The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-13
CLEVELAND'S SENSATION.
opN1oNs DIFFER AS TO ITS EFFECT
ON Els CHANCES.

The silver Mon AOo0 III AAoAT 6SSer-
.,ons that It Makes His Election as
p-asideut Impossible-Most of the
congressman and Senators of the
opinion that 1t Won't Hurt Him
Materially.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-Ex-President
clsveland's anti-free coinage letter created
a sensation in congress second only to that
created by his famous tariff reform mes
ssra To-day, as in December, 1887, he
sBrprised most Of the men in congress. but
now, as then, the democratic managers
knew what was coming. and had done all
that they could to prevent it, using similar
arguments both times. When it was known
hare several days ago that Mr.. Cleveland
was about to write a letter on the silver
question, the democratic managers. know
ing very we'll that In spite of change of
mind Mr.. Cleveland stood just where
he stood when he wrote the
autf.free coinage letter to the
democrats in congress before he was in
sugurated wrote to him and endeavored to
get him not to write any letter, but to keep
Silent on the subject altogether. They knew
We'll DlldL u0 WOulQ uOO WIAbC tAu
biguous letter, so they begged him not TO
write any letter at all on the subject. Their
theory was that. as Mr.. Waterson said. Mr..
Cleveland was the choice of the democrats
for President and that nothing could pre-
vent his nomination and election but his
opposition to free coinage. II they could
only get this out of the way they thought
there would be no doubt about the outcome
in 1892.
THEIR PLANS.
They had things in trim for getting out
of the House coinage committee tomorrow
a substitute bill for limited free coinage to
American silver, which they thought could
be put through, and which they thought
would dispose Of the matter, whether Presi-
dent Harrison signed or vetoed it. Then
the way would be clear to President Cieve-
land, who would have nothing to do but to
keep still. But now, as it was in 1885, this
was Just the thing which President Cleve-
land could not and would not do He must
speak out, and he must say what
he thought. Now, as then, most Of the
politicians think he has made q fatal
mistake. They agree that his letter, by
stifening up the anti-free coinage men, will
probably prevent any legislation this ses>
sion on the silver question, and this, they
say, makes the silver question the most
prominent one for the next session and next
year. This, they think, will either prevent
Mr.. Cleveland's nomination, or defeat him
if he is nominated. This was to-day the
opinion expressed by a majority of both
sides.
MAY STRENGTHEN HIM.
On the other hand minority of the demo-
Gratis and minority Of the republicans ex-
pressed the belief that Mr.. Cleveland's
candor, sincerity and courage, as shown
in the letter. would strengthen:him in the
popular affection; that regardless of the
silver question be would have greater fol-
lowing than ever, and would now be in
evltabIy nominated and reelected. solidify-
ing the Democratic party on the silver
question as he did on the tariff
question. "But he will not sohdify
the Democratic party" said the OBJ
Jectors. His nomination with his letter
as his platform, 80 far as silver was con-
cerned, would bring about inevitably a
nomination by the farmers alliance, and
that would take four -fifths of the southern
democratic voters away from Mr.. Cleve-
land. Why, if the farmers alliance should
nominate Senator Stanford and the repubi-
cans should indorse him, President Cleve-
land could not carry Georgia."
This talk is a sample of what was said by
some Of the less thoughtful congressman in
response to the question so universally pre-
-
What do you think of Cleveland,s let
ter?o
COURSE OF THE COOLER HEADS.
The cooler and more conservative man.
ayers deprecated this loose and thoughtless
talk, but they could not stop it even by
representing that it did not hurt Mr.. Cleve-
iand and did hurt the Democratic party.
Some OF the leaders, Senator German,
senator Carlisle and Representative Mills,
19r example, absolutely refused to say any
thing for publication,
senator Vest, who was said to have had
letter from Mr.. Cleveland of an opposite
tenor, would say nothing.
W: G. P. Breckinridge said: "Cleveland
VIII be nominated and elected in 1892"
!, roswell +. Flower said: Cleveland has
Tue courage OF his convictions"
Mr, bynum said; Cleveland never
Mr.. Vaux said: ''Cleveland is a great
man man he will be nominated and elected in
loS$, as sure as hell is hot.n
.,Ta mr. Wilson Of West Virginia, said
o15 lne letter is characteristic of the man,
o6u gu SHOWS the courage regardless of its
euect on his own political fortunes that so
~ IHtiiipFesSes the American people with Mr..
StieVeIands personality. It's etfects Well.
=, course, 1t will temporarily ALLEVIATE many
ooppor GerS, as expressions around me indi-
odte, put no man can foretell its effect.on the
PRESIDENTIAL nomination in 1899.
+,,9. HlI. Mutchler of Pennsylvania said: "I
. vnllk IL may hurt him in the south and
, GSV, out he leaves no doubt in any ones
s-nas arlnu as to where he stands, and that is a
eOou sr.g. tnlng. His expressions will meet with
tbppIoVaI IN Pennsylvania, New York and
rai!,t rOnti!ougnout the east. 1t may not injure his
xi0l1lcaI isort prospects. Silver may not be an
n,'t r'te ID the campaign of 1892 1t may be
isav. uv oi the way. With the tariff as the
bo as 1t should be and undoubtedly will
bi,,l ii, LIS opinions on silver ought not to hurt
Niiu IN the south and west"
NJ. BARGAINS VIEWS
MI aui; pargan OF South Carolina said: ''Iu
VII WIZ nurt him with the politicians, but it
a % ~ strengthen him with the people 1t is
Can Ciaanly letter and he is right. l believe
~ T,0Ieland .bl Is so strong and has such a hold
a n'd .ne confidence Of the people that although
JoIlty OF the party in the House are
cstr' cpposeq 70 him on this proposition he will
trna! t! 1ne country with him. think it for
;s nale r Unat he wrote thu letter. His course
M and that Of statesman
No. I' holman of Indiana said: SIT will
aIIect the action of the party in the
IIse ,Is nor In the national convention"
so;s may seriously affect his candidacy
rrot.. T't Mr. barnes Of Georgia, "but the silver
t;'Ver may be out of the way by that
b,a rather think it will In that event
ME- 1rln views would hold many people
rt,n MIN, and this letter would do him no
~ nr. Andrews said that he thought that
ST., ietter would affect him onlv hy