New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-03
"pnOSCRJPTIVE INTOLERANCE"

As their only hope, some Democrats are
working desperately to make trouble wlthin
the Republican party. But Mr.. Henry wat
terson has seen too much of life, and wastes no
time in that way With his usual straightfor-
ward frankness he places upon Democrats
themselves the responsibility for the Demo
orot;c defeat he anticipates. NewYork, he
declares. is the State without whose electoral
votes we cannot hope to elect our Na'lona,
t;ckot" In that very State the Cleveland
worshippers have gone in for fight OF re-
prisal and revenge, war to The KNIFE ana INC
knife to the hilt." Democrats in other states
who have encouraged Cleveland's supporters
have taken on themselves "an awful respoh-
sibn;tvD The National party will hold to
st,ict account 1.-THE image worshippers and the
hotboads when their rash precipitation and
nroscriptiye intolerance have brought upon
great party and a noble cause complete ana
needless shipwreck"
These are suggestive words. DeihOcrd'io
shipwreck is complete, and in Mr. "a''efSoh
oninion needless, for he attributes IT, no' u
;rraconcilablc differences of principle or con-
viction within the party, but to rival amoi.
tious and to the proscriptive intolerance OF
;naoe worsbippers. The words cut deep, be-
canse they are true Certainly there never
has been more proscriptive intolerance DIS
nloved bv any body of men in public affairs
tho, nv the men who worship the image OF
Cleveland. the Prophet of Free Trade. By DAY
and by night, week after week. ana iIoh',
after month they have been howlIne WIN oil
The fury of dervishes that 1t would be treason
r. the sacred principles OF the party 10 iolli-
mate ANYBODY except Grover Cleveland. 10
boar them talk one would suppose he had Gre
atcd the Democratic party out of nothing ana
that if would be impous denial Of the Creator
bv the creature, if the party should nominate
any other candidate.
The impartial historian will be obliged TO
record that this claim is lmpudent ana rlulcu-
Ions. There was Frec-Tradc Democracy iohs
before Grover Cleveland had risen above the
con,ivial amuscmentS OF a little saloon III
RufYalo Mr.. Tilden was Free Trader, ana
found favor with a great National party be-
cause he represented its convictions in that re-
snect. MIR. Cleveland was an accident-the
nroduct of two successive disagrcements among
Ronuhlicans Nobody knew his opinion, If he
had any. Thrust into Office by the action OF
voters who were hostile TO Protection he was
50 ignorant of the tariff question, and for TWO
wears so Indifferent TO it, that nobody co'lu
fell what he would do. Only because he WAS
frightened by the overwhelming strength OF
tho Southern Free Traders within the Demo-
cratic party, he sent out bis free-wool message
as n hid for denomination. That act made nm
the candidate of the party, but insured Its de-
| feat.
Nothing could be more impudently lntoeraht
than the conduct of the image worshppers VINO
demand Cleveland or nobody. 1t is not strange
if many Democrats resent it. The wonder Is
that Democratic leaders of long service IN the
cause of Democratic principles have SO 1ai
consented to be thrust aside for this accidental
representative of Free Trade. For Repub-
licans it is fortunate thing that the party they
have TO overcome has thus fastened upon 1t
candidate SO wanting in positive strength anc
who is rendered so offensive to many Demo
crafts bv the conduct of his supporters. Tn
doubtcdlv it is true that he will command The
votcs of some one who would not support an
other Democratic candidate. But it is equally
true. as his party is likely to discover, that III
will drive away from it many thousand voter
who would heartily support almost any othel
Democrat. and will fail to have the earnes
and jealous aid of great body of Democratic
workers.