Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-10

Special Correspondence OF Gazette and journal
DOVER, Sept. with but few ex-
ceptions the leaders of both parties in
this State, when asked about their
preferences for next years Presidential
nominations, will ask TO be excused.
They would rather not express them
selves, they will tell you, and the few
who do speak will make an earnest re-
quest that they be not quoted in the
columns of THE GAZETTE.
The reason for this is that the aver
age politician likes to be on top in mat
tiers of this kind, and he is not going to
deliver himself until he has an idea
show the cat is going to jump" This
Is particularly the case with the Demo-
cratic politicians. Most OF them are in
favor of the nomination Of ex-President
Cleveland by the Democratic Conven-
ton next year, but before they come
out and declare themselves they would
like to know whether he will be nomi-
mated or not. Once assured on this
point they will wag their tongues with
the utmost freedom-for or against the
nomination of Mr.. Cleveland, as the
case may be.
Among the Democratic masses, the
great body of voters who elect the
Democratic ticket in this State, but who,
as a general thing, take very little part
in making nominations, the sentiment
in favor of the nomination Of Mr..
Cleveland is strong and undisguised.
There is no doubt how the people stand
on this question.
From present appearances, however,
II is likely that the Delaware delegation
.
vention, for the first time in many years,
will be nninstructed, and will 60 to the
convention free to consult with the
other delegates and take such action as
may be deemed best. In 1875, 1880 and
1884 the Democrats of Delaware urged
the nomination of Mr. Bayard by the
Democratic conventions, and in 1888
they Joined in the unanimous demand
for the denomination of Mr.. Cleveland.
Next year, however, they are likely to
be foot-loose, as it is not thought the
State convention will make any attempt
to instruct the delegates, either for Mr..
Cleveland or any other leading Demo-
crat who may be considered candidate.
But, while the people, as above re-
marked, are in many cases outspoken in
favor of Mr.. Cleveland, and the polti-
clans are "mum," the silence of the
latter may be broken after the elections
of next November. For instance, IL
Governor Campbell of Ohio, should be
reelected, he will loom up quite strongly
before the eyes of certain Delaware
I Democrats as q Presidential possibility.
it5o will Governor Boies of Iowa, in the
event that success greets his second at
! tempt to win in that hitherto rock
\ ribbed and hide-bound Republican state.
Governor Pattison of Pennsylvania also
finds favor with those who believe in the
element of luck and think that Penn.
sylvanias young executive possesses
the desirable element to a large degree
They are also anxously gazing upon
New York, to see what that state will
do as between Cleveland and Hill No
that they favor Hill-there are no Hill
Democrats in Delaware-but they wan
to know whether TO trim their sails fol-
Cleveland or anti-Cleveland breezes
And so they stand conjecturing the pos
sibilities of the political situation, ant
ready to jump in the direction of sue
cess, as soon as the pathway appears Il
be open.
And yet, there Is no doubt that tn,
present sentiment of the Democratic
people of Delaware is for Mr.. Cleveland
REPUBLICANS IN A QUANDARY.
But the situation the average Repuh
lican finds himself in is almost painful
The Blaine sentiment in this State is a
rampant as ever, but as it is not know
whether Blaine would accept the nomi
nation or not, the Blaine people dom
know what to do. Even some of tn
Harrison office-holders will desert tin
man who gave them their offices an,
flop over to the Blaine standard if Blain
goes into the contest for the nomination
But, meanwhile, like their Democrat
brethren, the Republican politicians ar
waiting to notice the trend of curren
events. They, too, want to be on til
winning side when the nomination 10
President is made.
And so it is that the manner in whici
the votes Of Delaware will be east il
the coming national conventions Of til
two parties is a question hard to answer
AS far as the Democrats are concerned
it may remain unanswered until tn
convention assemblies. The Republican
situation would be settled at once
Secretary Blaine should say to hi
friends, Il am candidate"