The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-16
WILL HEDGING HELP HIN?
PTe.IdeBt CieyCiaad's Cowardiy cours
VIII Lose Him Strength.

VIII Lose Him Strength.
Philadelphia Pres.
Grover Cleveland was nominated for
President by the st. Louis Convention
on the 9Th Of June. 1t is now the l4th
Of August. Nearly two months and
half have gone by. Almost half OF the
campaign has passed. And yet he has
not issued his letter of acceptance, and
we are told that it will not appear for
some time to come. This extraordinary
delay is unprecedented There is not II
case on record where the candidate has
hesitated and postponed and halted like
this, The longest time that has ever be.
fore interviewed between nomination
and All acceptance was fOrty-threc days.
-Four years ago Mr.. Cleveland took forty.
Now, after nearly double that period, he
gives no sign.
What is the reason for this unparalleled
ed delay? Under ordinary circumstances
every argument iavOrs every action.
The letter OF acceptance is the candi-
dates platform. 1t defines and eXpOunds
his position upon the issues OF the day,
and the canvass measurably halts till
il appears. II President Cleveland had
clear, straight, unembarrassed course
before him he would naturally have sent
out his letter before this time. The only
rational explanation OF the long delay is
that he is hedging on the tariff question
and that he delays because he hedges
and hesitates. There is no other con-
ceiyable reason. His message OF last
December was bold, unequivocll and
uncompromising proclamation OF Free
Trade. It embodied what was unmis.
takably his real conviction then and
what Is undoubtedly his real conviction
now. II he were to follow his own in
clinations he would unquestionably hew
to that line still, let the chips fall where
they might; and he would make his let
ter OF acceptance prompt, brave, un-
faltering reiteration OF his message. But
he lets l dare not wait upon | would; he
hedges in thought and will hedge in the
letter; and the days go by us he stands
shivering on the brink.
He hedges party because be himself
dimly sees the uprising OF the country
against his British Free Trade policy,
but chiefly because his managers see it
more clearly than he does, and demand
the concession. There is no doubt that
the President has been told very plainly
in his own political household that he
cannot win on the line OF his message.
1t is an open secret that his recent fish
ing cruise off the coast OF Long Island
was devised to bring him under more
conservative influences. The represent
tation was made to him them, us it has
been made TO him elsewhere, that his
Free Trade deliverances had JeOpardi2ed
the Democratic prospects, and TINT un-
less he trims his sails and changes his
course before the rising storm, the DEM
ocratic cause will be shipwreCkcd. The
Democratic managers are not blind to
the signs OF the times. They see the
great landslide for Harrison. They see
that this open assault on the industries
OF the country is driving thousands out
OF the Democratic ranks. They see that
in battle between Protection and Free
Trade there can be only one result. And
SO the word that is passed along from
the Democratic headquarters is, hedge,
hCdqe, HEDGg-and the only explanation
of Mr.. Cleveland's Unprecedented delay
is that he is getting ready to hedge.
Will hedging help him? Will it save
a battle already lost to him il rightly
pushed by his adversaries? We do not
believe it. Such vaCillation will show
weakness and cOwardice without restor-
ing confidence. 1t will expose insin-
cerity without re-establishing faith. 1t
will forfeit the strength Of courage with
ont ginning the creditof rightor honesty.
A large element in whatever degree OF
popular favor President Cleveland has
gained has been the feeling that he had
the courage of his convictions. Men
have not regarded him as great or wise
or experienced, but they have credited
him with pluck and tirmness, and many
have been attracted by these qualities.
Ii now he shall hedge in his letter OF ac-
ceptance us a matter OF policy he will
sacrifice all OF the popular credit be has
gained from the supposed possession of
these attributes; and, on the other hand,
he will win back none OF the support he
has lost through his Free Trade position
because everybody will know that his
hedging is only campaign makeshiit.
Nevertheless nc is in desperate strait;
to 20 on is sure defeat; to go back is
dangerous; but he will hedge and hedge
and try to straddle and so will fall be-
tween two stools.