River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-07-21

would be a grotesque absurdity to
elect him as possible president 1t is
a ticket of two back numbers. Mr..
Cleveland was sent to private life four
years ago ana Mr.. Stevenson twelve
years ago, so that the ticket might
properly be translated: Yesterday and
Day Before Yesterday" Palmer would
have had some strength in Illinois, and
Morrison would have had some. Gray
would have strength in Indiana. But
if Mr. Cleveland's enemies did not in
tentionally load him down by nomi-
mating Mr.. Stevenson for vice presi-
dent they will be suspected of it.
The nomination of Mr. Cleveland has
been hopefully anticipated by all his
political opponents Four years ago he
was the unquestioned choice of New
York democrats, but was beaten. This
year solid delegation from his own
state opposes him, and tells the ma
tional convention he cannot be elected.
After full and fair trial as president
his own state aud the country put him
aside in 1858, and yet he had with him
then vice presidential candidate who
was practically strong in Ohio and In
diana, as Mr.. Stevenson is not strong
even in Illinois. Personal confidence in
Mr.. Cleveland regarding the money
question will count for little when men
know that his associate on the ticket,
the possible president in case of Mr.
Cleveland's death, is a man whose past
record, and whose personal relations
with some of the worst and most reck-
less agitators, warrant the belief that
he was chosen as counterpoise. The
only strength of Mr. Stevenson is
weakness in the eastern states, which
Mr. Cleveland must carry in order to
be elected. Even with him the ticket
will not be strong in the west or in
the alliance states of the south, and
there is much reason to suspect that it
is not intended to be elected by the
people.
Democrats know that Mr. Cleveland
is weaker than he was four years ago.
He lacks now the enormous power so
effectively exerted in his behalf by Sec
retaries Whitney, Villas, Fairchlld and
other cabinet officers. and by the host of
federal officials who had been carefully
selected during four-years' term for
was the man in possession. and business
interests always shrink from a change
of administration, merely because the
new man may bring new methods and
new policlt S. Now the business world
has become accustomed to the methods
and policies of President Harrison. and
regards any proposed change with dis
trust. No official influence will be
used improperly in his favor, but it is
equally certain that official influence
wi not be used unscrupulously against
him as it was four years ago.
There is yet one possibility for Mr.
Cleveland, though he should fail of an
election by the people. After the
shrewdest democrats in the country
had publicly declared that he could not
he elected, the party has not nominated
him in the hope that any miraculous
intervention of providence will occur
in his behalf. 1t has apparently chosen
plan of action which is at once the
most cunning and yet the most foolish
ever adopted by a political party. 1t
hopes for and will quietly encourage
the success of the alliance ticket in
enough states to throw the election
into the house. In few republican
states the democrats will support alli-
ance electors, and beg republicans to
do likewise In some democratic states
they will look on with complaeency if
republicans are silly enough to bargain
with the third party If the scheme
succeeds, the third party viii carry
enough republican states to throw the
election into the house, and there Cleve-
land will be elected
It is a poor showing for the boastful
free trade party which was SO sure of
victory Il wear ago. The attempt to
capture the presidency by trick viii
not befool as many republican voters
as some men think. The nomination of
Cleveland and Stevenson stakes every
thing on the ability of the democrats
TO beguile republican voters in-o cast
ing third-party votes. We rhall see
whether sturdy and level-headed voters
of the west will be cheated in any such
fashion.-S. Y. Tribune.