The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-01
A VARIETY OF TOPICS
Upon Which the President Con-
sents to be Interviewed,
HE'S AN INTENSE DEMOCRAT
With all the Word Implies, so He
Says, But Some of His Party Say
othcFwIse-How He Takes De-
fcat-An Interesting Talk.

feat-An Interesting Talk,
NRw YoRE, Feb, 9S,-In compliance
with request Of James Gordon Bennett
President Cleveland, yesterday gave I
long interview to a correspondent Of the
Herald, ASS result Of the interview the
correspondent telegraphs the following
to the Herald:
| have had long, and need not add,
q very interesting talk with President
Cleveland this morning. 1t was really a
talk, for Mr., Cleveland objects to a for.
NAL interview, He preferred to chat in
a familiar and friendly way about the
various topics which involve the nat
ional welfare, and then gave me a free
pen with which to describe what heard.
Mr.. Cleveland referred to the last four
years, and then declared his hope that
the Republican party on It's accession to
power would pursue no course that
could In any way rehabitiate the section,
al animosities which baye been dying
out.
! was anxious TO know what he would
say Of the future prospects OF the Re-
public: ! therefore led the conversation
70 subjects bearing upon this question.
He spoke with utmost frankness,
lie said; VI am Democrat, all tho
word implies. am, moreover, an in
tense Democrat, in that believe that
the true principles Of tue Democratic
party are essential TO the highest well.
being OF the country. During the war"
he added, "the Republican party had
supreme and unquestioned control OF
public policy. No one will question the
service Il rendered at that time, but the
rank and file OF the ARMY was composed
largely OF Democrats. The Generals
who won renown were also, many OF
them, Democrats. While there were
among the Republicans a small minority
Of hot'heads who found fault with the
Lincoln administration, and among the
Democrats an equal number OF fossils
whose timidity was a national misior-
tune, the great bulk Of the people, from
East to West, without respect TO party
affiliations, were solidly patriotic and
ready for any necessary amount OF sac.
ritiCe for the preservation OF our institu-
lions. 1t is folly to claim that the war
was fought by the American citizens OF
the North.
TIE OLD CRY.
"But it is plain" he said, with great
seriousness, that under Republican ad-
ninlstrations there has been given a
fresh and dangerous impetus to monop.
plies, trusts and combines. Immense
Iortunes have been accumulated, un.
known in the days Of our fathers. They
lre q peculiarly OF past bellum times,
and the control which they arbitrarily
exercise over the cost OF existence Is a
iirect menace TO the welfare Of the work.
ngmen and our farmers"
On my suggesting the race question in
he South, Mr.. Cleveland naturally hes.
tated before answering, because, as he
'aid, 1t Is the most delicate subject now
before the people.
The South has partly recovered from
he effects OF the war and for twenty
years and more has been putting all its
energies into the soil and into manuiac-
.ures. 1t has risen from q condition ap-
1rocChing ruin TO degree OF financial
md practical enterprise which rendered |
I In some industries a sharp competitor
With the North, The sudden and mar
ielous recovery OF the South in indus
rial interest Is fact in which the whole
nation may well take pride. And this |
ceiling Of pride wouldbe universal II the |
professions 80 often made OF complete re.
and q desire 10 join in |
hearty and united effort to work out our
lestiny as nation are sincere.
The new relations between the whites
and the negroes at the South are gradu.
ally arranging themselves. 1t must,
however, be a work OF time-and OF q
long time-before an entirely satisiac.
Tory result can be reached.
While Mr.. Cleveland believes that
manifest wrongs either 70 whites or
blacks should not be tolerated, he has
by no means lost confidence in the fair
minded average public opinion Of the
South TO do the best which the circum.
stances allow. They know the situation
in all It's bearing, and TO distrust their
ability TO deal with 1t Is TO distrust their
sincerity and fairness.
TAREs HIS DEFEAT EASY.
When I suggested some question as 10
the difference between the incoming
and the outgoing administrations, Mr..
was quick with an answer.
he is In no wise disturbed by
the fortunes Of political warfare which
have befallen him. lie is downright
good natured over his defeat.
The people, alone, he said, have a
right to rule the country, and their will
Is law. There Is no appeal from their
decision, and there should be none.
What they desire they will have, and
ought 10 hare.
While the President firmly believes
that the taril reform measures which
The Democratic party stands for are for
the best interests OF the whole people,
and while he neither secs nor desires TO
see the least disposition on the part OF
the Democratic party TO recede from the
position which II has taken, he accepts
The result Of the election with the placid.
Ity Of the philosopher, and the Calmness
which the minority should always
possess. The people can not be deceived
by false logic In the long run, however,
The workingmen seem already 10 under.
stand pretty well the question submitted
10 them at the last election. Mr.. Cleve.
land has no fear that the Democratic
policy Of an adjustment OF the tariff 10
The wants and circumstances Of those oi
Dur people who work for their living,
with due regard 10 all other legitimate
interests and enterprises, will not liltl.
mately commend itself 10 tho American
people. What will help tho people and
make their burdens lighter Ia what they
will have In the end and there need be
no fear that they will not discover the
way 10 this end or that they will fall 70
attach themselves 10 the party which
consistently and honestly oilers them
relief.
There were other matters on which /
should have been gladt 10 hear Mr. Cleve.
lands opinion, but he had already given
me more time than could well be spared