The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-25
SIZED UP.


SIZED UP.
What the New York Herald said of Glove.
land u few Days Ago.
Neo Yora Htrusd tDtulj, June %
Tile fight against Mr.. Cleveland in
the Chicago convention is not based on
personal prejudice, but on political
principle. His opponents are not win.
ing TO take any more risks in tho'co
ing campaign than are absolutely neces.
safy. They believe that Mr.. Cleveland
will not ensure victory, but will endan'
ger it. '.'9
The convention seems TO be an as
sembly OF sentimentalists, aud political
observation-disclosures is conspicuous by its
absence.
There is but one question to be asked
and answered, aud that involves practi-
cal politica-namely, Who will make
the most available candidate ? or in 9TH
or words, Who can carry New York
state this autumn against the power,
patronage and plots Of the, administra.
tion2
It is not a matter in which the dis
play Of sentiment or the exhibition OF
rhetoric should have any place what
ever; neither Is il matter in which
private animosities or factional feuds
should have determining influence,
for tho Democratic party is supposed to
be seeking the welfare Of the people,
and that alone. Cold, hard, undeniable
facts arc the raw material out OF which
the nomination ought to be forged.
We have nothing to say either for or
against Mr.. Cleveland personally. All
that is aside from this controversy. Is
lie the strongest man from a purely po-
litical standpoint to lead the party in
one Of the toughest fights Of this gener-
alton? There is no doubt that he is an
honest man as politicians go, or that he
is very agreeable companion on fish
ing trip. These qualifications are valua-
BILE in their way, but what the Demo-
Gratis are seeking ut the present moment
is a man who can rally about him u ma.
iority OF the voters OF this country.
II he were available for that purpose
there would DO nothing more to say,
but the reasons why he cannot carry
this state are too numerous TO mem
ton. Indeed, 1t is one Of the oldest
incidents in our political history that
conventions should for single moment
consider the nomination OF candidate
who is repudiated by the unanimous
judgment Of the delegation sent from
his own state.
il there were anything in his record
on which to base prophecy of victory
the case would be different, but that
record is the strongest argument against
his candidacy. 1t is true he reached
the presidency in 1884, but 1t is not
complimentary to him to inquire how
that accident occurred. His slender
majority did not come from his merits,
but from fortuitous circumstance. A
phrase and laundering clergyman
were the foundation of his victory.
Burchard uttered a potent ALTERATION
and few exasperated men threw their
votes against Blaine, The President
maker that year was not the people, but
Burchard.
In 1883 the people deliberately re-
fused a second term. What he had
done aud what he had not done forced
them to this conclusion. He did not
satisfy the country aud was therefore
beaten.
And now when the people ask moth
ing Of the Democrats except that they
shall nominate man who can capture
two or three doubtful states-whlch is
certainly q very reasonable request
and when there are nj least hall dozen
prominent politicians in the West who
can certainly do it, these sentimental
lists ignore ali the facts OF history and
push the man about whom cluster Sc
rious doubts. Itlooks like faulty, and
is likely to ond in defeat. The Demo-
Gratis do not usually waste their time in
chasing rainbows, are not accustom cd
10 cripple themselves when starting in
a race, us they are now doing.
Napoleon once said that q good gem
eral was worth whole battalion in u
close fight. It may also be said that a
poor general weakens the whole army
and makes defeat probable. But in
what terms shall we criticise conven-
ton which has half dozen generals
who have never been beaten and de-
liberately chooses one who never won a
fight except by an accident?
OF course, the Democrats OF the coun-
try will accept Cleveland with such
resignation as they can summon, but it
is worse than folly to go into battle
with the fear Of defeat when it is Just as
easy to fight with the assured hope OF
victory.