St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-15
WHITNEY IS WISE.
The X-sccretary Talks Well of
DcmOcracY's Position.

The EX-Sccretary Talks Well OF
Dcmocracy's Position.
New YORK, April lex Secretary
Of the Navy William G. Whitney Started
on six weeks trip to Europe yester
day afternoon. Just before his depart
ure he SAID 10 a Times reporter:
The only trouble with the Democratic
! parry is The dissensions ana possible bad
| blood. I he situation. however, is very
/ much what it was in 1876, when Gov.
| Iilden vas nominated. The Demo
cratic party in the West was committed
very generally ana pretty ardeHtly to
Grcenbackism. The candidacy Of Gov.
Iilden was looked uDOn as likely 10 fail
of support in the West. Tie second
Grant administration had created an
issue, and GOV. Tilden, by reason Of his
vigorous warfare upon the Tweed ring
and canal ring IN this state, was the
dominant figure in the Democratic party
10 meet it, He was nominated and
GreenbackiSm was forgotten. The be-
Cessty for reform IN the government
became the sole issue. The party was
unified upon it and really carried the
election.
At this distance from the convention
OF 1876 there seems perfect parellelism
between the condition Of the party at
that time and now, and, with regard to
candidates, it seems 10 me that the sit
uatiOn is quite the same as it was al that
time For good or i'll, the issue of the
Democratic party at the present time is
tariff reform not free trade, not the
destruction in any way of industries
that have grown up under present tariff
laws, but relief from over protection UNI
necessary for the prosperity OF our in
dustries from the over taxation of the
people that results from it, from the
enrichng of few at the expense Of the
many, and from extravaganza in public
expenditures which results from thei
desire to sustain this oYer-taXation.
The battle OF 1872 has to be fought
upon these issues in general. They have
been framed and put 10 the front by Mr..
Cleveland. 1t seems to me from look
ing over the field that the people would
not be satisfied without the same leader
in this campaign. was one who strug
glcd against Mr.. Cleveland in making
the issue when he did in 1887, thinking
il premature, and wishing the benefit of
the strength which would have come to
us in the fight after his reelection to
the presidency in 1883 which would have
llNttoottl II SullCu llOll Ills dtlllllllIJ~
jratiVe record.
However. the issue was made; it is
today dominant in the country, and
think the feeling Of Democrats through
out the country is one of confidence in
the result of 1892. But for success we
must have consideration for differences
within the party and for the personal
preferences OF individuals. know
that no one feels better disposed in this
regard than Mr.. Cleveland himself lie
thinks much more of the issue and of
the party's success than of his individ-
ual success.
| have done everything | could to in
tuence people within the party to have
consideration for each other. We must
have harmony and cordial cooperation
in order to win. People cannot be
dragOOned into an enthusiastic support
OF candidates. 1 feel certain that when
ii appears that Mr.. Cleveland is the
general choice of the Democratic party
for the next campaign, not from lack of
appreciation of the merits of other
prominent Democrats. but because the
issue and events point to him, personal
preferences will yield TO the general
Judgment, and we shall 20 into the
fight in better shape than i'll any cleo
ton within my recollection.