New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-19
THE DEMOCRATIC DILEMMA.

He must have a poor nose for political news
who does not discover a great change in tho
expectations and feelings of both parties during
the last few months. Last October Democrats
were confident and boaStful. There was not
much prctence about it; they counted with ao-
salute certainty upon victory in Massachusetts
and Ohio as in New ork, and in several w Vest
ern States, and were even confident about Penn
svvania 1t is the truth that the Republicans
were at that time much disheartened. They
hoped that Mckinley would pull through, but
hardly dared to trust their own hope. To them
the Alliance was a thing unknown and greatly
feared in many Western States. while there was
even seine apprehension about pennsylvania IN
short. the great defeat of 1890 still controlled
the feelings and expectations OF both parties
But to-day Republicans are hopeful, ana even
iubilant, while all intelligent Democrats realize
that the coming struggle is TO be desperate ana
donbtful. and each of their two warning factions
solemnly declares and fully believes that certain
defeat viii attend the policy of the other.
Democratic journals do not like to admit that
their party is in an ugly dilemma. They prefer
70 regard the war of factions as merely per-
sonal strife for the leadership and the SPOTS
But there is something deeper If it were only
question what policy the Democratic party
would pretend to adopt, and then work and vote
for. caring at bottom only for the sp0ls, one
might expect the strife to end As usual, IN The
adoption of a few tricky phrases and in united
and desperate effort at the polls for any can
didate But this time a victory will have to
mean something or none will be won. Against
an eyasive and lodging Democracy the Repnb-
! lcans are sure to win.
The reason is that two important classes OF
voters have fixed purpose that the next election
shah mean something for their ideas and pur-
poses, or nothing for Democracy. The men who
want more money and the scaling of debts have
with them the Silver-mnng interest the vague
but vet potent notion that " the god bugs OF
Wall street, have been neecing the country, ana
the Alliance outbreak at the South. About many
things they disagree, or are wiling to WHIT
About free silver they unite, and refuse TO tol-
crate any excuse or postponcment III j. natuidl
enough when one considers what vast demands
these pcople have made, and how small a part
Of these demands would be granted BY Free
Coinage Act Yet to the Democratic party this
means a certainty that ID cannot carry any West
ern State and wiz probably Lose some Southern
States. unless it makes a determined struggle
for free coinage. The "mOre-money' re'p!e
saw Mr.. Cleyelands performances for four years
They DO not intend to throw away their great
victory in 1890 by putting him in power for
four wears more, nor will they support any man
likely to walk in his footsteps
Put at the other end there is a body Of voters
who mean a change of tariff, have gone with the
Democratic party for yeas though despisng
T.. for that reason only and who are equally re-
solved that the next four years shall mean a
triumph for them or nothing for the Democratic
marty. Its incompetence they have found hard
20 endure its bad faith and trickery toward these
who trust il have made them angry often, its
Infamous election frauds seem to them utterly
intolcrable unless they are to bring victory
for "tarlf reform" 10 these men the nOlnna-
ZION of ANYBODY except Mr. Cleveland will mean
a BETRAYAL and an insult and failure to put the
tariff issue foremost will send them out of the
democratic camp.
Democracy would tide both horses, and suad
die and jugge as usual if it could. But this
| time it cannot. The great body OF Jealous Free
Traders or tariff refOImcrS' in Northern states,
| and especially the Germans are intensely hes
tile to free coinage. The practical business men
among them know that it would bring rum.
The blind worshippers of British economic the
cries detest the silver fanaticism as much as they
do Protection. So it has come 10 this the Dem
ocratic party must face defeat in New-Yor
| Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio and every last
ern State except perhaps New-Jcrsey, if IT com
mits itself to free coinage, or fails to put the
tariff foremost. But it must face defeat through
the West, and in some Southern States unless
| it puts the money question foremost shelves Mr..
| Cleveland and makes a genuine fight for free
silver coinage That is the real nature Of the
| dilomm3 and it is not strange that Democrats
arc discouraged.