The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-20

The New York "Tribune F." Asks Several
Pointed Questions.


The claim is now made that the DEM
ocratic party. IL it will only do this or
that thing. has a certainty Of success.
The only trouble Is that these advisers
or prophets cannot agree about the thing
necessary to make success certain. The
New York Times says if the silver bill
Is dead there is nothing now In sight
that can prevent tariff reform from be-
coming the issue and Mr.. Cleveland the
candidate, and under those circum-
stances victory is almost absolutely
sure But the New York Herald de-
clares. There is no one in New York
whom II will be entirely safe to tie 10.
The present political condition of
New York state, cut up into political fac
tions as 1t is, makes such an experiment
dangerous in the extreme. On the other
hand. man from the west, with Hill to
look after the interests Of the vice presi-
dency. would make victory next to GER
tain" These two joarnals both consider
tariff reform the necessary and only is
sue, but one holds Mr.. Cleveland essen
tial. and the other holds the nomination
of somebody else essential. Then come
the free silver men Of the west and
south. declaring that party can win
with absolute certainty II it makes sill
yer the one issue and nominates candi-
date pledged to that policy. but can win
In no other way.
Predictions so contradictory have
tendency to create the impression that
success is not certain under any condi-
tions. 1t always happens that men en-
amored Of theory see with marvellous
clearness, if not with glasses Of high
magnifying power, all it's advantages
and benefits, but fail to see its dangers
and objections. The silver men are
stone blind to the certain loss Of votes
at the east. But the tariff reformers are
stone blind to the certain loss of Demo
cratic votes at the west and south. The
Democratic party cannot win without
New York, according to one set OF
prophets. The other set, with equal
truth. shows that the party cannot win
without Indiana and solid south.
II has become plain to many Demo-
cratic leaders that the Alliance will cut
their party all to pieces in some southern
and western states If it defeats the free
coinage bill and nominates Mr.. Cleve-
land. Already some Of the best informed
Democrats in Georgia declare that the
Alliance will sweep that state, defeat
ing most Of the present Democratic rep
resentatives, and probably Speaker Crisp
among them, and giving the electoral
votes to third party candidate. Simi-
lar predictions are made as to other
southern states by men who have the
best opportunity to know the situation
there. II only one Of these states should
be lost New York would not save the
Democratic ticket, and several will be
unless influential Democrats are mis-
taken. They show also that the Ali.
ance tickets in West Virginia, Virginia,
North Carolina, Tennessee and in Indi-
ana and the western states would draw
off Democratic votes almost exclusively.
md give the Republicans an extrsordi
lary opportunity.
On the other hand, the eastern tariff
eformers are better informed thar
thcr Democrats ia regard to the conse
luences Of silver agitation at the east
hey are telling the truth when they
ay that neither Rhode Island, Connec.
icut, New Hampshire nor Massachu-
etts could possibly be carried by the
democratic party If tainted with the sil.
er heresy. They make 1t clear also
hat the state OF New York could not be
,rought to vote for any candidate be.
ieved to lean toward free coinage.
low the legitimate conclusion from ali
his information and these predictions
that the Democrats cannot win in any
way
The tariff reformers calculate upon
.hrowing the election into the house.
True. they reason, Alliance tickets may
carry some southern states and thus
prevent any election Of president by the
people; but the choice would then have
TO be made by the present Democratic
house, which would elect the Demo
cratic candidate. Would it? Did the
Democratic caucus nominate Mr.. Cleve-
lands candidate for speaker? Did the
majority Of Democrats in the house vote
as Mr.. Cleveland desired on the silver
bill? What would happen if the Demo
Gratis from silver states should vote for
the Alliance candidate for president.
And what would happen il the Alliance
tickets IN half dozen states ordinarily
Democratic should give the electoral
votes Of those states to the Republican
candidate?-New York Tribune.