Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-27
NEXT PRESIDENCY.
Harder TO Defeat Harrison Now Than
When lie Beat Cleveland.
STATES REQUIRED TO WIN.
Seven North OF Mason d Dixon's Line
Cleveland and Muxwumpism Won't
Do--Solid Advice.
From our Regular Correspondent

heard to express OPINIONS on TUG eu"JoVs,
that IL President Harrison Is renominsted
this year by his party--almost foregone
conclusion-he will be much harder man
10 beat than in 1888, when he vanquished
Mr.. Cleveland. So far as power Is con-
cerned the tables will be turned in Mr..
Harrison's favor. When he ran against
MIR. Cleveland the Indiana statesman had
been out in the cold for couple OF years. his
seat in the Senate having been captured by
Mr.. Turpie. The Democratic managers
looked upon the Hoosier candidate as
mere pigmy, and seemed to feel confident
he would be easily defeated. particularly
as Mr.. Cleveland was in possession OF the
presidency. and had an immense amount
OF patronage TO help him to reelection
If it had only been welded in the right sort
of way. But that was just where MIR. Cleve-
land failed TO use his advantage. Heimag-
ined that sentiment would pull him through
and permitted certain political gushers TO
stuff him with fairy tales until over
confidence became fatal. They told him
that he was certain 10 carry Michigan,
Iowa, Wisconsin. Massachusetts,. ana pos
sibly Ohio. Illinois and California. lie
litical advisers made him believe that poor
little Mr.. Harrison. out in the cold, was
of no consequence. but there was an
awakening on the night of the. election IN
November, 1888. 1t was found that
the soldier vote went heavily Tor
the Indiana man IN the old Demo
cratic strongholds, and States which hlr.
blaine came near losing in 1884 rolled up
their former great Republican maJorlties
almost. Dir. Don Dickinson. who was so
certain that Michigan would go Demo
cratic, came near going into decline
when no heard the result, and he was so
dazed on his way back to Washington that
he left his new silk hat on O seat III the Gen.
trail depot in New York.
PstcTIcAL POLITICS.
There are no sentimentalists among the
practical Democratic politicians one meets
bere-the men 70 be relied on TO conduct
the psrty's battle IN the coming contest.
They know, and will tell you, that we
haven't one chance in ten of carrying
Massachusetts. Ohio. Illinois. Kansas
Iowa. Wisconsin. Nebraska, or Minnesota.
Montana is about the only State west or
north of Missouri where there is
q reasonable show o. "access; 10
win the presidency r. sl'est ana
most logical leaders crrftsus, assert
that the Democracy mrs, '"S on New
York, Connecticut. New Jsr;-7'. indiana,
Montana, the six votes IN IichSs7, under
the new plan of choosing oiee.ocs. end the
South as the States in tho iat's' section
are politically grouped. II Governor Boxes
should happen to be the candidate Iowa
might possibly 60 Democratic. IN .ne opin-
ion OF many, but they regard even that as
extremely doubtful. In presidential cleo
ton wears the lines are closely drawn, sec
tional feeling is aroused, the Grand Army
leaders whOOp up the old men and the
Young men aud the plutOcra;s shell out
money for the black Republican party
that always looks well after the 'n;erests
OF the favored classes.
Ii can be depended on that President
Harrison Will bring every force to bear to
secure his reelection. and the Democratic
leaders realize that they VIII have III hun
moro formidable opponent than IN 1888,
when be was To a certain extent dIscredlt-
ed. by having been picked up as compro-
mise man by the Blaine crowd to prevent
Mr. Sherman from capturing the nomlna-
ton.
no MUGwUNP DlcrArIoN
As New York, New Jersey, Indiana, and
the solid South viii have 10 furnish nearly
all os the electoral votes necessary to win
the coming battle. most of the opinions
heard in Washington political circles are
to the effect that the Mugwumps and
other visionary men III the States which
cant be relied on TO 90 Democratic must
not be permitted to dictate 20 the Chicago
convention. The party Is fortunate, how
ever, in having atwo-thirds' rule TO govern
ITS national conventions, and IN TINS safe
guard lies one of the greatest hopes OF the
leaders, who would regard the situation as
g somewhat perilous one If the cranks and
reinhow-ch asers could have clear sweep
under majority rule.
Whether or not the sentiment in Wash
ingion Is an index to the feeling elsewhere
is hard TO determine. but 1t is barely
probable that Senators and Representa-
tlyes would so rapidly desert the fortunes
of Mr.. Cleveland If they were not intiu-
enced TO some extent by what they hear
from their constituents. Before Mr. Cleve-
land wrote his antl-silver letter, something
more than a year ago. there were hardly
twenty Democratic members Of the House
bold enough to express the belief that he
would not be the party candidate again in
1892 Now II is doubtful If more than
double that number still claim that he is
likely to be seriously considered by the
Chicago convention; and II rs ascertalned
that quite a number who really prefer HIM
are compelled 10 admit that the situation
renders his nomination simply out OF the
question. Some, however. will not give
him up under any circumstances. They
predict dire results. too. If he IS not once
more selected as the standard bearer. A
few talk as II they believe he IS the only
Democrat lett, and TO carry out thor theory
fully the party would have to close up and
GO out of business In the event of his death
before June 2lst, or "a failure to keep on
nominating him for the presidency.
A prominent member of the House. who
can't bear the idea of nominating anyone
else. said the other day in paroxysm OF
despair II would rather have Cleveland
and defeat than Hill and victory" There
are several more just like him in the House,
and il is positively interesting to hear
them plead for their tavorite.
STRONG YAyoBITE.
Inquiry shows that one OF the reasons
for Mr.. Cleveland's waning strength IN adj
dition to the fact that New York. the
greatest of the States, has declared in
favor of Senator Hill, is that the ex-Presi-
dent is no longer. popular with the
Alliance people. Their leaders, except
here and there. according to the letters
ell against Mr.. Cleveland because of
his strong anti-silver views and the
certainty that If he were to become Presi-
dent again q free-conage bill could not
become a law unless passed over his veto.
Men like Senator Carlisle, who are at
heart opposed TO free coinage, say that II
looks as If q large majority of the people
have tree coinage sooner or later.
WARNINGS FROM THE SOUTH.
If all the pointed things in the letters
southern congressman are receiving these
DAYS could be put together and printed
what interesting reading they would make,
particularly If extracts from the replies
could also appear in the papers. From
what is said of these epistles the
southern people appear to be doing
q great deal of earnest thinking
Just now; and the drift of senti-
ment is becoming stronger and
stronger that If the South wants to
save her political bacon this year her
leaders will have to act calmly and Judi
ciously, in view of the apparent middle
that now stsres the Democratic party in
the face. Don't instruct the southern
delegations" is an admonition that comes
IN thousands of letters 10 congressman.
Let us act Observation-Disclosures that
will vote on the unit PLAN" is other
advice given. ave can't afford to
insult New York or cut loose from
that big State" is another style
OF warning. and while Senator Hill cannot
be said to have captured many States out
side of his own. there are evidences that
ha a. al