Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-04-30

New York Tribune: Mr. Cleveland's
friends believe that be Is the strongest
democrat 10 the country The claim
need not be dispated Let us assume
that IL 10 true, and consider what It i'm
plies Not even bis most passionate
admirers viii pretend that Mr. Cleye-
land has done anything within the last
four years to increase his popularity or
stree 9Th lie has made feE speeches
and written a few letters, but not one Of
them fingers IN the public memoryi not
one contaj~s a sentence that the most
ardent admlfer can remember CUES
ti0ns Of domestic policy, questions OF
foreign relations, have excited the coun-
try within the last four years, and other
leading men Of both parties have spoken
on these questions with effectiveness.
doing much TO eulighten and shape
public opinion But Mr.. Cleveland has
added nothing 20 the public lnforma-
ton, not a thought from his voice or
pen has stirred the minds Of men for the
last four years
Personally. Mr Cleveland is not
stronger than he was in 1883 Indeed,
10 might fairly be inferred that be
must have lost something Of the popu-
Iarity he then enjoyed, for a public man
cannot retain his leadership aud his
place IN the regard Of men without some
effort
IL he takes 10 part ia public discus
sions. il he does nothing TO justify the
confidence Of people in him as a leader,
some uart Of his popularity unavOidably
disappears. Mr. Cleveland was only
strong enough to he defeated In 1883.
Four years earlier he was elected by a
fraud. A change Of coo votes in this
state would have deprived him Of the ap
parent majority lie received, and yet he
bad the support u many thousand re
pubhcaus who, for one reason or another,
chose 10 place confidence in him as a
reformer The simple fact that be was
weaker after four years in the white
house than he was before the people had
practical knowledge OF his powers and
his disposition goes long way. Only
strong enough TO be beaten IN
/ 1888. Mr.. Cleveland would in all prob
ably has iined greatly IN strength and
| public opinion has moved decisively IN
| favor Of the principles and the policy be
advocates.
Whether the party is stronger o-day
( then it was four years ago is not difficult
I 10 determine It's phenomenal success
| in 1890 has led many 10 suppose that IL
/ has gained very largely in public ap-
probation and support. But attention
/ has repeatedly teen called 90 the fact
I that the democratic party did not in
! that year cast as many votes as 1t had
cast two years before. 1t succeeded be-
cause the republican party failed to p II
4 it's full vote, and particularly because
many thousand republicans gave their
support IN that year to the Alliance.
To-day the republican party IS more
/ thoroughly united and decidedly strong
or than it was two years ago, while the
democratic party, particularly in some OF
the southern states Is h0pelessly dlvid-
ed II is q matter OF doubt whether the
alliance may not carry several OF the
southern states IN which the democratic
party has for many years had over
whelmng maJOrlues Ina other southern
states \, here the democratic plurality
has ueeu small a third party is exceed
m-ly likely TO draw off votes enough 10
mike republican success easy and Ger
tain. Mr. Cleveland is the one can
dictate, among all others who have been
named on the democratic side, against
whom the third party organizers and
the s4pporters OF the alliance viii make
the most desperate efforts In that
aspect be is probably weaker than aay
other democrat who could be named,
even though he might command IN some
of the northern state larger support
than any other democratic candidate
But at the best he is candidate who
was beaten four years ago, who has
gained nothing IN strength since that
time. aud who canuot to-day command
nearly as large a republican or independ-
eut support as he vas able TO commai q
In either Of the two previous elections
when he was candidate