Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-11-29
Clevetand,s Weak ness.
IA n. Y. Democrat. in Chicago Herald ID.

nominate a man sor president in
1892 who con be elected, and who
when elected will be worthy ex-
ponent of its doctrines, faithful to
his party and good executive Of
ficer. 1t has no other ambition than
this, and it has many men from
whom to choose. But the friends
of Mr.. Cleveland are advancing his
name with great vehemenoe, and are
denouncing those who do not share
their views us to his popularity and
the need Of his reelection. Herein
they commit again the blunder of
1883, where for months before the
holding Of the ST. Louis Convention
they declared that no man besides
Mr.. Cleveland could possibly be
elected president. Every other ele-
ment and interest of the party were
sacrificed to the advancement of
Mr.. Cleveland. Criticisms of his
course were looked upon as party
treason, any man who dared to differ
from him upon questions Of policy
was looked upon as party traitor.
All the resources Of party discipline
were brought to bear to make the
real issue of the year the support of
Mr.. Cleveland.
These efforts were successful; no
other man was mentioned in the
convention, or for weeks in advance
OF the holding Of the convention.
The Democratic party entered the
convention with no indet endent pur-
pose. Intelligent discussion disap-
peared. The cut and dried pro-
gramme was carried out which nom-
mated Mr.. Cleveland by acclamation;
adopted the platform which he had
caused to be written out in the
White House by acclamation and
without debate; and nominated the
man whom he had chosen for vice.
presidential associate by an over
whelming majority. To accomplish
this the whole power of the federal
Administration was brought to bear
upon the Democratic organization.
and the consequence was the sub
stitution of the will of one man for
the intelligent and thoughtful coun-
sci of n great party. A more fatal
error could not befall great party
aspiring to administer the affairs of
a free government. Nor would this
condition of affairs have been created
bv man who was great leader.
It was a condition intolerable to
freemen.
As much has been said of late
about the fact that Mr.. Cleveland
had plurality over Mr.. Harrison,
and as it is sought to be argued
therefrom that he was greatly and
personally popular, an analysis of
this matter will not be without it's
value. Mr.. Tilden's popular popu-
larity in 1876 was $50, 900, that of
Mr.. Cleveland. after four years of
power, was only $4,000. Of the
votes given to Mr.. Cleveland in
1884. 516,226 were majorities OBJ
tanned in the Southern states, show
ing that in the great Nortern COM
monwealths his popular vote was
420, 900 less than than of Mr.. Har-
rison; and it was in the Northern
Democratic states that Mr.. C1eve-
land needed his majorities and not
in the South. And since this uues-
tion OF majorities is being used SO
much by those who insist upon the
nomination of Mr.. Cleveland in 1892
we should give the matter further
and more careful consideration. The
state of New York gave him 1872.
S54 majority for governor in 1883.
In 1884 it gave him 1047 plurality;
in 1888 it gave Mr. Harrison 1874
plurality, and at that same election
gave the Democratic candidate for
governor 1871 plurality: and yet
the state of New York was and is a
Democratic state.
The election just past shows a
Democratic plurality OF $4,000 for
Mr.. Brice, and this in spite of the
coalition in New York Citv of tine