Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-30
THE PRESIDENCY.
AN EXPRESSION or OPINION FROM
HON. 9. 3. MUNFoRD.
Views. Also, OF virginia Newspapers ns
Recently Expressed-Dem1ndf Tor
an Unpiedged Delegation.

blv from Danville and Pittsylyania; was
member Of the Electoral College wmeh
cast the vote of Virginia for Cleveland anu
Hendricks; has been prominent tor years
/ in the counsels and conventions OF ms
marty and bas rendered II valuable services
both with his pen and with his voice.
| bile not taking an active part IN Pole.Vii
! he il n close observer of pubic events anu
has had considerable experience rs pom
| teian. Ill
When asked "Who. in his opinion, should
| the Democrats nominate for the presi-
dcncy in 1892 ?" Mr.. Munford SAID;
ITO be very frank with you, lnihK tne
| discussion of the question az this time pre-
mature and ill-advised. Not that the SUB,
| iect Il not worthy of the most careful ana
| patriotic consideration. but the presen,a-
| ton through the columns OF the iupHc
| press OF the claims and ouallhcatlohS 81
| rival asprants 10y their sometimes over
| Jealous adhcTents initiates against that
! harmony which should pcrvade the ranks
| of our PARTY: and ~, as / have before sald'
| unproGtabla because the nomination
| should he made agreeable to the condltohS
! which may confront US IN the summer %
1892. and not in the ligh: OF our present
| surroundings .,
Of the third party recently organized III
| the West. the success or defeat of Cover
nor Campbell this fall in Ohio. the condi-
| tjons of New York State politics ana the
sentiment Of her people with reference 10
| the aspirations of her two foremost sons,
| these are all considerations which should
| and must be borne IN mind when we COME
| TO select our standard bearer.
CONGRESS AND OUR DILEMMA.
1.-THE next Congre IS will certainly pass
a bill for the free coin age OF SILVER. II
| Harrison signs II or sufficient numDeT OF
| votes can be secured to make II law
! over his veto, then the most fruitful source
| OF discussion and difficulty will have been
| eliminated from the presidential canvass
| and the paramount issue OF the campaign
| Will Ice tariff reform, while the record OF
| the Billion Congress will furnish the IN
| dictInent to which the Republican party
will be called to plead at the bar OF puDilc
| opinion. So,
| The attitude OF the new party OF which
| Senator PETER, Congressman simpson, ana
| the Farmers Alliance leaders in the west
are the advocates and spokesman must
| also be regarded. The cordial support or
| our candidate by tins party VIII make his
| election sure. We cannot endorse their
platform nor make our nominations SUB,
| eervient 10 their sentiments, but we need
| not drive them from our standard II they
| cylnce willingness TO come by selecting as
| our candidate a man prominently 0D-
| jectionable to their membership. The
attitude Of this third party IN the summer
of 1892, and the changes wrought by the
next Congress with reference to many
questions of public concern will necessa-
| rily affect the nominations OF our party.
| OHIO.
| "Then, too, regard the result IN Ohio as
| of great importance. 1t will IN the hrst
| place furnish an insight into the probable
/ 1T l,o id 70 hnT - N
| will pursue as against the candidates OF the
| two old political organizations. Governor
| Campbell if renOmnated Will enter the
| race with all the prestige OF his great We
| tory over Foraker two years ago, ana
| the canvass will attract national
| notice, because pltted against HIM Is
| Mckinley, who pre-eminently represents
| the high-tariff sentiment of his party and
whose election or defeat will be regarded
| as an endorsement or remuneration by the
voters of that old staunch Republican
Commonwealth Of the great question
which is to fire the battle line IN the presl-
Dental election of 1892. Mckinley de-
| feated; his bill and the principles upon
which if L. constructed repudlated by the
people Of Ohio: Campbell the victor; and
IL would require neither the wisdom or
Sage nor the gift of Prophecy to name the
candidate of our party.
Then, too, as | have said. the sentl-
ments of the Democracy of New York must
he consulted. This IS so not only because
the electoral vote of New York NAV be es-
sential to our success, but because the two
present aspirants for the nomination are
citizens of that State, and the voice of our
party there expressed through the duly
constituted agencies must be regarded
when we consider the strength or avalla-
blitv of Cleveland or Hill. The so-called
political machine Is the engine of success.
10 ,sr,l a n from
the popular sentiment. We cannot defy
the politicians because the people make
and unmake them, and for that reason
they generally reflect what are the sentl-
ments of the controlling elements In So
clety."
THE EX-pEEsIDENT.
Mr.. Muntord was then asked, What do
you think of Cleveland Z"
We'll, sir" SAID he " regard him as one
of the greatmen Of our times. | honor him
| for his ability, for his courage, and for his
honesty. recognize i'll HIM many OF the
| elements of a great statesman and polltl-
| clan. lie has not only the capacity TO for
| mulate plans, but the independence and
| ability to point the way, and leading him
| self. make the people follow.
| There are. of course. many acts OF his
| while President the wisdom and eXpc-
diency of which are the subjects of leGitl-
mate criticism. There are, however, a
| splendid catalogue of those which must
| command our unqualified admiration.
| His veto of the dependent pension bill |
| regard as one of the bravest acts ever per-
! formed by politician. He would | am
sure. give us q splendid Administration of
the high Office which he once so ably fill
ed if called again to discharge OF its du-
| ties.
Il am not pursuaded, however, that it
would be the part of wisdom to nominate
him again. He has been defeated once,
| and the same causes which comprised his
| defeat in 1883 may be potential in 1892.
Mr.. Cleveland, zoo, does not possess the
| confidence and support OF large element,
especially among the workers-tried and
| true--Of his own party. II Is fashionable
| III some quarters TO question the unselfsh-
ness and patriotism of this element OF our
party. j have no sympathy with the pre-
judice. Honest, stalwart partisans, cour-
| ageOus and jealous in the maintenance
of the power and principles of their party
commend themselves 10 my admiration. 4
party that IS not worth working for rs not
fit TO live, and the party-man who does not
feel fired with zeal for rs supremacy and
a love for all who battle III Its ranks is not
the leader either to win victories or TO
preserve their fruits when won.
THE WORKERS.
"Mr. Cleveland's usefulness and strength
as a leader are certainly impaired because
he does not touch with heartier sympathy
shoulder to shoulder with every worker,
however humble. in the ranks of our great
party. lie should take counsel of those
whose unfaltering devotion TO the cause
in the past is an assurance of their fealty
in the future. political leader, like a
general. should know his men by tho scars
of battle. and the scars thus worthily won
should be their passports to honor when
our party comes to power.
This among Others is one Of the adj
verse criticisms which not with out reason
is often heard against Mr.. Cleveland. The
men who bear the brunt of the party's con-
flicts do not bail him as one of their num-
ber And the spirit which should fash
from the great captain down through all
the ranks of the humblest followers to
whose devotion and zeal the party Is ever
so remotely indebtedfo success-neryIng
and firing every hearts sadly deficient
when Cleveland is in the lead"
virginia Don't Want Him.
TNawnorf Noxvs SuDl