The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-24
WHY CLEyELA. D FELL.

There is q pretty moral in the rejection
of Cleveland 10y the Albany convention
and the instruction OF delegates By a uuaa-
imcus vote for Hill. About two years ago
Cleveland appeared to be the eli Ice Of New
York for the Presidency; only a few kick
eTs ventuTed TO mention the name or Hill.
Tie general opinion of New York Demo
Gratis who were not active politicians was
that Cleveland bad administered the Office
Of President in accordance with Demo
cratic principles and tradition, and that he
was entitled to the support Of his own
State in the National Convention. Since
then he has done nothing 10 impair his
record OF 10 justify a withdrawal Of Demo
cratic confidence; yet now, there does not
appear TO be q single member Of the State
Convention who thought il worth While to
bring his name forward. There certainly
was 10 opposition 20 the resolution instruct
ing for Ill., Outside Of the convention j
select party Of dissatisfied DemOcIa 5, IN
der the leai Of such warriors as eX-MayOr
Tieruan. f. /. Anderson. Fairchld ana
eX-MayOr Grace, held q meeting, At which
they threatened bolt IN the future; but
they viii probably simmer down into sore
head sideshOw, which viii not poll votes
enough to control a single district.
This apparent mutation Of public 0pn-
ion is as rapid and as marked as any which
our political history affords, and it IS inter-
es,ing to look for It's cause. According to
tie Mugwump papers Of the East, IL was
the fruit Of adroit wiTe-pulling and knayish
contTiyances by Senator Hill. But seventy
two representative members Of leading
political party cannot be wire pulled INTO a
TrsHrr
Mr. HATS arts may nave rallied a few re-
ca!citrants to his side, but by no device
known in political tactics can he have
captured a whole body Of men who may
fairly be regarded as influential and re-
sponsible leaders Of the party. In q close
contest Vire-puliing tells Ii Cleveland
had q bare majority OF the State Convention,
Hill might by wiles and tricks have Sc
duced a sufficient number Of members from
their allegiance to him to convert his ma
ioTIty into q minority. But where the
body IS unanimous. wire-pulling iSnOwhere.
The cause of Cleyeland's downfall must
be sought in influences more creditable 70
Senator Hill and more easily rec0nciled
with commOu-sense. And minute inquiry
viii show that those Influences may be
summed up in a single sentence-Mr. Cleye-
land had no friends When lie was Presi-
dent he sacrificed policy TO an exaggerated
estimate Of The Importance Of dOc,riuaiTe
politics He felt that he alone was res ponsi-
bic for the administration Of national
affairs, and he not only did not try 10 throw
any portion OF that responsibility on the
shoulders Of others, but be took care to let
every one know that he had no such inten-
ton. lie proposed TO run the machine
alone. He not only did not seek advice, he
sc0Tned it. lie not only did not lean on
any one else. but he kept everybody at
such arms length that no one could suspect
ne was leaning. The consequence was that
while he was President no one had any in
fuence at the White House, and as a natural
consequence Cleveland had no personal
friends attached to him by the memory Of
services rendered and gratitude due.
Among those who attended the boilers
meeting at Albany was ex- Mayor William
L. Grace, a gentleman Of the highest prin-
ciple and purest honor. When ne was here
a year ago he told a story OF the campaign
Of 1884. A few days before the election it
became evident to leading Democrats that
Cleveland ran some risk Of losing New
! Ork City. A large sum OF money was
needed for immediate use. Application was
made to w. r. Grace He asked no ques-
tons, babe his visitors tell him nothing Of
the uses to which the money was to be ap-
piled, but drew his check for the entire
amount required. After the election many
oflice-seekers sought his Endorsement for
their applications, but be always refused
on the ground of delcacy. He asked for
no mans appointment, and Cleveland filed
every Office in New York State without
once consulting the man whose contTibu-
ton TO the campaign fund had made him
President.
This was grand. 1t was worthy of an
ancient Roman. But II had the inconven-
fence Of cooling the arlor of every practical
Democratic politician not only in New
York, but elsewhere. They all teIt that so
far as their individual aspirations for place
or influence were concerned they might Just
as well have Republican in the White
House as Cleveland. He was too high
toned for them. And so, when the hour
came to choose delegates to the State Con-
VeDliOD, they one and all went back on him.