Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-03
MR.. CLEVELAND AND THE SOUTH
How the Alliance Movement May Affect the
Democratic situation Next Year.

How the Alliance Movement May Affect the
Democratic Situation Next Year.
There appears to be an opposition to Mr..
Cleveland developing in the south which. If il
does not force the east to support him, is liable
to prove a serious thing to the democratic
party at the next presidential election.
Talks STAR reporter has had with a num-
Der Of the well-informed southern men, some
friendly and some unfriendly to the ex-Presi-
dent, indicate pretty general agreement that
there is a determined hostile movement on
foot, though men hold different opinions as to
Its potency. The movement does not appear
to originate in any personal objection to Mr..
Cleveland, but has for its primary object the
overthrow of eastern influence in the party.
Inc principal demonstrations are being made
In those sections where the Farmers Alliance
Is strongest. and his letter on the subject Of
SILVER is made the excuse for assault. Some of
HE Stars informants say that in nearly
every case the character of the state delega-
lon sent to the national democratic conven-
tion In ~ will depend on the strength or
weakness OF the alliance in that state. Where
ever the alliance holds the power an anti
cleveland delegation will be chosen. In South
carolina, where they have an alliance governor,
they will be almost certain to send an anti
cleveland delegation. In some other states
there will be hard fight from now until the
guessed at this time.
THE PEOPLE AND THE POLITICIANS.
Many Of the southern politicians in Congress
have always been hostile to Mr.. Cleveland, but
he has undoubtedly maintained o great popu-
larity among the general run of the people of
that section OF the country, which has kept the
hostility OF the leaders generally silent. The
Farmers Alliance movement in the south has
put an entirely different face on politics there.
ha rsAf,- L.. M Al
stu within the party to which iAnaturally be-
ionged before strange gods were introduced for
worship affords in some cases an opportunity
and In Others a motive for some prominent
Leaders to oppose the ex-President. The idea
that Mr.. Cleveland's nomination would drive
the southern branch of the Farmers Alliance
into the peoples party" sends terror to the
minds Of some. Pugh and Colauitt, who have
been regarded as personal friends of Mr.. Cleve-
Land s, are thus led to oppose his nomination,
and others declare that il he ia nominated he
cannot carry more than three Of the southern
states.
THE THIRD PARTY MAY BENEFIT CLEVELAND.
II there were no third party to be in the field
in '92 this opposition of members of the SUBJ
treasury southern alliance and of those who act
through motives of fear might be a serious
thing for Mr.. Cleveland; but as things are there
is paradox in the situation. Some of the
longest headed men in the party believe that
this opposition-and there is question as to
the extent of Its influence upon the controlling
element In any one state-will prove a great
source of strength to Mr.. Cleveland in the end.
10 them 1T seems as if the third party move
ment would make almost certain his nomina-
ton. The motive Of the truly democratic op-
position to him in the south is to keep the ALI
ance OF that section from joining in the third
party-a thing which they are not apt to do
IN great numbers anyhow. But this mo-
tive can have no force outside of the south
when 1t Is apparent that nothing is to be
gained by placating the alliance of the west. If
there were no third party movement the DEM
ocrats might hope to make some gains in the
west by taking advantage of the clamor there
against the tariff system and nominating a
western candidate But the third party is 60
ing to be there to take the votes of the discon-
tented farmers and the democrats would stand
very poor show OF getting enough of them
to count even If they nominated a free-coinage
alliance man at the head of the ticket. The
democrats could certainly hope for nothing
from the eastern and middle states if they
nominated a candidate who would be accept
able to the southern Farmers Alliance; tlh
third party would take the alliance vote of the
west and there would be nothing but the south
for them to count in the balance. In such O
situation they could hardly hope to save them
selves even by throwing the election in the
House.
TUE TARIFF ISSUE.
Ane presence OF the tnlrd party therefore
makes it important for the democrats to hold
every vote they have in the east and to gain as
many as possible. The tariff reform novel
ment in the east is not complicated with the
subtreasury project, and upon the tariff issue,
1t Is thought, the democratic party have good
chance to make gains in that section If they
nominate suitable candidate. The repub-
iicans are apt to lose something to the third
party in the west, and it is believed that the
democrats can better afford to lose something
to the SAME band Of financial reformers in the
south than they can to sacrifice the east for
something they cannot get, no matter what
they do.
There appears to be very little chance, how
ever, OF tie third partys getting any con-
siderable number of votes in the south as long
as the federal elections bill is in the memory
OF the people Of that section.