The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-23
MR.. CLEVELAND AND VIRGINIA

Our Washington correspondent in his
letter yesterday stated that the Presi-
dents chariness in giving offices to
Virginia is due to the fact that he is
offended at the compromise made In the
! State convention which elected delegates
to Chicago, and at the division of the
delegation between Mr.. Hill and himself.
For good reasons Mr. Cleveland had n
right to take serious offense at this action
Of Virginia. AS our correspondent states,
during his first administration. he took
occasion early and promptly to honor
this State most signally as II he were
anxious to prove his high esteem
OF Virginia, and to show that
he revered this old Commonwealth.
He, almost as soon as he was
seated in the White House. appointed
Hon. j. L. NJ. Curry as Minister 10 Spain.
Hon. A. NJ. Kelley as Minister to Austria,
and soon after. he sent General Dabney
Maury to the United States Of Colombia.
as the representative OF this country
there. He was then lavish OF his honors
to the Old Dominion, and It was very
natural that when he again became a
candidate for the Presidential nomination.
he should have expected Virginia to be
one Of his strongest allies. What then
must have been his disappointment when
he saw her send to Chicago only half OF
her delegation for him?
Had Mr.. Cleveland been on the spot, he
happened. The fight in the State before
that convention was held was hard and
bitter one. The people were for Mr..
Cleveland. but nearly all the politicians
in the State, men familiar with manipu-
lating wires, were against him. Hence
1t was that large number Of anti-Cleve-
land delegates. who really did not repre-
sent the voice OF their constituents. were
chosen to the convention. Yet with all
this the Cleveland men had a majority
OF at least one hundred in the body. and
with that majority, II looked very strange
to outsiders why the State was divided.
The reason Of this lay with the State
executive committee. They had ordered
that there should be one delegate for
every hundred voters, thus making the
convention TO consist OF $500 members.
and causing II to be clumsy, unwieldy
body. The minority were coached by
professional and experienced politicians,
while the majority were representatives
OF the people. and many Of It's members
had never before been before the public.
1t was evident. therefore. that the large
familiar as it's leaders were
with flibustering tactics, would make
a hard and serious fight for representa-
ton. which might tear the party into |
factions, and, so, for the sake OF har-
mony. the compromise was effected
The Times was always opposed to this
movement. 1t believed that having fought |
the battle and won the victory. the friends |
OF Mr.. Cleveland, who IT believed repre-
sented true Democracy as opposed to the
should enjoy the fruits of their
victory and not surrender to their de-
'eated opponents. Those in charge OF tina
natter thought differently. however, and
agreed to the division Of the vote
That this was ingratitude to Mr..
Cleveland who had so conspicuously honor
ed Virginia in time past as we'll as a wrong
% the people who had declared for him,
'annot be denied, and for that reason the
President has cause TO feel indignation at
he conduct of the Virginia Democracy.
But he remembers that he had some Of
the staunchest friends in Virginia in
he Union, and. therefore. in time he
viii doubtless accord her the full share
Il official recognition.