Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-28

New York Tribune: Mr.. Cleveland's
friends believe that he is the strongest
democrat in the country. The claim
need not be disputed. Let US assume
that it is true, and consider what 1t i'm
plies. Not even his most passionate
admirers will pretend that Mr.. Cleve-
land has done anything within the last
| four years to increase his popularity or
strer 9Th. He has made a few speeches
and written few letters, but not one of
| them fingers in the public memory; lot
one contains sentence that the most
ardent admirer can remember. Cues
tions Of domestic policy, questions Of
| foreign relations, have excited the coun-
! try within the last four years, and other
leading men of both parties have spoken
on these questions with effectiven ess,
| doing much to enlighten and shape
| public opinion. But Mr.. Cleveland has
added nothing to the putlic informa-
| tion; not a thought from his voice or
pen has stirred the minds Of men for the
| last four years.
Personally, Mr.. Cleveland is not
stronger than he was in 1888 Indeed,
1t might fairly be inferred that he
10 ust have lost something of the popu-
larity be then enjoyed, for public man
canlCt retain his leadership aud his
place in the regard of men without some
effort
If he takes 70 part in public discus
sions, if he does nothing to justify the
confidence Of people in him as a leader
some part of his popularity unayoidanly
disappears. Mr.. Cleveland was only
strong enough to Le defeated in 1885
Four years earlier he was elected by
fraud. A change of GOO votes in this
state would have deprived him of the ap
parent % jOrity lie received, and yet he
had the support Of many thousand re
pubIIcans who, for one reason or another,
chose to place confidence in him as a
reformer. The simple fact that he was
weaker after four years in the white
house than he was before the people had
practical knowledge of his powers and
his disposition goes a long way. Only
strong enough to be beaten in
1888, Mr.. Cleveland would in all prob
ably has gained greatly in strength and
public opinion has moved decisively in
favor of the principles and the policy he
advocates.
Whether the party is stronger to- day
than it was four years ago is not difficult
to determine. Its phenomenal success
IN 1890 has led many to suppose that it
| has gained very largely in public ap-
probation and support. But attention
| has repeatedly been called to the fact
that the democratic party did not in
that year cast as many votes IS 1T had
cast two years before. 1t succeeded be-
cause the republican party failed to p II
| its full vote, aud particularly because
| many thousand republicans gave their
support IN that year to the Alliance.
| To-day the republican party is more
thoroughly united and decidedly strong
er than it was two years ago, while the
democratic party, PARTICULARLY in some of
| the southern states, is hOpelessly divid
| ed. 1t is matter Of doubt neither the
alliance may not carry several of the
southern states 10 which the democratic
| party has for many years had over
whelmiug maloritles. In other southern
states, where the democratic plurality
has been small, a third party is exceed
| ingly likely to draw off votes enough to
make republican success easy and GER
tain. Mr.. Cleveland is the one can
didate, among all others who have been
named on the democratic side. against
whom the third-party organizers and
the supporters of the alliance will make
the most desperate efforts IN that
! aspect he is probably weaker than ary
other democrat who could be named,
even though he might command III some
OF the northern state a larger support
than aOy other democratic candidate
| But at the best he is a candidate who
was beaten four years ago, who has
gained nothing IN strength since that
time. and v no cannot to-day command
nearly as large a republican or indepeud-
ent support as he was able to command
in either of the two previous elections
| when he was a candidate