New-York tribune., 1891-02-05
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
MIR. CLEVELAND'S SILENCE ON THE FREE
COINAGE QUESTION.
CoNsIDERI NG THE RELATIVE QUALIFICATIONS
ERN CANDIDATES FOR THE PREsI-
DENCY-POSSIBLE NOMINATION
FROM THE SOUTH BY THE
DEMOCRATS-A ECLOGY
on Mr.. BRICE.

the coming Presidential contest to-day, called
attention to the great strength of the West. lie
said that the West would control the next PreSi-
dental election, as it had controlled every one
since that of Abraham Lincoln. lie said in every
contest between Western and an Eastern candi-
date since then, the Eastern candidate, without
exception, had been defeated The only instance
in this period just mentioned where an Eastern
man has been elected to the Presidency was i'll
the case of Mr.. Cleveland. He, however, was
opposed by an Eastern candidate, Mr.. Blaine.
II was a contest between two Eastern men. This
political observer says that had it been between
the West and the East, he believes that Mr.
Cleveland would have been defeated.
Mr. Cleveland is considered to-day by many
Of the Democrats at the capital the only candidate
of the Democratic party. They believe, whether
true or not, that Governor Hill has made up with
him and that the strength of Newlork will be
rivcn united to the support of Mr.. Cleveland.
Oninions differ. however. John r. Dos Passos, of
Ncv-YorlS. who is here, says that last week MI
Cleveland reached. in his Judgment, the climax
of his power.
"If a convention could have been held last
week. said he Mr. Cleveland would have pceh
nominated unanimously upon the hrSt pdiio''
but il is a question to me whether he VIII DC "
candidate when the tir1c comes. lie has pcSUh
already TO lose his strength, and believe that
he will continue to lose The American people 40
not ike a coward. Mr.. Cleveland has shown MS
cowardice and his lack OF intellectual aollnN !"
his silence on the silver question Free coinage
is such an imminent danger that hlf position IT,
ouires him to give an opinion Ills lHh"cHoo
bould 10 excrted against this menace to business
interests But he is silent, and VIII pIopapLN r"
continue Look at the contrast between MS Po'
slton and the 81 Icndil Gtttudc OF Mr. "lHnoh'
the dead Secretary. Mr.. Wlndom hihlsei "'A"'
have been a Presidential candidate lie WAS
man entitled by ripe experience ana "l"e hho"F
edge of public affairs 10 consideration III c""n''
tion with tbis great Office Did he for moment
hesitate when it came 10 expressing HIS oPi'i'O'
ON the subject ? The magnificent spcech m''e
h, hin, ot Del,nonco's w1s an act OF high courage
for MIR Window was from the West and knc"
,bo full STRENGTH of this silver sol tmeni.
Mr. Dos Passos said that this silence ana la'<
of intellectual perception of the needs oi lc si'u'
tion were SO damaging 10 Mr.. CleNelah" '"' )"
boliovod he would each DAY lose between 'hi'
,;,,o ond the coming convention. He behcveS
that tbr Democrats will nominate some one ii''"
the South. and will throw NJ CleNe"nn o''i-
boorl Said he: The Southern Democrats H'''
absolute control Of the corVcltlon ana can Io'"
irote = man of their own section II lheN WIS" w.
Tiey thought that they had nominated s"in' VI"
ror, ,no North long cnoael and that II was aDou'
limo ~ fry T. nominate and cleo, southern man
Tbcre are few who would agree with Mr. Dos
p,s.os concerning the possibility of Southern
nomination for the Presidency. Inc @o"',',
! loaders are nrofcssional politicians lheN wish -
succeed and they know that the time has not ye'
| boen reached when a Southern man cohlu W.
elected To the Office of President. lhey are lulS
as contented to have all Of the results OF power al"
for wears 10 ask for nothing better thah 10 h"le
como Northern man who Will be supphaht ~ '''i
wishes The strongest point against 'he Pos'i-
hiltv Of Mr. Cleveland being nominated pS Inv
| Democrats is the fact that Senator "oriA' uoeS
not like him Senator German and the Sou'her"
machine will absolutely dictate the nomination
next time
Word comes from Kansas that the Alliance peo-
! ME there are much excited over thFlr triumph J"
! defeating Senator Ingalls, The Confederate Iuh''
which carried ont this campaign il busily engaged
! in nrcparing the programme for National cohsuhP-
rio, REPRESENTATIVES Of this iunto VIII be III
! WASHINGTON when the next House as'chipfS loI
the purpose Of organizing the Alliance mcH'''e III
that body 1t will be another campaign oi s""rl
societies. secret DEGREES and mysterious Commune
tions t. secure desired results. The Aiancc mem
hers hone TO control enough TO have the balance
of power in the House.
IT, is always interesting TO hear from the lips
of some warm-hearted Boswell the history oi ti'
rise OF any well-known man. There Is away ;
more color to such narrative. The oihcr uay
he'd the opportunity of listening TO enthusiastic
! outbursts from General Ben lie FcvTe III answer
TO certain questions concerning Inc "c'eIoP
mont Of SenatOrccct Bricc, rs hnanrIcf'
/ politician and embryo statesmen. III response 70
! nv inquiry how the State Of Oilo came I" e''u
! - rosident of New-York to the Senate. General
| lie Fevrc burst out into the most cmpha'ic uchl''
Of the assumption outlined in the question. lie
said: "You have an idea that Ohio is borough
that can be controlled from the outside as some OF
the horoncbs are in England But YOU are wrong.
7 will exDlain il to YOU Senator Brice has never
! given nm his residence in Ohio. He has always
| becn identified with its politics lie has had
nerfect passion for politics ever since lie was
| boy. When he was barely of age. he began gong
/ 10 the conventions. lie has attended every
political convention in Ohio of any importance
| since he was twcnty-one. lie has always gone
os q dcleratc When in Ncw-York he has always
bccn running home to attend some convention.
| lie has been active even in the pollticS ol DIS
own township, where he OWNS big iarm' Dur
ing all these years he has never been IA cahdldale
! for any office lie has always contributed HTN
70 the campaigns as his means Woulu permit
The result was that he had wide acquaintance III
| Ohio which gave him such a hold when 'hc
legislature met to elect United States senator.
He has always been an Ohio man.
asked the General about the stories ol MI
Brice's contributing such liberal SUMS Tor his
Senatorial canvass To this General lie fevre t.
nled that Mr.. Bricc had never pald cch1 10
! aid the personal canvass of any member OF lhe
LEGISLATURE. The money that ne sent INTO 'h'
State and he liberal in that way, ne seht
directly to the chairman of the state committee.
To all personal applicants for money ne re'nfh'u
the stereotyped answer that all ne had 10 CON
trhnte had been nlaccd in the hands OF The chalr-