The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-02-23
JOSEPH E. BROWN.
DECLARES THAT CLEVELAND CAN
NOT, CONSISTENT
with Party Usage, Enter the Contest the
Third Time-ue Writes an Flo
Quent Letter on the Subject


national democratic convention of candidate
for president. The disagreement which seems in
some cases to be little BITTER has sprung up
between the friends of President Cleveland and
Senator Hill, of New York, as rival candidates for
the nomination. l am a personal friend of both
the gentlemen named, and no democrat has a
higher appreciation of the valuable services rem
doFed by each to his country and the democratic
party than have. Entertaining this opinion of
the contestants, anything like an angry division
in the democratic party in reference to their rola
tive merits and claims seems to me to be most un-
fortunate.
The democratic party has victory within its
grasp in the next election if it makes no unpar-
donable mistake; but to make victory certain 1T
Is necessary that have united democracy.
The two wings of the party should be ready to
make concessions each to the other If the general
good of the party and the country requires it.
1t seems to me that one of the essential rules TO
be adopted by democracy should be to select can
didate5 who are able and worthy, who have the
contd nee OF the people, and who are democrats
whose records faultless as far as party realty
is concerned but success Is very important an
other very essential thing is to have reference to
availability.
While We hope for democratic gains in several
of the northwestern states and possibly il one or
two Of the New England states fear we cannot
count with much certainty on carrying any of
these republican states. To make certain OF cleo
fnate n candidate who can carry all the southern
democratic states and who can carry New York,
Connecticut, New Jersey and Indiana This
makes victory certain. without it we have I'M
certainty.
Now Ii seems TO me that one of the first things
TO be carefully looked after when the name OF
candidate is proposed is, can nc carry the doubt
ful states lust mentioned. President Cleveland
carried them in 1884 and was elected. lie lost
them iii 1883 and was defeated. Now, entertain
ing these views it seems TO me that we should take
the aariiest steps possible ascertain what is the
sentiment Of the states just mentioned Ii there
Is more certainty that Iir. Cleveland can carry
them than that senator Hill can carry them then
he should receive the nomination. If on the
other hand developments have shown or may show
that Senator Fin viii DC certain to carry those
states then the party should not hesitate to make
Him the standard bearer.
EHtcrtaiug this view. do not deem it essential
that the party make election OF a candidate for
president al present; Gut would wait until we
hear from New York and the other states neces-
saTy to our success and as both the candidates
above named tor the nomination are men of great
ability either can safely be trusted with the power
ST he be the most available and when we find who
IS likely To be the most available then is the time
for tie democracy TO make the selection. IN the
discussion between democratic friends as 10 the
availability, al the points IL favor of each OF the
candidates can with propriety be brought out and
democracy when they meet by their representa-
tive5 III convention to make wise selection.
The splendid achievements OF Senator Hill and
the invaluable services rendered by him to the
democratic party have been often laid before
your readers that ! do not pretend to discuss
them at present The merits, great ability and
administrative capacity OF President Cleveland
are also being laid before the public daily, and
VIII not enter into that discussions but will take
it for granted that both the candidates worthy
anJ personally well qualified
Other things being about equal it may be safe,
in examining the claims Of President Cleveland,
to inquire what has been the usage Of the demo-
cratic party this subject What was the pre-
ccdent?
1t has been the common practice, with the ex-
captions of Polk, Pierce and buchanan, that when
q democratic candidate has been elected president
ana has made 4 fair administration for the party
TO give him second nomination an endorse
ment of his course. and 70 make strong effort
t. elect him; bat rccO'lect ~ instance where
third nomination has been given to a democratic
president or to any democratic candidate, nor do
! at present remCnbGT any cass where either of
the political parties of the United states has
nominated IS the cadidate of tie party a man
who has served i second term in the presidential
hair, or who has served oae term and been n0mi-
mated for reelection and defeated by the popular
vote. II seems to be Il sort OF unwritten law that
each person elected president who makes salts
factory ADMINISTRATION snail nave al opportunity
10 set the popular endorsement if the ropulace
are with hi.n. Ii he fails he is not expected to
have another nomination. IoU some OF your
readers may remember a case that does not occur
70 ut present; but / do not remember one
where the same person has been nominated by
either of the great political parties to run three
consecutive times for the Office OF president,
whether successful or unsuccessful IN the second
election.
If this has been the democratic usage then the
usace is uufayorabe to the claims of President
Cleveland. He has been elected president and
eerved one term. He has been nominated by the
democratic party for second term, and with al
the machinery, patronage and power of the adj
IGinisuation in his hands has been defeated fol
second term. SOY, according to usage this
TO disnOse OF his claims. 1t may be the Will of
the democratic party to make an exception in his
case 10 ali general rule OF both political parties;
but such an action on the part of the democratic
convention would be very hazardous and unwise-
so much that neither of the great parties in the
past has ever dared 10 venture upon the expert
meGt.
when General Grant was serving out his second
term with the prestige oi his magnificent record
as union general and Of having been twice
elected president and never defeated by his party
for anything, the republican party flushed with
power and popular favor, did not even for the
qualification OF General Grant and his host OF en-
enthusiastic republican supporters. dare risk the
experiment OF attempting third nomination,
even i'll case of a candidate who had been Success
full i'll both of his previous races and who at that
time the most popular living American.
Whether such an exception if made by the demo-
Gratis viii be wise when the question is sub
mitted to popular vote is yet to be determined:
/ suppose it has been taken for granted by both
parties in the past that it was not safe as party
movement not good politics to try man
a second time If he has been once defeated white
IN Office.
Let me stare what was the democratic practice
i'll very nOted case. II 1928 General Andrew
Jackson was nominated by the democratic
yention aud elected president OF the United
States and John C. Calhoun who mad been vice
president for The previous term under tile admin
istTation of the younger Adams elected vice
president again the ticket with Jackson. Dur
lag the term Jackson and Calhoun differed, and
Jackson threw Calhoun overheard if may use
the expression, and threw all of his patronage to
Martin Van Buren, CaIhouns successor as vice
president. In 1892 the democratic ticket was
jackson for president and Van Buren, for vice
president, and the ticket elected ov IT Henry
CLAY the wing candidate. In 1896 VI rtin Van
Buren, was nominated and elected by the demOc-
racy as the regular democratic candidate and
Richard NJ. johnson was elected Yicc-preSident
William Henry Harrison, Daniel Webster and
Hugh l.. White voted Tor in opposition to
Van Buren,. In 1879 true to usage the damocratic
convention nominated Van Uuren for n second