Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-07
WEDNESDAY. MAY 7. 1890.
Already in Sight.


The presidential year Of 1888 seems 70
have been with us a very short time since,
and yet the presidential year of 1892 is al
ready in sight. The formula, THE King
is dead. Long Live the King" comes to
mind as we realize that we may almost say
"a new President is in Office; and yet
another new President will be elected IN
1891" The presidency Is always an inter-
esting subject to nation Of politicians.
We Americans have hardly pushed one
man from the presidential stool and seated
his immediate successor before we begin
toprepare our machinery for pushing that
successor from the same stool and seating
new man upon II.
Mir. HENRY WILKINSON was interviewed
a few days ago as to the future OF the
Democratic party. Among the things he
anid were the following:
AS 10 the outlook for Democratic sue
cess in 1892, / think it exceedingly encOur-
aging. The party is entirely harmonious,
having fought out all its internal differ
ences. II Is united In every part OF the
country, with nothing TO darken IT'S pros
pects except some factiOnalisms IN the state
OF New York, but they are merely OF per-
sonal character. But have many reasons
10 hope that the factions in New YORK VIII
get together before the next national con-
yention. IL would be euicidal TO take the
nominee from New York State If 1t were
divided and there was an evident deter
Inipation of any considerable body 10 knife
the party. Outside of Cleveland there IS
no one whom | think of now as the noml-
nee. but no one knows what may happen.
Two years are as much as a generation IN
American politics. | take no stock IN the
ideas of civil-service reform as they were
advanced by the great mugwump leaders
and newspapers and accepted by Mr.. Cleve-
land, believing. as do, that this is repre-
sentative government, based upon party re-
sponsibility, and not Ii government OF mere
individuals holding their places by KIND
Of divine right of their own assumption
and assertion"
MIR. WArTERsoN is right. Mr.. CLEVELAND
would almost certainly be the nominee If
the nominating convention were held this
year. Mr.. WATTRRsoS is not an advocate
of such civil-service reform as Mr.. HAIR
RIsoS gives US, nor indeed of such ms Mr..
CLEVELAND might give us if he should have
q second term. but none the less sees that
Mr.. CLEVELAND has hold upon the people
of this country such as no other man has.
Somehow or other he has their confidence.
and prominent man who enjoys that con-
fidence can always count upon good toll
lowing.
We include Mr.. WATTERsoN among Mr..
CIkvEIASD's friends. But ho is not blind
TO the teachings of history nor to the un-
certainty of the future. Unless Governor
HuI's friends shall cease their war upon
Mr.. CLEVELAND the wise and far-seeing
leaders of the Democratic party will go
elsewhere than to New York for the Demo
cratic nominee for President in 1892. We
Law il down as indisputable that il CLEvE-
LAND be nominated in 1892 it will be a wise
nomination. Why? Because tho delegates
10 the National Convention will not think
of nominating a man whose election Is
considered doubtful. 1t is not as it was in
1888. when the Democrats felt as if CON-
PEELED to renominate the man who had
been so good a President Besides, the
contest of 1892 promises to be a turning
point in the history OF the country. Either
the Democrats must elect the President IN
1882 or they must prepare themselves for
the disappearance of the last vestige OF
the Government established by our fathers.
We have set Mr.. WAITEEsoY down as
CLEVELAND man. But he is also western
man; and in this latter character he may
be unconsciously favorable to the nomina
ton of a western man for President. He
lives not a great way from the man whom
the Democrats Of Ohio regard as Mascot
and as a" CAMPBELL who is coming" tC
the front. Mr.. WATTEEsoS had much &c
do with the nomination of MIR. TnDEN IL
1876. He is still power in the Democratic
party, and can do much TO advance the
fortunes of any aspirant whose elevation tc
the highest Office in the world would
tend TO save to our children the bless.
ings OF good government and free institu-
tons.