoubtedly be as we'll done in St.
Louis as it could be done in any other
city. Unless all signs fail the business
| of renominating Mr.. Cleveland and un-
reservedly endorsing his administra-
tion will be performed with all the
heartiness and enthusiasm which so per-
functory duty can inspire. There are
intimations Of an opposition 10 this pro-
| gramme which may prove more or less
formidable, but it. is not ap-
parent that they have any
substantial basis. Democrats can
be found everywhere who are not
in favor of Cleveland, and some of these
will doubtless get into the convention.
I There is talk about the Vaccinations of
German and Randall to defeat renomi-
nation of the president, and very likely
these politicians, who have nothing to
expect Of the administration, would be
very glad to accomplish this. There is
an element OF the party in New York
which would very much prefer Gov
ernor Hill as a candidate. But the
great majority of the party feel that its
cause would be utterly hopeless without
Cleveland, and it is not to be doubted
that the representatives Of this ma
jority will be strong enough in the con-
vention to carry everything as they
wish.
The fact that the convention will be
held earlier than usual, and in advance
of the republican convention, possesses
no great significance. It simply assures
long campaign, which, however salts
factory to the politicians, will not be
welcome to the business Of the country.
The quadrennial political contest is
always more or less disastrous to busi-
ness, and of course the more prolonged
it is the greater the damage. The next
campaign promises to be one Of the most
| nctiye and heated that the country has
known for many years, and it would
doubtless have been better for the gen.
eral welfare to have confined it to two
months instead Of extending it over
nearly five, as will now have to be done.
There will certainly be enough politics
this year to satisfy the most inordinate
appetite.