St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-15
WHITNEY Is WISE.
The EX-Sccretary Talks Well Of
Democracy's Position.

New York, April lex Secretary
Of the Navy William c. Whitney started
on six weeks trip to Europe yester-
day afternoon. Just before his depart
ure he said TO a Times reporter:
The only trouble with the Democratic
parry is the discussions ana possible bad
blood. i he situation, however, Is very
much what it was in 1876, when GOV.
Tilden Was nominated. The Demo
cratic party in the West was committed
very generally and pretty ardently to
Greenbackism. The candidacy of Gov.
Tiden was looked upon as likely TO fail
OF support in the West. The second
Grant administration had created an
issue, and Gov. Tilden, by reason OF his
vigorous warfare upon the Tweed ring
and canal ring in this state, was the
dominant figure in the Democratic party
to meet it. He was nominated and
Greenbackism was forgotten. The ne
cessity for reform III the government
became the sole issue. The party was
unified upon it and really carried the
election.
At this distance from the convention
of 1876 there seems a perfect parellellsm
between the condition of the party at
that time and now, and, with regard to
candidates. il seems to me that the sit
uation is quite the same as it was at that
time. For good or ILL.,, the issue of the
Democratic party at the present time is
tariff reform not free trade, not the
destruction in any way OF Industries
that have grown up under present tarllf
laws, but relief from protection UNI
necessary for the prosperity of our in
dustries, from the Over-taXation of the
IL 81, 40 4 ln
enriching of few at the expense Of the
many, and from extravaganza i'll public
expenditures which results from thel
desire to sustain this Over-taxation.
The battle OF 1892 has to be fought
upon these issues in general. They have
been framed and put 10 the front by MIR.
Cleveland. 1t seems to NE from look
ing over the field that the people would
not be satisfied without the same leader
in this campaign. | was one who Strug-
gled against MIR. Cleveland in making
the issue when he did in 1887, thinking
ii premature, and wishing the benefit Of
the strength which would have come to
us in the fight after his reelection to
the presidency in 1883 which would have
necessarily resulted from his admins
trative record.
However. the issue was made; it is
today dominant IN the country, ana l
think the feeling of Democrats through
out the country is one of confidence in
the result of 1892. But for success we
must have consideration for differences
within the party and for the personal
preferences of individuals. | know
That no one feels better disposed in this
regard than Mr.. Cleveland himself, He
thinks much more of the issue and of
the party'S success than of his indiyid-
ual success.
have done everything could to in
fluence people within the party to have
consideration for each other. We must
have harmony and cordial cooperation
in order to win. People cannot be
dragooned into an enthusiastic support
of candidates. feel certain that when
it appears that Mr.. Cleveland is the
general choice of the Democratic party
for the next campaign, not from lack of
appreciation of the merits of other
prominent Democrats, but because the
issue and events point to him, personal
preferences will yield to the general
Judgment aud we shall go into the
fight in better shape than i'll any cleo
ton within my recollection.