New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-18
TIE CHICAGO OUTDOOR.

The gathering of Democrats at Chicago does
not as vet alter the outlook. Mr.. Cleveland
is unaucstionaby the choice of large ma
jority of the delegates, and some OF the shrewd-
est managers Of the party believe that he would
be after all the safest candidate to nominate.
But much larger number Of the managers
and leaders. including Senators Brice, German
and Vest. and Mr. Watterson, are convinced
that Mr. Cleveland could not be elected, and
are hunting for another candidate, their diff
Guilty being to find one upon whom they can
agree as more likely to succeed. Whether they
can beat him with the two-thirds rule. and yet
save chance of electing anybody else, remains
to be seen.
They are industrously circulating at Chicago
the story that the Republicans are all anxious
for Mr. Cleveands nomination, because they
believe he would he the easiest candidate to
beat. But this is not fair statement OF the
case. Republicans SEQ distinctly that Mr. Cleye-
land would he weak. and yet they are not able
to discover any other Democratic candidate
who would on the whole do better. Senator
Hill for instance. would undoubtedly fall far
behind the vote for Cleveland in this State, and
would have no chance worth mentioning in
any other Northern State unless it be New
jersey. Mr. German, or any other candidate
from the South, would be hard to elect. A
Western candidate might be stronger at the
West. but would undoubtedly fall behind Cieve-
lands vote in the close Eastern states 1t Is
not the disposition of Republicans to make the
game for their opponents. As usual they rel!
with considerable confidence upon the long
tried Democratic faculty of laundering in every
emergency.
The riyalres of individual aspirants at Chi
caeo seem to push entirely out OF sight the
deeper and far more important antagonIsm OF
objects and principles. Men talk only OF the
possibility of clecting this or that candidate
The far greater question whether this or that
candidate is one they want to elect, or one
whose election would help the party or the
country. they seem 10 ignore as much az they
can. This is because the spirit of loyalty to the
organization, which is demanded Of all Dem
ocratc politicians. the readiness to vote and
work for the devil incarnate if regularly NOM
mated blries ont OF sight for the time the
objects for which alone the organization Ought
to exist. or the election Of any candidate to
be desired But, although the spoils-hunterS
may forget all this in convention, there are
multitudes of voters who will not forget II
when the election comes. The trading poll
ticans nav be able to barter and .orcain, and
finally to agree. But what agreement is pos
sibic between the voters who frartically de-
mand Free Trade, and the voters who know
that Free Trade would take tho bread from
their mouths? What agreement can there be
between the multitudes who frantically demand
free silver as their right. and their only chance
TO get the better of creditors. and the great
army of business men in all States East or
West. who know that free coinage would be
their ruin?
The fatal Democratic blunder which comes
unfaingly at least once in four years, is likely
this wear to lie in ignoring these radical differ
ences. The great body Of Democratic voters
care nothing and know nothing about them.
The managing and working politicians are
apt to think only of the voters who control
| primaries and nominating conventions. and who
elect delegates. Since these care nothing for
the principles at stake, the politicians care
nothing. But in every part of the country
| there will be found voters who do care, and
the party which pays no attention to their
wishes will have hard time of it in the end.