The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-25
WHITNEY ON CLEVELAND.
Why the Ex-President Will Be Nom.
mated and Elected.

Interview with Ex-SecretaTy Whitney in the y. Y.
World.l
OF course everybody knows that am
for Mr.. Cleveland. l have said every day
for the last six months, probably, that
believed he would be nominated.
There is such a thing as q natural leader
for an occasion, and in this case IL is Clev-
land. In 1876 it was Governor Tilden.
The situation made the nomination in
1876, and it will make it in 1892 1t is not
necessary TO be- opposed 10 Governor Hill
or any candidate or to depreciate their
merits. If you go back eight years you
will see that the course of events has
made Mr.. Cleveland the necessary choice
of the democratic party at this time.
In 1884 we reached power in the ma
tional government largely through the
faults and errors of our adversaries. Our
party had not the full confidence OF the
country. In the northern mind there was
still a deep-seated distrust OF the South.
The conditions were right Tor a reaction
and a short lease of political power. 1t is
due to President Cleveland to say that his
personality was so strong that it soon i'm
pressed itself upon the whole country.and
gave a stamp TO his entire administration.
Though himself inexperienced in national
affairs and many of his advisers being of
the same class, with party that had been
out of power for twenty-five years, in
toxicated with success and in condition
to lose it's head, yet the administrative
record of that four years has not to this
moment been successfully attacked. The
customary reaction OF off years did not
come to rebuke the democratic party
Without detracting from the merit due
to others, and recognizing the patient and
loyal support which congress and demo-
Gratis throughout the country in the press
and among the people gave to the presi-
dent sometimes against their better judg-
ment), it is to be said that the general
weight OF his administration was such
that it won for the democratic party the
confidence and support OF the country.
That result / believe to have been
largely due to the character and person
atty of Mr.. Cleveland. At ali times he
gave bonds in his own character for those
of US who were tickle or wavering in the
pursuit of duty He sacrificed time,
strength and friendships for his idea of
duty to the party and the country. He
offended great many people-sometimes
unnecessarily-but the sum total OF it all
was that the people were with him and
his administration, and it was and is
today an asset of the democratic party,
and with Cleveland as a candidate there
is nothing to defend.
Then take the Issue upon which we
have got to line up and fight. l differed
with Mr.. Cleveland as to the wisdom OF
issuing the tariff message at that time.
and therefore l can speak without preju-
dice. l believed that the time was too
short before the vote was taken and that
it ought to have been postponed until
after the election, and that the Issue then
ado m If an cnoaaoafuI adpni iafratiOn Of
the government for four years was en-
titled to 90 into a canvass, and that the
general judgment OF the country was with
ue.
But we cannot now know what the re-
suit would have been OF a different course
from the one taken; and how do we stand
today2 The party is O live. active, ag-
gressive party OF reform. living tor prin-
ciple, with large majority of the people
of the country behind it-dominant in
the very strongholds OF republicanism and
fulfilling real mission.
Mr. Cleveland raised the standard I'M
der which the hosts OF the democracy
stand and they look to him as their
leader. 1t is not disparaging other men
to say that he is the one great national
figure at this moment in the democratic
party-the legitimate national leader of
the present live, active forces that con-
troll the movements OF the party.
Now write that out for what it is worth
Mark what say. Cleveland will be NOM
mated and slscted. All these people who
get abused because they don't interview
for him are friendly to him personally.
No cheers were as enthusiastic in Tam
many hall last October as those that went
up for Cleveland. Ask McMillin of Ten
nessee. He spoke in Tammany hail. II
isn't any reflection npoa Governor Hill or
any other candidate. The issue necessa-
rily determines the candidate. That Is eli
there Is Of II.