Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-07-10
FRIDAY Evening, JULY 10.
soMz OF our esteemed contemporaries ex'
press great indignation when IL 10 proposed

press great indignation when IL 10 proposed
TO submit Mr. Cleveland's claims to the
nomination for the presidency nezt year 10
the test of his availability. They speak as
II the nomination were equivalent TO an
election, wholly forgetting that the eieeliohs
of 1880, 1884 and 1888 were 40 close tns' 'ne
change of but little more than one per cent.
NJ the votes csst in the pivotal States would
have changed the result: The conditions
NAV be different next year. but At shia time
there Ia every indication that the contest OF
1892 will be a close one. and WILL be deolded
for or against the democratic party by the
votes of New York and Indiana. Under
suoh circumstances 1t ia Of prime Importance
that the candidate of our party for Presi'
dent, besides having the ability and oharac-
ter necessary for the performances OF the
duties of che highest Office In the world,
shall possess those elements OF popularity
that will give assurance OF srooess. ine
question, therefore, is. Who is the strongest
candidate? Fortunately there ls no lack OF
able and popular men 10 the democratic
pnrty, and the attempt to persuade the peo-
ple that the party has only one man quail
fad for the presidential office will fell as 1t
deserves to fsil. The masses ofthe party care
lIstle for men; what they want is the con.
gro! of the government restored to the DEM
ocrstic party 30 that reduction OF oppres'
sive and unjust taxation may be effected, o
rsy,yal of the force bill averted and peace
and prosperity assured. The hope OF the
people is In the democratic party, not In any
one member OF 1t. and 1t lie the duty OF the
party to put its strongest candidate forward.
That candidate should represent. and
will represent, the principles of his party.
Some one has been go foolish as to say that
he would rather rick failure With CleVe.
land as the candidate than have almost Ger
calm SUCCESS With another; snd the Baltl-
more Sun states that II the party is not In
harmony with Mr.. Cleveland on financial
questions 1t will change its views to bring
shsm into accord with bis. Such expressions
indicate devotion to a man rather than tesl'
By to party. Nor will any weight DO given
TO the plea that Mr.. Cleveland must be the
nominee because he Is On honest man. An
honest mani When has the democratic
party ever nominated candidate who was
not honestp Certainly there Is no reason to
fear the nomination Of dishonest man by
our party, or, We hope and believe, by any
party, and the ascription OF the essential
Quality Of honesty to one man, as monop-
oily, carries With it the reflection that others
do not possess It, Mr.. Cleveland Is an emil
nsnt man, but his candidacy muet be weigh.
cd upon the scales of availability. Cen he
be elected? Is he stronger now than be
was In 1888, when he was defeated? ls his
known sntagonism to the msjority of bis
party on the silver question not an element
Of weskneesf What will be tho effect in
New York city OF his attitude towards the
party ticket In the late municipal election
Whist of bis silence snd Indifference
when the Infamous force bill was
unenaolng the freedom OF the south
We recall to the memories Of our contempt
rarles chapter Of political history. When
the democratic convention o. 1884 met In
Chicago the delegates had many able men
from whom TO choose. 10 the long strug-
gls In Congress for the rescue OF the south
ern States from the control Of the army, the
negro and the carpet-bsgger, Bsyard and
Randall and Hendricks and Thurman had
endeared themselves 10 the lovers o! liberty,
had displayed statesmanship OF tbs fret Or
der and had made records for themselves
that will remain glorious as long as our
country survives. Was enc of those tried
trusted and beloved men chosen 10 lead biz
party No, the veteran leaders were put
aside and comparatively new msn was &C.
Iected on the ground that he would be the
most available candidate. That new man
wsa Cleveland, and as proof Of his ayaila
billy his msjority Of 10000 when caLdl
date for Governor of New York was referred
20 In every argument In his behalf. Hit
majority Of 10000 In New York sunk &c
one Of 1900 In 1884 and In 1888 be lost the
State by Il. 900. The democratic State tick
CT Wbb 6leCtcu Al 1000 ano ebo eoSossSA~
democratic candidates for Congress received
in the pivotal counties msjorlties 10.OOt
greater than Ceveland's In the same coun'
s!es. It has been said that certain party
leaders or organizations 10 Now York city
we're not true to the presidential candidate
this old, false and exploded story Ia seldom
heard Of In New York but has attained wide
orsdsnoe In remote sections ; 1t is answered
by the election figures New York city
gave Cleveland $4,000 majority in 1884 and
&c 900 In 1888. Cleveland was not elected
becauss he did not receive msjorities as
great "a other candidates Of bic party re-
oeived and that his lack OF popularity was
not confined to New York is shown by the
Id