New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-28
observation-disclosures

In the DAYS when Mr.. LO. the poor Indian,
was a disturbing element, conspicuous dis
urber was named " Man-Afraid- of His Horses"
Presumably it was not name that he liked,
but perpetuated the memory of failing which
had been detected by the young braves who
feared nothing He could talk as big as any
body, no doubt, and scalp dead man with as
much heroism. But to the day of his death he
remained Man-Afrad- f-His-Horses. Had ne
lived little later he might have enjoyed the
luxury of sympathizing with Democratic can
didate for the Presidency. MIR. Cleveland IS
MAINLY afraid of the horses he started out to
ride so triumphantly. He was the boldest OF
riders once. and expected to sweep the East
with his No-Silver steed and the West with his
No-Protecton steed. But they were gong IN
opposite directions, these fiery and untamed
horses. and he was not broad enough to ride
both. Between the two he came to the ground
with fearful crash in 1888, and when he tined
to ride No-Protection alone in small Rhode
Island race this year he came down again with
q sickeninc thud :: and now he is second I" Man.
Afraid of His-l1orses."
The letter of acceptance tells the story WIN
listinctness More than half Of it is devoted
20 an attempt to smooth over what he has SAID
heretofore and what his party has said IN It's
platform on the tariff question. Another part
is an fort to escape the effect OF the iet'er
which he wrote to denounce free coinage, when
ne had lust been elected by a free-conage party.
His supporters try hard to persuade themselves
that there is no weakening on his part But
any child can see that his language on the tariff
is not that of the daring leader who took an
antire annual message to utter his detestahon
If Protection and protected manufacturers. No
lonoer is there the stern and uncompromlslng
word of command with which he dictated to
free-silyer Democrats in 1884. Each declara-
ton of purpose he is now careful to hedge win
an impossible condition. He is in favor OF war
against a tariff, unconstitutional, laundering
and corrupting, provided it shall not be such
4 war as will harm any industry. lie is in
favor of Bland Coinage BILL provided it will
Keep gold silver and paper dollars absolutely
equal. Mr.. Hosea Biglow's great statesman
who took position facing south by north was
the prototype of Mr.. Cleveland.
His most jealous supporters detect, though
they are careful not to mention, this timidlty
of the candidate whom they have been fond OF
calling fearless Even "The New-YOrk Times
while carefully quoting edtOrially only the
phrases it likes, says his letter is mot at all
crisp or ringing letter." but is "a little stiff
and heavy" "The New-York Herald" quotes
without trying TO reconcile its irreconcilable
phrases, and then observes 1T Is not an
argument but a statement IL Is not ringing
document but calm summary OF views"
"The New-York Sun" says the candidate " has
labored hardest over the subjects which are
obscurest in the light of the present situation.
If there were absolute unity among
Democrats " dozen clear and ringing sentences
would have been enough, but MIR. Cleve-
land found himself bound by the obligation OF
his representative post to address himself to
every one of the forty or more tariff schools
within the great and glorious and united De
mocracy" This is not the language OF follow
ers who are proud of a great leader. The fact
is Mr.. Cleveland has ceased to lead-until he
can get elected again.
1t would be unfair to him to suppose that his
beliefs or his prejudices on either question haze
changed. In all probability he is more devoted
to his errors than he was before they brought
him to grief. That is the nature of the man.
But he has deliberately chosen to gloss over
and mask his beliefs so far as he can without
giving fatal offence to his followers. Perhaps
as Democrats 60 in these days, he has been
wise. Doubtless he believes that it is possible
to get the party together in a struggle for the
spoils, on any principle or no principle. But it
was no longer possible he had learned with
sorrow, to win over American voters to the
notion that British policy was the one best
calculated to secure their happiness and pros
perity.