New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-26
DENOCP 1TJE UOpRIIS.

+, was Shrewdly remarked BY a Washington
correspondent that the profound anxiety OF
Democrats about the Silver bill since the pub
~lication Of Mr.. CIcy Glands letter was exceed
ingly significant. After an astounding victory
SO overwhelming that Democrats as well as
Republicans were completely taken by surprise,
the Democrats who do any thinking were sud
denly struck dumb in the midst Of eXtlavagant
boasts that theil success in 1892 was absolutely
certain. Their vauntS are huShed. their bIoWs
are corrugated with painful anxiety, and by
day and by night they are pondcring over the
question whether this candidate or that has the
better chance of election. What a waste OF
time and tissue, all this perpieXi:y and debate,
If that victory in 1890 meant anything.
For instance. if il meant that the people we're
diSpleaSed at the new tariff. and determined to
rc5uke and smash the party responsible Tor mat
tariff, as Democrats pretended, what has ne
come of the tremendous majority said to be
assured on that issue? Was there really some
thing after ali in the Republican claim that the
voters were mainly Influenced by ether CUES
tons. that comparatively few changed their
vote because of the tariff. and that those were
misled by egregiouS Misrepresentation which
lnPN are uiNtON NlIfE' "Hh NiHNH h""N 'E'
wrath AGAINST the mon who lied TO them? Or
are we to suppose that the dear people are 50
gloyiouSly tickle that they have already for
gotten all the Indignation they were ty Demo
cIa.S Supposed to have expressed last N0vcm-
Der? Or If the last election meant that TIE
people were angry about silver. and dead set
to have free coinage, as many loudly asserted,
what is the cause for anxiety? What could be
easier than to nominate Mr.. Bland, or Mr..
Warner. original champions Of more money, and
thus sail straight with favoIing gales to assured
victory? The party has voted almost unani-
mously for unlimited silver coinage, and can
put a Fee Coinage bill! through the House next
winter with u wild huriah. and if the President
vetocs il. will then have the Republicans ' Just
where il wants thcm"-COnfedcrate fashion.
What is to hinder an easy and Overwhelming
triumDh? Why are Democrats troubled ana
anxious. their native hue of resolution >ickIicd
DER with the pale cast OF thought? is il con
ccivable that the dear people have changed
again. and cannot be trusted - know Wha; they
want over night? Yet tho Democrats are not
happy. With n certain victory within thor
grasp. by either of two obvious ard direct paths
according to their own boast. why are their
faces cloudod. and their hcaIt' %Quaking. and
their nights s~lccplcS> with anxiety? Really,
whom one thinks Of il. 40 other party ever won
such a wonderful victory only 10 fall into such
a quagmilc o. dismav ard doubt u few months
later. "Shall we take Cleveland and lose every
Western Siate?" they ask. or "Shall we take
Hill. put him on a troc-coinaGe platform. and
run the risk of losing every. Eastern Statc?'
Somewhat rational calculations, these: hut what
has become Of that victory in November? \
'"%political c%yc!one'' that leaves no trace behind
it four months later is not worth much. The
only other victory at all resembling i; in ancient
or modern history was the explosion Of 4
| powdcr-hoat in the presence of Fort Fisher by
General Butler.
To all appearances the Democratic party is
reduced to Just two candidates, both from New
York. and has no ether OF whom it darcS even
10 think. But President Cleveland was beaten
in 1883 without much difficulty, and at the
next election there will be a different apportion-
nient and more states voting. Should the states
which voted for Mr.. Cleveland in 1855 vote fof
him again. with Ncw-York besides. he would
lack II votes Of a majority. and might carry in
addition two or three other States without win
ming. But on the tariff question the chance OF
Carrying NeW-l Ork. Connecticut, or even Nlr-
ginia or West Virginia, is not 50 Brilliant as
Democrats wish. Then if Mr.. I'LL is preferred
with uncompromiSinG free coinage. he would not
carry Connecticut or NeW-loIk, and would have
within reach only 1863 votes from states which
Mr.. Cleveland carried. needing - more. Though
he should carry Iowa with 10, Kansas with 10,
Minnesota with Q, Colorado ana south Dakota
each with {. and Idaho, Montana and Nevada
each with 3, he would still be short > votes.
Which end of the dilemma to chooSc-that is the
| question which corrugates the foreheadS Of Dem
ocratic statesmen.