The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-07
pecu,atinR On the Presidency.

SpeculetinR on the Presidency
A Washington correspondent Of the New
York sun has compiled quite a formidable
array Of political statistics and declarations
from which he draws the conclusion that the
nominee Of the Democratic party for Presi-
dent will be either Hill or German, or per-
hsps Palmer.
AS the correspondent has arranged the
{ facts the conclusion he reaches is certainly
logical; but the basis upon which his calou-
lstion is built IS faulty and unstable. That
basis in part consists OF extracts from plat
form declarations Of the Democratic
party ia the several states promulgated by
the state conventions in 1890, and the re-
mainder is the assumption of knowledge
Of political preferences which the cor
respondent cannot possibly possess. AS
an instance Of how much he
does not know, he SAYS:
Georgia democrats are for Hill or Cor
man. Hill has many friends, and German
Is not less favorite"
"Gorman is q prime favorite in South
Carolina. and he will have or control, the
vote Of its delegation"
"The Texas democrats favored the
platform of 1890. Hill has many strong
friends in Texas"
The committing OF the democracy Of
Georgia to Hill is premature, to say the
least. The state is unpledged save to the
best interests Of the democracy and the
country. and there is a Cleveland sentiment
abroad in the land which Is much stronger,
and its holders more faithful, than any fol-
lowing that may be claimed by either Hill
or German. 1t is not safe to take, save
with large grain of salt, all that is said by
partisan political prophets.
As to Texas favoring Hill for the presi-
dsncy, the bare suggestion carries doubt.
Texas is the home Of Roger Q. Mills, who is,
just now especially, looked upon as omi-
nently representative of the political opin-
ions of Mr.. Cleveland. and Texas is at pres
emit thinking seriously of promoting Mr..
Mills to the Senate Of the United States.
That certainly does not indicate the deoa-
dence of Cleveland's popularity in the Lone
Star state, although the platform Of 1890
promo unced in favor Of free silver.
1t is true that German is we'll thought of
In South Carolina, as indeed he is-or ought
to be-in every democratic state, or wher-
ever there are democrats; it is not true that
he will "have, or control, the vote Of its
delegation" so long as Cleveland is a candi-
date.
The Suns correspondent has fallen into
the error Of supposng that Cleveland's ut
terances against the free coinage of silver
have utterly destroyed his popularity in
~ Ia {r, booa 1av 3 IL ~.
free silver plank was inserted in 1890. The
correspondent also forgets, or purpossly
overlooks in his calculations, that the cam
paign of 1890 In quite a number Of the
states, especially in the south and west,
were fought on new lines by new element
In politics, the farmers alliance, which, IN
many instances, proved the dominant fao-
tional element within the Democratic party.
This element, unfortunately, brought many
men to the front who did not hest
tate, for their own advancement, to
make declarations and deals wholly at vari-
ance with the purpose of the alliance and
the principles of the democracy. These
words and deeds have evidently been ac-
cepted as representing the desires Of the
people, when ia fact such is not the case.
Ma1orities are VIGOROUSLY vacillating. and
10 is not only possible but very probable
that IN this year Of grace many Of the fao-
tional majortties Of 1890 will be found in the
minority when the rallacy OF political oalcu-
lations based on their utterances will be
shown.
The political probabilities of all the sta to
OF the union are summed up by the SUMS
correspondent in the manner of his dealing
with Georgia, Texas, and South Carolina,
and his conclusion Is that it must be Hill or
German. If the states themselv es reach the
same conclusion it viii be surprising.