Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-19
EFFECT OF CLEvELAND'S LETTER.
Too Soon to Judge of Its Influence
ON the Campaign.
Opposed by Silver Men of the Wcst--But
Times May Change--Yarying Tides of
OuiniOu,

New York Herald special
WAsuiNGToN, Feb. 13.-Mr. Clevc-
lands letter against the free coinage of
silver under existing financial condi-
tons has proved quite bombshell in
the free coinage camp.
Almost the sole topic of discussion to-
day among Democratic members has
been the effect Of the latter upon politics
and especially upon Mr. Cleveland's
chances for the nomination in 1892.
The conservative Democrats, even those
who have recently heen voting for free
coinage, are not disposed to severely
criticise Mr. Cleveland. AS one of them,
prominent Democratic senator, said
to-day, he regretted that Mr.. Cleveland
had not been Il little more guarded in
his expressions, even though hethought
best to express free coinage.
"ile might, )" this gentleman said, shave
pointed out that we already had law
upon the statute books providing for the
purchase Of 54.000,000 ounces Of silver
annually, and that it would be the part
Of wisdom to wait thelresult of its oper-
alton before going further. If he had
made this argument he might not have
angcred the silver men SO much as he
seems to have done"
THE OPPOSITION.
The volume of the denuncation Of
Mr., Cleveland comes largely from two
classes. One is made up of representa-
tives here of states which are strongly
for free coinage, who wish to show their
constituents that they have not faltered
on account of Mr. Gleyelands bold
declaration. The other class of men
who condemn Mr.. Cleveland is more in
earnest in the opposition to him, but
they use the silver letter merely as a
preteXt, They are the spoils politicians
who never loved Mr.. Cleveland, and
have been waiting for an opportunity
to express their real feelings against him.
The long roll of Democratic Senators
who are quoted as declaring Mr.. Cleve-
land out of the fight for the Presidential
nomination is pronounced by good
judges in their own party to be the roll
of the men who tried to use Mr.. Cleve-
land as their tool in making appoints
ments, and found that they could not
use him in that way. These are the
older men Of the party who have caught
little of the reform sentiment which
surrounded Mr.. Cleveland in the White
House, and do not appreciate the pro-
gress of the young Democracy Of the
north
The younger leaders in the House Of
whom one hears most-Wilson Of West
Virginia; Crisp of Georgia; Cultivate
Of Ohio; Tucker of Virginia; Hemphill
of South Carolina, and Tracey Of New
Iork-are indulging in no such declara-
tons. They think that Mr.. Cleveland
hpt In. Il
claring himself 50 strongly against free
coinage just at this time, but that in the
long run his judgment is more than
likely to be verified by events. The
more far seeing of them say that the
Democratice party cannot afford to be-
come the tail to the free coinage kite.
They say whatever the views of indi-
yidual members of the party may be on
this question there are other and broader
issues upon which it must appeal to the
country, and that TO make free coinage
controlling issue would be supreme
folly.
EFFECT ON NEXT YEARS CAMPAIGN.
The outlook for the future causes some
anxiety on both sides, but it is admitted
that it may greatly change within %,
Year. " llel ehe Natiolial l1ciiiocI ,aat,
cohNentioli hleets ~ tiie summer o. ioos
mere VIII DC more IMAM Pllo,oUo,ooo OF
holes IN clfcnlatioh Dased upon inc oil
yer act OF last summer. u Is hoI 50
hluch question OIL the volume OF the
currency, however, as OF the condition
of the farmers. If they are prosperous
it is believed that their eagerness for
lree coinage VIII nave Supslded. lheY
may even DC educated to see, as they
nave come 10 see regarding the tariit,
mat MT cleveland view Is the correct
one ana That prosperity only comes with
sound currency, based upon stable
values.
In truth, 1t Is argued that the Repub-
lcans themselves, u they follow the
teachings Of some OF their greater lead
ers, cannot refuse 70 assist IN this pro-
cess OF education. The situation may
be such In lS92 that Mr. Cleveland VIII
heeVen more popular IN the west than
he was before ms recent letter.
II silver continues leading issue
there promises to be bitter contest in
the next Democratic national conyen-
ton. The eastern Democrats will make
it is expected, the mort earnest possible
fight for sound declaration in the ma
tlonal platform, and, if Mr.. Cleveland
will permit, they can present no stronger
name than his rs that of their represent
alive. II might happen that the silver
men would be strong enough to win in
committee, while enough of the moderate
ones would vote for Mr. Cleveland to
give him the nomination.
The spectacle might then Represented
which was presented in 1864, when
Mcclellan accepted the Democratic
nomination. INT coolly renudinted the