The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-05-12
C}eVelanG-Hill.

phet, ard believes in himself as the EN-
bodiment of all the wisdom necessary |
for the government of parties. and even
the country Sir Oracle WAS never more
self-conscious, more egotistic or self>sat
isfied than the modern curb stone states
man. He dsports himself in conven
tiOns, III caucGses, in clubs and gather
ings of all kinds, and lays down exact;y
what it is best 10 do There is no mis-
giving or doubt entertained by him. He
never speaks in the subjunctve, of pro
liabilities, of the uncertainties Of fall
bile men or fallihie parties. He declares.
with prophetic wisdom what is to he
and that is the end of it At this time
it is not uncommon for this class OF
statesmen to proclaim that neither CIeve-
land nor Hill should be the nominee of
the Democratic party, because neither
could be elected Why this should prove
to be more true of them than any other
prominent Democrat, or what strength
another would have that they could not
command, or would not show weak>
ness in another direction equally fatal to
planned. We are familiar with the Sir
Oracles and their Importance Just in ad
vance of a great national contest, and
in fact in any important campaign, in
which the people feel an interest. They
know it all, and are free to tell it to any
one who will listen
Without desiring to disturb the seren
our opinion into the counsnls of either
faction, we venture the assertion that If
the Democrats cannot eject Cleveland
they cannot elect anyone. The issue he
made in his celebrated tariff letter
which proved fatal in 1888 to himself,
has been adopted by his party III every
State convention that has been held. Ii
has been emphasized in Congress By the
introduction of bills to amend the Nc
Kinley law, several of which have been
passed in the House and are now before
the Senate for action. They are simply
in a line with the kind of tariff reform
Cleveland had boldly outlined. and dis
tinctly at issue with the protective pol
icy of his political opponents. His views
of the monetary question are those only
which the Eastern States. essential TO
Democratic success, will accept. Al Y
doubtful position upon this cruciei
issue relating to the Business of the
country would lose every debatisble
Eastern State. Ia k as you viii and
speculate AS you may, and predict as
much as You please, yet the fact remains
that this govarnmeut is controlled anA
run byinfluences emanating from within
a radius of 100 miles OF New York eitv
the great business metropolis of the
nation. The money power of this coun
try knows neither men nor parties in a
supreme national contest except as their
views may be in accord with it. It repre-
sents the political leverage that directs
and masters the current of politics. 1t
knows what it wants and is not over
modest in demanding what it wants 1T
can be neither frightened nor bribeti
but with relentless precision and arctic
Severity drives right ahead for its object.
1t absolutely masters the situation in
New York, New Jersey, Connecticut
New Hampshire, Massachusetts and
Maine. Where business cenuers and
large industrial establishments flourish,
there its power is decisive. If parties
and candidates do not respect it, it does
not respect them. The machine is only
influential as it runs in accord with its
demands 1t cannot be side-switched-
it cannot be hoodwinked or deceived
and no Presidential candidate can hope
to carry single electoral vote in either
of the States named who is not solid and
safe on the vital question of finance
Flippant demagogues and agrarian de
chalmers may rail against the money
power-may fire the passions of the il
norant and alarm the unthinking bv
sensational appeals and extravaganza
promises. These do not move the
money power, except to greater concen-
tration and more decisive purpose. Party
trammels cannot stand for a moment
before it, unless they work for the ends
of security and durability in business
matters, and respect the value of money
as fixed by the usage and laws of
the business world. Mr. Cleveland had
the sagacity to see this when he wrote
his celebrated currency letter. He had
the prescience to know that unless the
Democracy could carry New York, New
Jersey and Connecticut there could be
no possible chance for the election of
it's candidate, and not only from a wise
party standpoint, but from considera
tions of national integrity and patriot
ism, he gave to the country his views,
regardless of consequences to himself in
q national convention. For unless the
n ttional Convention takes position in
sympathy with these views. the accept
ance of the nomination would be an
empty honor.
There has never been a serious pro
liability of Hill being the nominee OF the
Democratic party; the thinking ele
,nent of the purity know that Presi-
lie ITS are not made out of such tim
Der. He may do for State contests and
TO manipulate the machine in "a national
contest. That is the gusge of his quail
Gcations. When it comes to national con
Germs, duplicating policies affecting The
r-al business interests OF the nation and
something more solid and reliable than
thu arts of the denago@ue and The Cash
an / glitter Of the curl,sione statesman.
We doubt whether Hills name will be
seriously considered III the Chicago con
vantiOn. He certainly has no chance Of
the nomination ans! if Cleveland should
not be nominated it viii be Il virtual
surrender Of the Presidency, in the out
set OF the contest.
These are tie views of a disintaHested
observer, who claims to be neither q
seer nor prophet, but who takes com
mon sense view of the situation and the
causes which affect and determine the
results of national elections.
Col Alexander K. Botelor, o PROM |
l-{ W,