New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-01
MR. CLEVELAND AND HIS PLATFORM

MIR CLEVELAND AND HIS PLATFORM
Certain Western organs of the Democratic
party. and particularly those that worship at
the shrine of Free Trade, are taking pains to
inform the world that ex-President Cleveland
is altogether the most popular and in fact the
only candidate of the party in that section
The people have come to regard his silver letter
with indifference these organs say, and know
nobody else whom they wish to nominate in his
stead but believe that the next battle must DO
fought on the tariff question exclusively, with
MIR. Cleveland as the inevitable candidate OF the
Democracy Republicans have only to remark
in whisper that it is good news if true
But it would be nonsense to put much faith
in this information. The evidence accumuates
every day that the Western Democrats are in
fact unable to make any stand whatever with
out the aid of the Farmers Alliance, and others
who insist upon the free coinage of silver as
the one thing needful. In the Western States
the Democratic party cannot win without these
people. It's Western leaders will argue with
great force that they cannot win with MIR. Cleve-
land. the less because he was beaten in 1888.
They will ask with much reason whether he is
anywhere stronger than he was at that time
III
tons on record in all political history ii the
Western Democrats should consent to accept
him. 1t is true there is no telling what they
may do. Principles have nothing to do with
the matter But the Western Democratic lead
ers appear to believe that they have one chance
and only one of success in their own States, and
that is to play second fiddle to the " more-money''
fanatics. If they so believe, that Settles it.
On the other hand, If the Free-Trade prophets
are right and Mr.. Cleveland is the predcstined
candidate. and the tariff is to be the only issue
the Republicans have great cause for satisfac-
ton. With Mr.. Cleveland a. the candidate 1t
will not be possible to make any other issue
prominent. His wool message the first annual
message ever delivered by any President de-
voted exclusively to q single topic Identified
him beyond all question with particular idea.
His efforts for the passage OF the Mills Iarlff
bill produced a deep impression upon puohc
opinion, with regard to his purposes. he was
President OF the United States for four years,
and did not obtain shred of reputation on any
other subject or issue. 1t is the fact that he
did lead his party on this question, and will do
so again if elected President. If he is to be
nominated at all, it must be solely because those
who nominate him wish to be led in that drec-
tion 1t will not be possible to make the taFih
issue mora sharply defined before the people IN
any other way than by his nomination.
The Republicans arc ready to face and even
to welcome this issue. They believe that the
new tariff is u measure so just and so wise that
they are ready to stand or fall with it. The
gulmbling OF a few Free-Trade journals which
still retain some place about the Republican
camp is well understood to represent only indi-
Vdual opinions, and not the wishes OF the party
The great body of Republican votersin each and
every section uphOlds the principles and pur-
poses of the new act. and finds every day new
reason to believe that it was wisely framed to
carry out those purposes. Ii does create
larger demand for American labor. 1t does add
new manufacturing establishments by the hun
dred. 1t does thus create permanently larger
home market for the products of farmers and
mechanics.
On the tariff question as distinct issue the
Democrats have never been able to carry any
Northern State, unless it be New-Jefsey. They
have some advantages now through indecent
communicating in the election of members OF
the House OF Representatives, but Presidential
electors are yet chosen by the people OF the
several States The majority in the Northern
States in other than Presidential years may
favor all sorts OF experiments in politics But
when it comes to a direct issue for or against
the defence of American industry against for
eign competition the Democrats will find that
they have been chasing rainbows again. If they
wish to nominate Mr.. Cleveland, the Repub-
icans will be inclined to throw no straw in
their way.