New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-13

AND MS FOLLY DENOUNCED BY OTHERS
his POLITICAL FUTURE DISCUSSED
BY REPRESENTATIVES, AND SENA-
ToRs-1'HE DRIFT OF OPINION
IN CONGRESS-
ray TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Wosbington Feb 1.-THE publication Of Mr. Clcve-
lands letter against free silver coinage was the ex
nlosIon of n political bomb in the Democratic camp
IN Washington, and caused great confusion for
time: 10 say that il created dismay except among
Democrats who are fierce for the immediate passage
of the Free Coinage bill would be a statement not
wholly justified by the facts. OF course Democrats
In the House who feel in honor bound to ratfy tho
Senatorial "dickcr" are angry. but it is OF
anger which will subside with the expiration of tho
List Congress. There many Democrats however
who believe In FREQ coinage sincerely they do in
free trade and who are thoroughly convinced that
the prosperity, If not the political salvation, Of tho
Democratic party, depends much upon the one as
upon the other. These angry all the way
through, and their anger is of the sort which will
not quicSly disappear be easily cured; they arc
men whose expressions of opinion to-day were mainly
OF nature as TO make the publication of them I'M
possible, and yet they find Of comfort in tho
hope that the letter has dshed Cleveand's political
prospects They are men who for the last three
years have regarded Cleveland disagreeable party
necessity. and who grasp at the hope that this
letter will eliminate him from future Democratic cal
Cuiatons. far the Presidential nomination of next
year in concerned OF course they would vote Tor
him If he should be nominated, but they are now hope
full that they will not be constrained 10 accept him As
candidate. Democrats who thus believe hail mainly
from the States south Of the Potomac west Of the
Allcghanies. They argue that German, or Morrison.
or Carlisle, Hill, IS earnest and safe friend OF
"tarn reform as Cleveland is, and in addition, is in
hsrnony with his party on the silver question II
the latter question could be eliminated from tic next
Presdentiol campaign, they would be willing to sup
port Cleveland. and that is what they had hoped to
do, with the aid Of few silver Republicans Most
of them have now abandoned that hope.
That Cleveland has many sincere and devoted friends
among Southern and Western Democrats 1t would DO
folly to deny; that they disturbed and considerably
dshearened on account of the publication of his letter
il would be equally foolish to deny But they are in
the minority Mr.. Ccveland's strength in the South
and West has arisen mainly from belief In MS
Availability" supposed availability, as PIcsF
dental candidate. If any other candidate OF equal
availability could be found Mr. Cleveland would doubt
less be left with few Southern Western supporters
But Stat his supposed acceptablity in the donOuu
of the East may not lead the Western ana sou
ern Democrats to stultify themselves again on the sl
question and accept him as the leader OF te party
IS neither impossible nor improbable.
That the letter fas strengthened the opponents OF
free coinage in the House is generally conceded by
frankly say that there will be further silver legS-
aation by this Congress, at least. Mr. Flower Tor ex-
ample, is of that opinion, although he voted win
the fre-conage advocates less than week ago III Is
now we'll understood that at least dozen other Demo
cratic Representatives who would not have voted
against the bill last week will do so If 1t should be
brought before the Hose despite their anxiety to get
the question out of politics before 1902" The letter
and the resolutions adopted In New-York last night as
we'll as the cogent arguments advanced by the repre-
sentative business men of New-fork and Fhlladei-
phia before the Coinage Committee last night ana
today are all regarded important factors, and Mr.
Cleveland especially is receiving large measure 81
praise from the opponents of the Senate bill, IRE
spectve OF party. They believe that they only need
TO be on the alert to decisive victory II the Dill
shall be brought TO a vote in any FORM For that
victory however the Republican party VIII be entitled
to the credit for Democratic opposition, including tha
of Mr.. Cleveland, would have been Instantly Inquired
by the ruling faction Of the Democratic party.
II is significant that most Of the Democratic COM
ments on the letter relate to its probable effect upon
the political fortunes and prospects Of Mr. Cleveland
A might have been expected, most Of the comments
are extremely severe, and especially is this te OF inc
frank, unguaTded expressions which are not intended
for publication. They show depth and herccncss
OF resentment which imply personal hostility toward
Mr. Cleveland as well as hostility toward his opinions
and most Of them are coupled with the declaration that
lie letter has made his nomination impossible.
On the other hand, there q few cOol-headed
Democrats who regard the letter as strong and
ehrewd document. one of them said 10 a Tribune
correspondent: Mr.. Cleveland knew when 20 speak
His lester IL notice 70 the Democratic party that il
cannot win IN 1892 without the help of New York and
NewJesey. Ills letter 10 General Warner against
silver in 1895 provoked just loud an cutlery, and
The opposition 70 him in his own party was Intensified
BY the MANAGEMENT of the Treasury Department unde
his Administrations but that opposition did not have
fea hers weight in the National Convention Of 1888
What happened once will happen again so far as hi
nomination is concerned. in my opinion. 1t IS a,
very well for rs to boast and declare that we
get along without NeV;Yorh and New-Jersey, bu
that sort OF talk will not sensible impressive
with Presidential campaign impending as il now does.
OF course Mr. Bland, of Missouri, the matter il
different light. lie SAID;
Every one must see that Mr.. Cleveland has mad
q mistake This is the first time that we have hearr
from this patriotic Reform Club We have been unde
the shadow OF threatened despotism controlling IN
elections of the country during all this Congress Thi
club was dumb. IL was not the East that rescue
the country from Capitalization and deSpousm. !
was an alliance of the West and South which tough
tie battle of freedom. They got no encouragement
from the Reform Club of New-York. only when til
money-baes of Wall Street were threatened patriot
Inclination seems 10 have seized hold upon them
The free coinage of silver Is western ana SOuthc
measure in the interest of freedom from the thral'dOI
NJ Wall street Free elections and free coinage e
hand IN hand, and no man can be elected on Demo
cratic platform who In sympathy with that move
ment Tie farmers of the West, Northwest and Sont
ore soldiy banded together on these propositions Q
freedom Of States the constitutional money OF OIL
fahers-free silver and free gold-and they propose
press the fighting In that line. Even the state
Kansas dcnounces the Election bill as sectI'na
measure while the money-bags Of Wall Street wer
silent on that question Mr., Clevclands letter make
his candidacy for the Presidency ridiculous. lie VII
nave no following west OF the Allegheny Mountains
Colonel Mills, who is q candidate for Speaker dc
clned to exprcss opinion and remarked tha' every
boAyp knew his position the silver question I'M
other Representatives from Texas were less retcent
all of them who could be found declaring in substance