Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-25
SECRETARY ELxrss As A PROPHET

SECRETARY ELKINs As A PROPHET
He Predicts an Easy Victory for the Repub.
licans in the Fall.
WHY GEN. HARRISON WAS TIE STRONGEST CAN.
DIpArE FOR HIS PARTY-coNrRAsrEp wIrH
Mr. cLEvxLAND-rHE REPUBLICANS IN An
OFF YEAR-rHE LINES OF THE DEMOCRATIC
FIGHT.
this morning what his real views of the politi-
cal situation were now that the battles for the
nominations are over.
''Thst reminds me-" was the ready reply,
''ef the westerner who, just after Judge of his
bailiwick had rendered decision in an import
ant case, innocently took the astou1shed jurist
ABIDE and asked him what his real private
opinion Of the merits Of the case was. Seel
My real views have SO long been known and 80
often publicly expressed II seems almost work
Of suPererogstfon to repeat them"
The inquiry. hak joculsrly made ct first, was
repeated more earnestly and drew some very
Interesting observations from the man who "a
one Of the coolest needed, most prsotical poll
ticians of the administration group.
WIN R8ISIDkNI WAS TIKI 6TBOQ0G8T CAM
DIDATE.
81 perceived many months ego that for
various reasons the President was the most
available man the republicans could nominate.
To use q much hackneyed, but rome the less
true, phrase he was palpably the logical candi-
date OF his party as 1t appeared to me. Gen.
Harrison, from every confederation, was not
only available, but furthermore was entitled to
Q denomination by reason Of his services to the
country. The masses Of the republican party
felt that 1t was so, and their pressure made II
apolis. And the plain reasons that cOnspired
to make him invincible for denomination Will
make him invincible at the polls in November.
Briefly these were and continue to be my real
views concerning the political situation"
CLEvELANDs NOMINATION MAKES NO DIFFERENCE
"But, Mr.. Secretary, you are aware that you
are now confronted by q condition, and not q
theory does the nomination of Mr.. Cleveland
in any manner modify your views or weaken
your confidence in the outcome Of the can
vass?'
'.Not at all, replied Mr.. Elkins in decided
tones; ''if anything am more confirmed in my
convictions than ever by Mr.. Oeveland's nomi-
nation, though had anticipated his success in
the democratic convention. 1t made no differ
ence who was nominated at Chicago Mr. Har-
rison win be reelected. His success was not
dependent upon the weakness Of the democratic
candidate, nor upon democratic divisions He
will win on the record Of his party and of his
administration. The expressions of the demo-
cratic politicians and newspapers themselves
indicate doubt Of their ability to defeat the
republican candidate. / will freely say think
Cleveland, In some respects, the best candidate
they could have chosen, but In one, the great
est essential, he ia the weakest. There can be
no lodging the tariff issue with Cleveland as
the democratic candidate.
"1he republican party is entitled to and will
succeed on the platform Of the democratic con-
vention and the action of the convention lead
ing up to it. The platform in itself as adopted
is the nearest approach to free trade this
country has ever seen except the out and ont
declaration for free trade in the confederate
constitution. By O vote of 564 the democratic
convention openly refused to protect American
labor by levying a tariff on imported goods
even to the extent Of the difference between tho
price Of labor in this country and the price Of
labor in Europe. By this same vote they also
refused any protection whatever to American
labor and to the manufacturing interests of the
country.
81 think the republican party IL ns strong to-
day as 1t ever was 1t defeated Mr. Cleveland
on that issue in 1888 and can do it again
HARRISON AND CLEVELAND.
"Do you not think Mr.. Cleveland stands well
with the country personality" asked The
STAR.
with the large majority Of his party Mr..
Cleveland is unquestionably popular-there is
no gainsaying that after the exhibition we have
seen at Chicago. But it has been demonstrated
that the country distrusts the forces behind the
democratic candidate. Personally the country
thought well enough Of Cleveland in 1888, yet
1t would have no more of him for President.
Personally and also. as an able executive the
republican candidate has won the confidence of
the people to a greater degree than it was pos
sessed by Cleveland, and he has the tremendous
additional advantage with the business interests
of all sections that the party behind him is
trustworthy on all questions Of finance and
commerce, with a steady policy generally
understood and clearly advantageous
to all interests. Our party and our
candidate have generally won the confidence Of
the people engaged in those business enterprises
more less exposed to the vicissitudes Of legis-
greet the possibility Of change, and to prevent
Il viii vote for Harrison. My experience Is that
there is no sentiment in business and very little
in politics. This being time Of peace the peo-
pie look to and will favor the party that Will
best advance the material interests Of the coun-
try. The country Is prosperous. True, 1t
might be equally prosperous outside Of legisla-
ton under Mr. Cleveland, but the purpose Of
Cleveland and his party now is to break down
protection. The business public will take no
chances; it will prefer to be satisfied with sure
thing which is a good enough thing. They will
argue it is hardly possible to improve upon the
present situation and that change is fraught
with danger, and they will argue correctly and
vote accordingly. TIE STAR may set it down
as a certainty that for these reasons the indie
pendent business men Of the, country, and e.
pecially those in New York, are for Gen. Harri-
son. This IL another reason why he was the
logical candidate Of his party and why Tam
many and the New York democracy are 80
doubtful OF the result in that state"
NO ACCIDENTS RELIED UPON.
"Will the attitude Of the Tammany people id
New York and the disgruntled free silver peo-
pie of the south and west be helpful to Har-
rison, Mr.. SecretaryY'
For my part l do not depend on any acct
dents for success What l have said before
partly answers your question. 30 far as the
machine is concerned we will have united
democracy to fight in New York and elsewhere
make no count on the heated preconvention
threats of knitting in case this, that or the
other thing Is done or left undone. What we
SOW at Minneapolis two weeks ago in a mild
way was repeated ct Chicago this week in an
exaggerated form. The air has been blue with
threats Of vengeance IN store for the other
fellow but the factions will como to-
gether in support of the nominee. 1t Is
always SO. The republican ranks are already
closed and the democratic press Is teeming with
warnings that they must be prepared to meet q
united enemy. What We heard ut Minneapolis
~ l. IL