New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-18
,Ir DFNOCRATIC DILEMMA.

journals in this State to sacrifice himself
for his party Let him recognize that he
is dead and comfortably bury himself, they
say. bv going to the convention as dele
gate and putting Mr. Cleveland in nomina-
ton. That would heal all trouble, these
candid friends reason would insure the victory
of the party, and would bring to Hill! the sup
port of the Cleveland men four years hence.
This is indeed a touching and impressive appeal,
and if Mr.. Hill wore a hat two sizes larger il
might have some effect. But nothing in his
career thus far has indicated that he is a man
large enough for such an act
A Republican onlookcr finds small reason to
care whether Hill takes this advice or not.
Democratic idiocy has gone very far, but can
hardly go far enough to put up Hill for either
the Presidency or the Vice-Prcsldency. His
frantic office begging and the shameless and
outrageous methods to which he has resorted in
This State. have made him so offensive that he
would not only he forcdoomed to defeat as a
candidate himself but his known preference
would damage any other man. Much of what
strength Mr.. Cleveland has he owes TO the fact
that Hill hates him. and in timid and mcaly-
mouthcd way the cxPreSident has several times
criticised Hills performances. lie would lose
much if he should become Hills choice and the
tool of Tammany and large headed enemy
could find no surcr revenge than 10 stab him by
putting him in nomination. IL would ut once be
inferred. and Justly. that he had made "A bargain
with Hill and Tammany regarding the patron
age.
Mr.. Cleveland, with his "many misgivings'
about the wisdom of his denomination. has been
capturing good many delegates, and some who
were expected 10 oppose him. Many Democrats
reason, as Senator German apparently does that
the Democratic party can in no other way escape
the fatal odum Of its vote for free coinage Of
silver except by nominating Mr.. Cleveland
Yet neither that nor any other nomination can
blot out the fact that a large majority of
the Democrats want free coinage and mean 10
get it if they ever have the power When they
consent 10 nominate and support any man, no
matter what his record may have been. it will
be easier T. believe that he has privately pledged
himself 10 modify his views and bow 10 the viii
of his party in Congress than To believe that
$50 Democratic Congressman have determined
to battle against the wishes of their con
stitucnts. For the sake of Office an ambitious
man might agree not 10 veto a measure OF his
Iarty. But with Congressman all ambition
and hope of Office pull the other way, since it
would be political suicide for them to consent TO
A defeat Of the silver fanatcism. DcnalS |
would do no good. Muliitudcs would take II
for granted that the party had obtained salts
factory assurances from il candidate.
But il is n twO-cdged sword. this silver Qucs |
ton, for thousands Of Alliance men and irecsil |
YER Democrats would refuse ~ trust in any secret
or 10 vote for Mr. Cleveland in any case.
For his party nj the West he would be an inn |
possible candidate. and his nomination would he
likely ~ turn over to the Alliance candidate
enough southern votes 10 give more than one
state Of the South to the Republicans. At the
same time Mr.. Clcyclnds attitude on the |
tariff i 50 extreme and So definitely fixed that |
he should be weaker in every manufacturing |
state than he was four years ago. The now |
tariff is incomparabl, more popular than the
tariff of 1852. against which Mr., Cleveland pro
test d. It has corrected hundreds OF defects in
the dcfcnccN Of important induStrIc, il has
le,scncd by 500 900 600 the tayc> Of the pco-
pie and II has caused the establishment Of "a
great number of new works which employ a
multitude Of voters. Mr.. Cleveland could not
win against President Harrison and the tariff of
1883. He will find il harder 10 win against the
Republican candidate this year and the tariff Of
$50. That fact will be remembered when
the Republican Convention meets about seven
weeks hence, and il will not be forgotten two
week, later when the Democrats assemble at
Chicago.