The record-union., 1891-02-23
LAMBERT'S LETTER.
Our Correspondents Views of Mr..
Cleveland's Chances.
What He Thinks About the Prospects
of the two Great Parties-Theoso-
ply Made Ciear-Some Interesting
Scraps of Ancient History.


Especial correspondence of the REcoRD-UNIoNl
WASHINGTON, Feb. Ii, 1891.
During the debate on the silver bill in
the United States Senate, the hostile atti-
tude OF President Harrison was often re-
ferred to derisively by the Democratic
Senators.
This onslaught was as frequently met
oy the Republican Senators and success
fully repulsed in kind.
The latter had simply to recall ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland's famous Warner letter
in 1885, advising a suspension of the coin
age of the silver dollar.
1t was before he took his seat as Presi-
dent of the United States. It meant sub
stantially the repeal of the so-called
Bland bill, and its operation would have
demonetized silver. They also referred
with equal force to his subsequent bitter
enmity to silver, even extending up to
the end of his term of office But for the
determined action of Senator Reagan,
who was member of the House at that
time, Mr.. Cleveland's policy would have
been adopted. 1t was the first time a
President had been elected in quarter of
century by the Democratic party, and
they had come to regard that genuine,
live President of their political faith oc-
cupied position of omnipotent power
and had 10 be honored and obeyed. Sen
ator-then sentative-Reagan, en-
couraged by the late Senator Beck. of
Kentucky, got remonstrance signed by
over 100 members of that Congress pro-
testing against this autocratic asSump-
ton of power, and Mr.. Cleveland there
received his first setback. Hence, the
Republican Senators were fully equipped
and repulsed their opponents at every en-
counter
During that exciting forensic contest
MIR. Vest of Missouri authoritatively
stated that, since that period, and in view
of the greater knowledge Mr.. Cleveland
had obtained upon the silver question,
mis- views were greatly modified, if not
wholly changed.
Since Mr.. Vest made those remarks it
has been very generally accepted that
Mr.. Cleveland really had changed his
mind on the silver question, prompted
thereto to great extent by the sentiment
of his party, but more particularly to the
unanimous action of the Farmers AL
lance in the South, where Mr.. Cleveland
looks solely for Presidential support.
o! WHAT A FALL!
There has been nothing to agitate the
political cauldron here since Governor
Hill was elected Senator from New York
until eX-President Cleveland sent that
last fatal letter announcing his opposition
to the reckless free coinage of silver.
Many say the word ''reckless is sup
piled with ''string" and offers him a
way to pull out by subsequent explana-
tory letters. Others insist that he has
gone back on Vest and his party in order
to secure to himself some political follow
ing of his own in New York, instead OF
having it begrudgingly doled out by Gov
Htll--if hn Hnlp- If of III in hot
direction. 1t is exceedingly problemati-
cal to-day whether Mr.. Cleveland will
ever have any further use for votes of any
kind. In nprivate conversation with many
Democrats from the North, as well as the
South, the concensus of opinion seems to
indicate that Mr.. Cleveland has unwit-
tingly committed another political sui
eide, no matter how he attempts to dodge
by subsequent explanatory letters.
1t is said and generally believed that
when any of our statesmen get what is
called ''the Presidential bee in their bon
metz they become ''rattled.' When Mr..
Cleveland first ran for President before
the people he had no idea that he had the
ghost OF a chance against Mr.. Blaine, and
acting on that theory he went through
that campaign with average equanimity
Since his late defeat and subseunanf
candidacy in which he feels more interest
than ever before, surrounded by am
bilious rivals in his own party, carrying
guns of heavy caliber, he stands practi-
cally as any other man stands, without
advantages or fortuitous circumstances in
his favor. Plainly candidate for nomi-
nation for the Presidency of the United
States before convention of the people,
in which he will be compelled to contest
with rival candidates, in which contest
there is no walk-over for anybody. Mr..
Cleveland has never been thus situated
before and he is evidently "rattled."
1t should be understood that all of Mr..
Cieveland's speeches and tariff argu-
ments are understood to be written by
Dan Lamont, his former private secretary.
/ have heard it said twenty times within
the last three days that Dan Lamont
never wrote that last letter. nor was he
ever consulted about its contents. When
we consider how many long-winded but
otherwise fair papers Mr.. Cleveland has
read at dinner parties and banquets since
last falls elections, 1t seems to justify the
belief that Dan Lamont never would have
allowed that gratuitous insult to the in
telligent majority class of the South and
West to go out had he known it.
THE REASON.
Mr.. Cleveland seems to ignore the his
torical fact that he is a mammoth creature
of accidents. Heappears to entertain the
opinion that he is a great man in him
self; an opinion, it is hardly necessary to
say, in which he occupies the exalted po-
SllIon vi pG4ltS lilt anu HAS nC
rival.
Wherever he trusted to luck he has
always been fortunate, but in every in
stance where he attempted to promulgate
an idea of his own, he has been CORE
spondingly unfortunate.
Governor Hill of course is tickled ovel
this little affair, particularly so since
some of Cleveland's 'Solid South
friends have been trying to side tract,
HilFs Presidential candidacy. That let
ter from Henry Watterson, of Kentucky
was genuine-was duly mailed-and
probably received. 1t represented the
true wishes of his section at that time.
1t is exceedingly agreeable to the Gov
ernor at this time never to have received
it, because that would entail an answer
and now there is no necessity of answer
ing. 1t is possible that Mr.. Watterson
may be sorry to-day that he wrote it
and glad that Governor Hill did not re-
ceive it-as alleged. 1t is exceedingly
Pickwickian all around.
The facts are briefly, Mr.. Cleveland is
overmatched. Had the Republicans car
ried the elections last fall Mr.. Cleveland
would have been the nomineeof the next
National Democratic Convention without
opposition-a repetition of the st. Louis
Convention. There is show in '92 fol
the Democrats to elect their President
unless the Republicans return to theil
allegiance, hence the rivalry for the Dem
ocratic nomination. Mr.. Cleveland oc-
cupies very Instantaneous position
because of the tact that there are many men
in his party, ADLER and more popular, who
want to be nominated.
Had Dan Lamont written the letter for
that meeting in his own way, with the
@ h~6nMP