Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-05-31
Hon. w. L. Wilson interviewed.
WAsulxGroN, May 10, 1892.

is we'll known, Mr.. Wilson has been
one of the most active workers in
the campaign of education during
the past four years. He has spoken
in nearly every State of the Union,
and, only n few months ago, made an
extended tour to the Pacific coast,
going out through the extreme north
ern States, and coming back through
the central or middle west.
HIS impressions, therefore, are not
merely those of q man who keeps
closely in touch with everything in
Washington, but of one who, by
personal contact, has probably come
into close relations with more Demo
Gratis recently, than any other man
in the House. His opinions, there
fore, are those of man who knows.
Mr.. Wilson said: 81 have address
ed Democratic meetings and min
gled with leading Democrats, from
the Atlantic TO the Pacific, during
the past twelve months, and while l
have consistently avoided even the
appearance OF advocating any candi-
date, the fact has been forced on me
that four out of every five Democrats,
the country over, desire the re-nomi-
nation of Mr.. Cleveland. For most
of them, this desire is ardent and
enthusiastic, and it will be 4 strange
and dangerous thing if party mana
gers and politicians can thwart the
will of the masses. These gentlemen
naturally desire a more pliable man.
and one who would take into the
White II ouse q stronger sense of OBJ
legation to them. But that is one of
the very reasons that the people are
so strongly for Mr.. Cleveland.
"What do you think of his availa-
biIity for 1892?''
That is a serious question, and I
am sure, in the first place, that if Mr..
Cleveland is not available, do not
know who is. A decided majority
of the people of the country are OPP
posed to the Republican party, bit
tcrly opposed TO its tariff policy, its
force bills and sectionalism and its
contempt for States rights. Itholds
power solely because that great and
growing majority is not able to unite
against it. In my judgment and OBJ
servation, Mr.. Cleveland is the one
man who can unite most of that OPP
pc sition TO the Republican party
TIL c immense and steadily increasing
numb err of voters ut the North who
stand somewhat detached from either
party, are ZcalouslY for Mr.. Cleve-
land. Everywhere l have heard men
g. -,
Cleveland, 1 will vote my first Dem
Ocratic ticket Party managers
have been blind to two conspicuous
facts: the phenomenal growth of
tariff refrOm since 1888, and the
scarcely less phenomenal growth in
POPULAR ty of Mr.. Cleveland, and in
his hold upon the people since his
retirement from office. | am not
aware of anything like this latter in
our political history. His nomina-
ton gives us the combined strength
of the cause and of the man. 1t
pitches the campaign upon the great
and winning issue, and it responds
to the wishes of the masce of tho
party. Almost any other nomina-
tiOn carries with it only the reliable
party strength, and more or less
poignant disappointment Of the pco-
pie. With Mr.. Cleveland, we should
probably lose some Democratic votes
in New York and elsewhere, but who
can doubt that such losses would be
more than counterbalanccd by gains
from the other side, and who can
measure the force and contagion of
the enthusiasm that would thrill the
ranks of the party? This means
many votes. a moral purpose, it is
said, multiplics as by ten, and
nomination made on sincere party
conviction and from sincere party
courage, not from mere expediency
and scneming, would have that
cffect!" ''Havc you seen Mr.. Wat
terson's interviews !"
- have read quite q number of
his reported utterances, of late. He
is always brilliant, always sound on
party issues, but, rs weather prOph-
ct as liable to err rs any other fore
teller of unhappened events. WASH
ington is not Il good place to learn of
the current of public opinion, or to
pass upon its wisdom, but it is very
clear that the anti-Clevcland leaders
here have impressed Mr.. Watterson
very strongly with the idea, of which
he seemed already possessed. that
Mr.. Clcvcland'S nomination means
party defeat. "
" When managers have found
themselves helpless to stay popular
movement, what more natural than |
for them to call it a craze and to
cry out that it means disaster. We
have not yet reached tie point in the |
Democratic party when the dcliber- |
ate choice of its masses can he call |
ed craze however distasteful it |
may he TO the politicians. They |
have been trying for months to |
stamp out fire that springs up I'M
der their feet whenever they pause .
to take breath. l do not disparage
party managers. No one who runs |
for office is apt to do that. 1t is n !
comfort TO have them around in a
campaign. But, on the other hand. |
l do not question their party loyalty.
lhey Will, in the main, fight as earn
estly for Mr.. Cleveland, if he is NOM
mated, as for man of their own
choice, and when we add the hearty
support of the great body of indepen-
dents, able to decide the vote of !
tot y