Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-03
CLEVELAND MAN.
Hon. w. R. Grace, Of New York, Talks
Politics.


Politics.
Hon. w. h. Grace. who served two
terms as mayor of New York, is at the
Westminster. He is large importer
and shipper in Gotham, his dealings
with South America being notably
heavy. He is politician of good deal
OF note in his state. and, of course, a
Democrat. Last night HERALD re-
porter went down to talk with him for a
few moments, and found him in the
lobby of the hotel talking to few
friends. AS the reporter approached
him, he found before him gentleman
OF about average height and more than
average weight, without being at all OF
the heavy order Of men. He is close
shaven, excepting steel-grey mustache
that adorns his lip. His face betrays
evident marks of much sagacity of mind
and determination of character. He
very graciously consented to leave his
friends for few moments and submit to
the annoyance of an interview. He
said:
We have but just reached the hotel,
coming here in rather a round about
way. We intended to come to Califor-
MIA by the Sunset route and did come as
far as Glla Bend. There the flood for
bade further progress. We had to cross
the Rieta on foot-bridge and go back
to Tucson, where we were detained three
days. Thence we went to Deming,
thence back to Rincon and Albuquer.
que, and thence next by the Atlantic
and Pacific, Needles and Mojave to Los
Angeles. Our trip was tedious and long,
but not otherwise disagreeable. Our
party was pleasant one, and all on the
train good-naturedly accepted the inev-
liable and made the best of the existing
circumstances. We received the greatest
courtesy from the railroad people at all
points, and all the passengers are firm in
the belief that everything was done for
our comfort that was possible.
am here merely on pleasure trip
with my two daughters. We shall
spend few days at each of the princi-
pal points in Southern California, and
then proceed to San Francisco to visit a
married daughter of mine at San Rafael,
whose husband is in business in San
Francisco.
You ask me about national politics,
with direct reference to the campaign of
1892. will say that the outlook for the
Democracy is very favorable at the pres
ent time; and in my opinion will re-
main so, unless the Republican man
ayers succeed in changing the issue.
The issue is tariff reform-that is,
lower taxation, as made by Mr.. Cleve-
land in 1888.
The logic of the situation is that if
the Democracy wish to put that issue
before the people, they must accept the
leader who made the issue, or otherwise
abandon the logical position they could
take before the country.
AS to my own state, can say the
people of the state of New York are for
Mr.. Cleveland to greater extent than
ever before in his political career. The
people have been educated to believe
that he risked his own political future
by making tariff reform the issue in
1888, and then haua--sinca. then in-,,sy
opinion, learned to believe, with him,
that what the country needs is a pru-
dent and economical administration of
public affairs, and reduction of taxa
tion.
AS to Tammanv Hall, of course have
no right to speak for that organization
ais never belonged to it. l never be-
longed to any political organization ex-
cepting to the Democratic party as a
whole. But believe that although the
main interest of Tammany is in local
affairs, and that it has always proven
its readiness to sacrifice national issues
for the promotion of success locally, vet
am satisfied, so far as can Judge to-
day, that the club will be likely to sup
port any candidate nominated by the
national convention of the party; and l
am convinced that Tammany has abso-
lutely no prejudice against Cleveland.
You ask me about his recently pub
lished views on silver, which in the
eyes of many politicians was not neces-
sity under the existing circumstances, but
which in my opinion was exceedingly
wise and polite. Yet / feel certain that
Mr.. Cleveland never took into consider
alton this question OF policy when he
wrote the letter you refer to. l will
show you the wisdom of that letter.
The Democratic party can never succeed
in electing any candidate to the presi-
dency as things are today without car
rying New York, New Jersey and Con-
necticut, and no man can carry any one
of these states who is unsound on the
silver question from the standpoint of
the eastern states. Now it is my con-
viction that Mr.. Cleveland, in addition
to the states named, would carry Rhode
Island, and probably Massachusetts,.
With the popularity of Cleveland in the
south, do not see how his silver views
can hurt him in the national con-
vention. The south recognizes that
if elected they will have
in him man of positive character who
could not be influenced by any side is
sues, and who has been the unfaltering
advocate of the principle that no Sec
tionalism must be recognized in the
growth Of this country.
Dropping politics and turning to the
business condition of the country, Mr..
Grace said that he considered the crisis
passed. 1t was terrible strain of the
finances of the country, and that the
strain was withstood argues that the
country was in a very sound condition.
IT. 1OOkad very cAriouc for Gonna waakc