The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-30
CLEVELAND AND THE TARIFF.

| Ihe New YORK sun prints niShiy III
teresting letter /" from a very dis
tinguished supporter Of Mr.. Cleveland
in three campaigns" in which an effort
is made to elucidate the Democratic
candidates position as regards the tariff,
which is ingenious enough to merit
close attention. The identity OF the
every distinguished supporter" Is not
disclosed, but the document affords in
ternal evidence of its origin with some
one close in spirit to the ex-President.
| 1t presents Mr.. Cleveland as a consist
ent and persistent straddler, depending
for his political health mainly upon
perseverance in this athletic exer-
else. "The truth is" says the
| writer, "Mr. Cleveland never intended
the message of 1887 to be taken as free
trade slogan. He was baffled and dis
appointed by the popular reception OF
the message. He tried to impose his
own Interpretation on the st. Louis
| Convention, and again on the Chicago
Convention, but in each was defeated
| by the sentiment aroused by the crusade
which had been preached in his name."
In other words Mr. Cleveland was led
into saying more than he meant to say
and has been trying to gather up his
words to eat them ever since, but has
found them too widely scattered.
Cleveland gets the credit of great can
dor and straightforwardness, but in
truth it Is by the lack of candor he is
chiefly distinguished. His friend and
supporter" explains with a frankness
quite in contrast with his lead
er's still hunt that the word
devouring has to be done with
caution because though cleveland had
an instinct in 'SS, just as he has in '92,
that Free Trader cannot be elected,
the notion that he was radical on the
tariff question and would lead revolu-
ton of some kind was necessary to his
nomination both times; and he let it run
the first time until too late to correct it.
This is plausible enough to be true.
Four years ago Watterson undoubtedly
believed himself to be fighting Cleve-
lands battle when he defeated German
for Chairman of the Resolutions Com
mittee. German had Cleveland's plat
form in his pocket, typewriter in the
White House and such triumph of
straddling as to have been agreed to by
Randall and Carlisle, to both of whom
it had been submitted. William l..
Scott had the commission to tip the
wink to the Clevelandites that Gorman
was Cleveland's man Friday, but Scott
did not get around to it till it was too
late. If Cleveland had used less finesse
he would have succeeded. He cheated
his party and some of its members have
never forgiven him.
At Chicago 1t was the same thing over
again. Mr.. Cleveland had talked gen.
eralities on the tariff as before, and, says
his special pleader: "In the absence of
a definite and practical statement of his
meaning, the free traders secured the
adoption of their own, and Mr.. Cleve-
land is in the remarkable position of
candidate whose friends were strong
enough to nominate him, but were not
strong enough to protect him against
platform upon which he thinks no man
can stand and be elected"
This is significant admission, and
Mr.. Cleveland's speech at the notifica-
ton meeting lends it confirmation.
Never was anything more interesting
and more curious than Cleveland's eff
fort to modify the tariff issue, and to
galvanize the dead Force" bill (which
he hopes may elect him, provided rea-
sonable moderation shall prevail in pre-
senting the other question"
1t is intimated that we are to have
the great Hancock act over again. "Mr.
Cleveland wants to be elected. He has
had enough of the 1888 style of politics.
He won't repudate the platform" we
are told, ''in "a single hasty and panicky
letter. But he will gradually lead
thought and discussion away from the
plank which he regards as fatal, and
substitute for it himself and his own ut
terances."
This is delightful; the candidate
abandons his party and sets up great
Ego in the shrine. He is not Demo-
crat, his friend says for him, on the
tariff; he is not Democrat on silver:
but he is he, President by divine right;
who so audacious as TO oppose him?
Mr.. Cleveland cannot dodge the issue.
The interests of the country are at stake
and questions of moment cannot be
blinked to further the ambition of n
timorous fat man who wants TO he
elected" OF course Mr.. Cleveland is
afraid Of the tariff. OF course he
knows that denial Of the
constitutional right 10 levy duties
sufficient TO cover the difference be-
A -