The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-23
Western Candidates.


Western Candidates.
The West continues to reward the SYM
pathetic observation OF the political opti-
mists. Many OF these cheerful wayside
guides are declaring that the Western
States furnish fruitful and promising op.
portunity for the choice OF the Democratic
candidate for President. 1t Is not at all i'm
possible that the delegates to the Conven-
ton OF 1899 may take their candidate from
one OF the Western States. II they don't.
they are quite certain to choose from that
region. as in 1868. 1872. 1915. 1880. 1884. and
1883. candidate for Vice-President. Yet
the fact is that with the exception OF the
popular and lamented HENDRICKS. not one
of the Western ice-Presldential candidates
ever justified the expectations Of those who
put them in nomination. Four Of them
lost their own States for the electoral
ticket. Would they have done better as
candidates for President?
Among the Western States which come
most naturally to mind in the consideration
Of Presidential candidates is Ohio: yet only
recently have Democratic hopes been dash
ed there. and the fancies OF the rainbow
chasers COMPOUNDED by the election OF Re-
publican Governor and 4 Legislature which
has chosen Republican Senator.
Illinois is big State. Of great and grow
ing resources. 1t contains plenty of Demo-
cratic voters OF pluck and vigor. and one
candidate at least well qualified to honor
tho Presidential office. But Illinois con-
tinues to be. as heretofore. Republican
State. seldom wavering in its allegiance to
that party. 1t certainly is not to be de-
pended upon by the Democrats with positive
confidence Of success.
The vote of Indiana has been more close.
and it possesses very good Presidential
timber. Very likely a Presidential candl-
date chosen from among its statesmen
would win its electoral votes. He would
need to- and it would be a poor exchange IL
they were secured at the expense OF those
OF some Eastern State essential to success
Since the collapse OF the ground-swell
Farmers AllianceSpo sensible and obser-
want person in the Democratic fold puts
much dependence upon the prospect Of that
party's carrying Kansas Nebraska. or Min
nesota. Three other States remain in the
West. all three Of which have Democratic
Governors. and all three of which are, In
the minds OF some. strongly inclined to-
ward Democracy; these are Michigan, Wis
consin, and Iowa. Whatever prospect Mich
igan might previously have had OF securing
the honor OF naming Democratic Prcsi-
dent. the Democratic Legislature destroyed
it by providing that the electors should be
chosen by Congress districts. TO nominate
Michigan Democrat in the expectation
that he would get the vote OF the electors
OF that State would be to pursue delusion.
A close State at best. some Of its votes will
go to one party, some to the other.
Wisconsin. like Ohio. has a very large
German voting population. and it is much
in lire with that State on the financial
question. 1t is extremely doubtful if a
Democratic candidate could he nominated
from there with @good chance Of winning
its electoral votes. except on platform
which would stultify the declarations OF tho
Southern and Western Democracy generally
on the currency question.
Iowa has becn swung into the Democratic
column OH State Issues by the reactonary
and intolerant course OF the Republicans
on the liquor question. matter of internal
administration as to which the Republican
party in the nation has not shown itself to
w III harmony.
The nine States named constitute the
West Of the rainbow hunters vision. It
must be admitted that they do not offer. on
examination. T. sure field for the hopes aud
expectations OF Democrats. Nor is it to bu
Inferred from this that one or more of them
will not go Democratic this year by sub
stantial majorities. Such Is the present
prospect. but how much less doubt there Is
OF the necessary States OF the East. Their
Democracy has been proved and tried. 1t
has stood the critical tost. Yet the Demo-
Gratis Of the West do we'll to call attention to
the candidates whose qualifications they
make known and whose praises they sound.
attributes OF merit and popularity which
would he OF unreasonable service to the
Democrats of the East in their brave battle
to secure for them. II nominated. the votes
necessary to elect them.