The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-02-13
DEHooRATIo MUGWUMPs.

The first important advantage gained
in the New York inter-Democratic
centest is by Mr.. Cleveland. Mr.
Hills midwinter convention was not
certainly an advantage to him. though
it was intended that it should be.
1t was an event in the exact lillian
line of forcing ward methods upon
state politics, SAYS the Chicago Inter
Ocean. But 1T was an event that pro-
voked resentment, and it is quite pos
sible that it may work injury to its
protector in one or both of two ways;
either by the loss of prestige that will
befall him if the date of the conven-
tion be changed in compliance with
demands from the people, or if the
transparency of the trick produce such
disgust as results in the election OF
Cleveland delegates from districts
otherwise doubtful.
But the outcome Of the Democratic
convention in Lewiston, Niagara coun-
ty, is indubitably and irrevocably to
the advantage of Mr.. Cleveland. 1t
has resulted in the choice of delegates
to the state convention who are for
him and against Hill. The second
assembly district of New York now
seems sure to go up to the state con-
vention with a Cleveland banner.
But the one Lewiston swallow may
not make Cleveland summer. The
late president has ''drawn first blood"
III the fight between himself and Hill;
more than this can not be claimed for
him. So far as the New York dele
CATION to the national convention is
concerned it is more than probable
that it will be controlled by Hill.
Mr.. Cleveland's friends in New York
are strong and numerous, but they are
not of the kind that exert themselves
strongly in ward and district conven-
tions. They are of a kind that is
stronger after than before conven-
tion. The interesting question as to
Cleveland's friends Is, will they vote
for, Hill If he be nominated by the
methods favored by Hill and Tam
manya>
1t has been the rule that whosoever
got the vote of the Democratic dele
lates in convention was sure of the
Democratic vote outside of it. But SO
shrewd an observer as the late Vice
President Hendricks, and there was
none more shrewd, said during the
campaign of 1884: 81 do not rejoice
very sincerely in this strong appear
ance of the Republican mugwump,
though at present it is helping US, for
it is to me certain warning of the
appearance of the Democratic mug
wump after the first national conven-
tion in which the proceedings are
heated" The Republican mugwump
may have been fungold growth, but
in like conditions of political soil the
Democratic mugwump may be expect
ed to appear. In fact, a New York
correspondent of the Philadelphia Led
ger chronicles the appearance of the
Democratic mugwumps and notes that
the Hill men are speaking of them as
mugwumps.
History often repeats itself, and
may be preparing for repetition.
Just as certain dissatisfied Republi-
cans who were not powerful enough 10
prevent Blaine's nomination were pow
erful enough to prevent his election in
1884, so certain Democrats who are
not powerful enough to compass Hills
defeat in convention may be powerful
enough to accomplish it at the polls.
Mr.. Hill himself seems to be aware of
this possibility. Certainly, never has SO
much bitterness toward the nomination
of any Democrat been expressed by
Democrats as now is expressed to-
ward Hills, and never has any candi-
date appeared to have SO firm grasp
of the nominating machinery. The
Democratic conditions in 1892 bear a
very close resemblance to the Repub-
llcan conditions of 1884.