Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-28
a Free Expression of Democratic
Opinion.


The last disastrous Democratic ma
tional campaign was an exception to all
that had preceded it. Hitherto. in the
councils Of the party, there had been the
largest possible discussion of the sdvisa-
bility of this or that feature of the ma
tional platform, ard as to this or that
candidate. No dictum of a Democratic
President, until MIR. Cleveland was
elected, ever counted 'deuce aces' in
either the nomin alton Of his successor,
or in the fabri cation of the platform on
which be was elected or defeated. and
some of these Democratic Presidents
were illustrious men, and were their
own successors. Probably the exception
was made in Mr.. Ceveland's instance
because of his long and commanding in
fiuence in national politics before he
made his advent in Washington.
Democrats are today confronted with
the somewhat gruesome fact that, with
the almost entire possession of the ma
tional government-the only exception
being the United States Senate-they
deliberately handed it over to their
opponents. Mr.. Cleveland, until he
grossly depar ted from the precedents of
his Democratic predecessors, was as
clearly marked out to be his own suc-
csssor as, in the scriptural narrative,
David was designated as the successor OF
King Saul. About ten per cent. of the
Repnblica party was ready to vote for
him until he himself, to use Grants
famous simile, kicked the bucket over.
He un doubtedly did this at the behest of
a small clique of politicians, of whom
John G.. Carlisle, Roger @. Mills and
Henry Watterson-al able and billiant,
but one-sided men-were the leaders.
There never was such a slavieh cam.
paign as that of the Democratic party in
1888. The m ost sagacious and most hon.
ored and consistent Democrats were put
under an intolerable duress. Governor
Gray, Of Indiana, was thrown over as the
Democratic can didate for Vice President,
in order that the aged and venerable
Allen G. Thur rman should be nominated
for that Office, largely on the ground that
the latter could carry California by a
tremendous majority. AS q matter of
fact, Thurman failed to carry the Golden
State by any majority, while Gray could
have carried Indiana handsomely for the
Democratic ticket. The large Republi-
can majority in California and the small
Republican majority in Indiana-Har-
rison's own State-emphasized the folly
which dictated the nomination for the
second place on the ticket.
But the greatest mistake of all was in
the nomination for the head of the
ticket. Mr.. Cleveland had shown him
self to be the grateful servitor of the
Mugwumps, who betrayed him go shame
lessly in Brooklyn in the election which
has rightfully relegated him to private
life. large proportion OF the seven
thousand Democrats who voted for him
in 1884, and who voted against the DEM
ocraiic ticket in 1888, gave their reason,
with their names and addresses, in COM
munications to the New York World.
The refrain ran, "Mugwump," "Too Big
for His Breeches," "Swell Head ;"
"Knows Too Much" /" "Not Democrat, :"
and 80 on to the end of the chapter.
These expressions OF opinion were sem
tentious and often rude, but they clearly
outlined why Harrison beat Cleveland
thirteen thousand votes in the Empire
State although Gov. Hill beat his popu-
lar Republican opponent, Warner Miller,
for Governor nearly twenty thousand.
This result was brought about notwith-
standing the fact that Gov. Hills friends
warmly supported Cleveland, while
Mr.. Cleveland's most ostentatious
friends were hostile to Gov. Hill.
The splendid Democratic Governor of
New York, who carried the Empire
State by 1877 900 for Lieutenant Governor
when Cleveland only got $4,000 for
Governor, in the last days of his cam
paign said, "Pay no attention to me. 1
am already elected. Devote all your
attention to the national ticket. 1t is in
danger" In marked contrast to this
chivalrous course was the action of
President Cleveland, who was i'm