The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-03
VAN buren, AND CLEVELAND.


A writer in the current number of the
atlantic Monthly argues that the political
situation today recalls that of 1874 and
is likely to have the same outcome; "the
election of Democratic nobody whose
strength is derived from obscurity," like
Senator German, Governor Boies, or
some one else who fayors free coinage
of silver.
twenty-six, and the delegates to the
Democratic national convention from
sixteen of them were instructed to sup
port Van Buren,. These states included
every New England state, Ohio, New
York, Pennsylvania and Michigan. A
month before the Democratic national
convention met it was confidently ex-
pected that Van Buren, would be nomi-
mated, but within a week of Its assembling
his nomination became uncertain.
Van Buren,, in reply to a letter asking
his views on the question of the immedi-
ate annexation of Texas, declared that he
was not in favor of the immediate annexa-
iit was ia ldfOT vi duucAaLIOH dt huc
proper time, but not at the cost of a war
with Mexico. This answer was fatal to
Van Buren,. The South raised the cry of
"Texas or Disunion." Van Buren, went
into the convention with majority of
votes, but not the two-thirds which Demo-
cratic custom required. Polk was nomi-
mated and elected over Henry Clay, the
Blaine of the Wing party, who lost New
York and Michigan, and the election by
the detection of the anti-slavery Wings,
who in New York state cast Il, 812 votes for
James G. Birney. despite the fact that
Clay. like Van Buren,, was opposed to
the immediate annexation of Texas. The
Birney 'Mugwumps" of that day gave the
victory to the party which was bent upon
carrying the very measure to which they
were most strenuously opposed.
The writer in the Atlantic compares
Cleveland, elected president in 1854 and
defeated in 1sSs, to Van Buren,, elected in
1896, defeated in 1910 and seeking but
losing the nomination in 1Sii. He also
sees the popularity of Clay with his party
in 1874 reproduced in the popularity of
Blaine in 1892. The present opposition to
Cleveland, like the opposition to Van
Buren, in 1Si4, is due, first, to 1.-The am
bition of other men to become the candi-
dates in 1892; secondly, the suspicion that
Mr.. Cleveland may not be the most avail
able candidate; thirdly, distrust of his
Willingness to carry out one part of the
policy on which the controlling leaders of
the Democratic party seem TO have re-
solved"
Since the close of the war the Democrats
may be said TO have taken their candidate
from New York, for while Hancock was a
native OF Pennsylvania his army residence
at Governors Island made him to all in
terests and purposes resident of New
York city. In New York city he was a
social and political power rather than in
Pennsylvania, from which he had heen
separated by his army life since 1874.
Senator Hill has captured New York state,
and this is fatal to Cleveland. but outside
Of New York there are not wanting saga
cious Democrats who think it bad policy
to go before the country with the
defeated candidate of 1883 standing on
a rejected platform. There are other
Democrats who are hostile to Cleveland's
attitude on the silver question. since he
opposes free silver coinage, which is
favored by nearly the entire Democratic
party Of the South and West. This stu
alton the Atlantic writer thinks will be
solved by the nomination OF a Democrat
who favors free coinage for SILVER.
If this prediction proves well founded
Hill viii not be taken, for the New York
state convention, which elected a Hill
delegation. declared out and out
against free silver. Hill and Cleve-
land are thus both out of the
race, and the candidate will be
Boies, of Iowa; Gray, of Indiana; Camp
bell, of Ohio or Palmer, of Illinois. The
last two are not enthusiastic advocates of
free silver, but rather depreeate it as an ILL.,
advised experiment. The prediction that
Cleveland and Hill will both be thrown
over may be verified, but TO replace them
with an advocate of free silver coinage
would be 10 insure the loss Of New York,
Connecticut and probably New Jersey.
The commercial interests and property
owning classes viii not vote for free sill
yer, and the wage earning classes will re-
pudiate it At the East, and wherever they
are intelligent enough 10 understand tina:
free silver means the diminishing Of the
purchasing power of their dollar.
The Democrats who seek victory VIII