National Republican., 1888-05-07
Where Mr.. Cleveland VIII Fail.


1t is really one of the most amusing AMI
anomalous situations in politics that Ia.
ever been known when a party Is unaui-
nous fora candidate whom they do 1t
like and whom niuc.tcnths Of It's members
would like to see thrown overheard into the
deep sea if they had anybody to tlke hi-
| place. This is the attitude Of the Demo.
cratic party to-day toward Mr. Cleveland.
Its case Of party being led about 10y the
nose dependent and helpless.
To 50 great pass have things come that
one loyal Democratic organ In the south
proposed that in order to insure perfect har-
mony between Mr. Cleveland and the plat
form Of the 81. Louis convention. Mr. Clcye.
land write the platform himself This was
suggested by the NATIONAL Republican,
some time ago rs a good way to maintain
the present state of autocracy on the Bone
hand aud abinct, servilc submission on the
other Mr. Cleveland being his party's die
tatur In everything else, we see no reason
why he should not send platform COM
plctc to the st. Louis convention and de-
mand Its adoption. The demand would no
doubt be acccdcd to with that alacrity that
charaCterizes all the acts Of obedience of his
party.
1t SO happened that Mr.. Cleveland was
the agency through which the hungry De
mocracy escaped from the wilderness and
came into the land of milk and honey. If
lie were a golden calf It would he all the
same. The question Of what he Is. or what
he was or what he may be, has very little -
do with IT. the main thing Is that he Is. and
that he Is in the white house. The Demo
cratic eye likes TO gaze out and see that there
is somebody at home-somebody who has
the key of the stOrehouse Of good thing,
and who may open up and let the boys IN
now aud then.
Tile Democracy will make any sacrifice
of principle or sclf-rcspect in order to sue.
cccd. 1t will crawl in the dust before the
potcntate Of the white house. 1t waits
fiom him the word of bidding like a dog
waits the bidding of its master 1t fawns
whiningly at the feet of him who II feels
and knows not to be in hearty sympathy
with its traditional practices and aims. 1t
plays the sycophant to the President. In order
that II may enjoy the Presidents rewards
of place, power, and gain. If he were to
smitc II ON one cheek. so lost Is IL i'm
every sense of independence that it
would willingly turn the other.
But what must he the result Of campaign
where there is no real sympathy be-
tween the leader and his followers There
must of necessity be an entire absence Of
enthusiasm, that element of power which
always plays so tremendous a part in great
popular movements. \ Presidential candi-
dacy Is popular movement in the fullest
sense of the word 1t did exist with the
Democrats In 1854 when they did not know
Mr.. Cleveland; it cannot exist with the
Democrats in lSsS when they do know Mr..
Cleveland. While the knowledge they have
of him inspires submissonit does inspire en-
thusiasn. There are no personalities be-
tween Mr. Cleveland and his party.
In his personality he has been
as completely separated from his followers
since he has been President as the most
absolute monarch is from his subjects. Just
in this gulf that separates him from the
heart and personal sympathies of his party
Is the danger of his defeat. While he NAV
be autocrat enough TO dictate the formal
dcliveranccs Of his party, such as the writ
ing of platforms and the making Of noml-
nations, he cannot touch and arouse that
secret spring of human action which In
Germany Bismarck called the .fUrore Teu-