Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-07-28
THE SITUATION
ONE Sober Thoughts Which Should b
Considered in This Campaign.

New York Tribune: "How do you like
too often the answer is: "We must win !;
it is all over but the shouting" Conf
dence is good, but not so much Of it as
to lessen effort. The Tribune thinks
victory is won already The dem ocrats
were ridiculously certain of success a
year ago, ard now the shrewde-t of hem
know that they have opened the way for
their overwhelming defeat But the
defeat might e escaped if republicans
we're to intimate their over confidence or
their folly.
Mr.. Cleveland was the candidate
whose nomination against President
| Harrison involved a constant reminder
of defeat He was the one candidate
| whom great numbers of democrats had
declared they would not support if nom
| mated third time. He was the one
candidate whom alliance democrats had
| determined to defeat, and was also the
| most assailabe of all candidates in
| manufacturing and wool growing states
on account of his tariff record. The
convention loaded him down with a
platform which ought 10 be fatal to any
! candidate. and damaged his chances
| further by putting on the ticket with
| him one whose greenback and civil ser
vice records were in fat contradiction
with the protested wishes of Mr.. Cleve
| lands supporters All things considered.
| the democrats could not have done
more than they actually did to open the
way to republican victory.
In some other respects Mr.. Cleveland
has strength. He delights the free
traders. He is hated by the silver
| fanatics. As the one democratic presi-
dent for thirty years. he showed enough
| conservatism in finances to persuade
many democratic business men that the
success of their party might not be dis
astrous to the country, for they forged
that he was constantly held IN check by
| a republican senate More business
men will support President Harrison
than Mr.. Cleveland. but more will sup
port Mr.. Cleveland than would have
supported other democratic candidates.
He was never strong in Indiana. Mr.
Stevenson, who never reached special
honor in Illinois, is weaker in that state,
Indiana and Ohio than Mr.. Thurman
was who had been for years chief justice
of the state, for many years senator of
great distinction, and repeatedly can
didate for president At the east Mr.
Cleveland will find it hard TO carry
either New York or New Jersey, and
should make all New England safely re-
publican Nevertheless. he has a pow
erful army of strongly attached friends,
who held Office under him and have
hopes. and they will make desperate
struggle.
In one particular, his weakness as a
candidate before the people opens a
chance of success for his party Be-
cause many thousand democrats in
southern and western states may reject
him, bolt the party, and support fresh
candidate, there is the possibility that
some republican voters may be persuad
ed to join them. II enough do so to
take states from the republican column
and prevent an election by the people,
the present house will elect. each state
casting one vote, and in that event Mr. d.
Cleveland would be elected.
an vain is the net spread in sight of