The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-07-11
way CLEVELAND Is NOT The MAN.
Especial to the Picayune.l

Especial to the Pieayune.l
Vieksburg, Miss, July IA Plea
yune reporter called on Hon. Thos. q
Catehings, representative IN Congress
from the Third Mississippi District
ana prominent member of the late
Rivers and Harbors Committee, TODAY
ana requested an interview on the
o'a'e and National Democratic situa-
tlon. While refusing TO enter INTO a
discussion of State politics, Mr.. Catch
ings said +:
| have no definite opinion as to who
VIII be the Democratic candidate for
the Presidency in 1892, but do not
believe that MIR. Cleveland will be.
1t would, | think, be more difficult
70 elect him than any of those who
have been suggested for the nomina-
tlon. II is now known that his candi-
dacy in 1884 brought danger rather
than safety to the party. lie had
managed to embroil himself with
many leading and influential Demo-
Gratis of New York while Governor of
that State. | am not advised as to
the causes Of the controversies between
him and them, but it is an open secret
that he did not receive the full party
vote in New York, and that but for
the supposed indifference OF Mr.. Couk-
ling, MIR. Burchard's stopping over and
other such influences he would have
lost the State, and with 1t the Presi-
deney.
Bayard, Mcdonald, Hendricks, or
any other of those aspiring to the
nomination at that time, would have
carried New York by handsome
majority. Whether he endeavored
while President to heal party sores in
that State | do not know, but do
know that he ought to have done so,
and did not, and that in consequence
he lost the State in 1888. No doubt
he lost many votes through the cor
rupt practices of the Republican man
ayers, but with all differences among
party leaders obliterated, he would
have carried the State, notwithstand-
ing those practices.
Many ofhis friends, whose Judgment
is obscured by their admiration of
him, have charged that Governor Hill
betrayed him. do not believe that
there is the slightest foundation for
this charge.
II was maniIesly to the interest OF
Governor Hill that Mr.. Cleveland
should be reelected, for il he had been
the succession would have naturally
fallen to him, whereas his failure
would, in the minds of some at least
subject him to the suspicion of treach.
cry. The hostility to Mr.. Cleveland Of
many New York Democrats shll re.
mains, and if he could not carry the
State when President do not see how
he can carry II now.
His silver letter has undoubtedly
estranged many who favored bis re.
nomination. An overwhelming ma
joriiy of the Democratic party are fol
free coinage, and this being so, can
didate should be chosen who would
not, If elected, avail himself of hi:
position to Illustrate their wishes be
cause he, with very small minority o.
the party, differs from them. Before {
T party should abase itself by surrender
ing its judgment under such circum
stances II ought to be made absolutely
clear that without doing so it canno
, succeed.
There is nothing whatever in tn,
idea that his position on the tariff de
mands his denomination. lie does no
lead his party on this question, ant
did not originate it. A very grea
I majority of the party haye Away
stood for tariff reform. There ha
never been time when they have no
pressed ii to the front, in platform ant
on the hustings, and in the halls o
/, Congress,
| could in a moment give the name
of dozen able Democrats who hav
given weeks of thought to the question
where he has given seconds, and wh,
: had exhausted argument in its behalf
before Mr.. Cleveland had ever beel
, heard Of No matter who may b
nominated, tariff reform will be one 0
! the cardinal principles of the part
, platform.
But there are other vital problem
for the Democratic party to solv'
though Mr.. Cleveland does not seer
to think so. lie has made man
speeches within the last twelve MONTH
. If he had anything to say about th
. right of the people, through the Stat
: officials, without Federal interference
to hold their Congressional election
: as they have done since the Cover
: ment was founded, | have not seen
!, But during both, sessions of the la'
Congress, the whole power of the az
ministration was cxerted to fore
: through bill, which has aptly come
be called the Force Bill.
], The purpose OF the advocatesol Oh I'M
: bill undoubtedly was to invade Il
South with an army of corrupt
g pliable spies and officials, to enable tt
f hordes of iguorant negroes and the
4 coadiutors to override the white pu
v lie and dominate them. Here was
4 theme which should have attracted h
o profoundest thought and drawn fort
r his most fervid eloquenee. No ms
H could have done so much as Mr.. Clev
+, land to promote and arouse publ
n sentiment against that infamous mea
ure. aud we, in Washington, hope
and prayed that we might have b
o powerful assistance in that directlo
& The bill was killed and the Sou
D, saved, but entirely without help fro
g him. He s1ems to have attached !
o importance to the measure, for
g made no allusion to it in any Of !
1t speeches. The campaign OF educatio
Q about which he SO loves to speak, mt
d be broadened, so as TO embrace u
4 ~