Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-07
Cl EVEl AND IN 1896
Many Believe the Announcement That He
Will Not Be a Candidate
Others Say That He is the Only One
Who Can Lead the
Democracy.

The interview with Congressman Wilson,
cabled from London and published In The
Star yesterday evening, in which he states
1t TO be his opinion that President Cleve-
land will not be candidate for renomina-
tion In 1896. has furnished the politicians a
peg upon which to hang considerable politi-
cal gossip of more or less yariegated hue.
Unusual interest is attached TO the state
ment by them, because of its emanatng
from a man of Mr.. Wilson's prominence
and on account OF his close personal rela-
tions with the President.
Some Regard 1t Authoritative.
BY some the statement IS rega rded as al
most an authoritative announcement of the
Presidents present state of mind regarding
the presidential situation as far as he him
self is concerned. Those who entertain the
opinion that the President is completing
during his present administration the work
of alternating from him prominent leaders
Of the democracy, which. they say, he COM
menCed in his former administration are
prone to take Mr.. Wilson's opinion as gos-
pei truth. They say there Is nothing left
for Mr.. Cleveland to do but TO announce
early in the game that he has thrown down
his hand. unless he wants a number of
other prominent democrats to lay down
their hands and let him go IL alone. These
are the people who say that the presence
Of Mr.. Cleveland at the head of the demo-
cratic party in 1896 would result. if not in
disaffection in the party, at least in a great
and fatal lack of enthusiasm in certain
quarters. They are glad. therefore, to take
Mr.. Wilson's statement as an indication
that what they hope is about to occur.
Others Deem Cleveland Inevitable.
On the other hand. there Is an element
among the democratic leaders who claim
that Mr.. Cleveland is the inevitable candi-
IL, Il
sight of what deplorablc condition they
would be in if he should happen to die in
the meantime, they say that they have no
one else in the party to lead the hosts but
him. German. they say. will be utterly re-
pudiGted by the south and west. on account
OF his tariff position. HID is very much in
the same position; Stevenson is in better
shape than any of them. but lacks the pow
er of moving the masses Cleveland has
done. There is cloud of dust on the
horizon to indicate the coming of a leader
out Of the west, all booted and spurred
and the democracy is not quite ready to
trust the consequences of putting up an eX-
confederate, like VIM. l.. Wilson, who other
wise might do. So the gaze of the specula-
tors, after sweeping the entire political
armament, comes back to rest fOndly upon
Mr.. Cleveland.
Result of His Tariff Defeat
They say that Mr.. Clcveland's defeat in
his efforts to secure what he considered
adequate tariff legislation will but strength
en- him. like the giant of mythology who
gained renewed vigor every time ne was
thrown TO earth. Mr.. Cleveland. they as
sert, represented the will of the mass of the
democracy in his position on the tariff and
the thwarting of the will of the people by
the conservative democratic Senators will
only tend TO arouse their anger and nerve
them to still more vigorous effort to gain
their object In that attempt they will
naturally look to Mr.. Cleveland as a leader