The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-05-16
Mr.. Cleveland Again.


ms the political situation, but the indications
at present point to the nomination of Mehin-
lev by the Republican national convention,
upon platform whose chief plank will be
Protection The money question will be
overshadowed by it. and the "Ohio straddle"
well be changed so as to further conciliate the
silver sentiment in the party in the far West
em and Pacific states.
Should this happen, Mr.. Cleveland would
probably be the Democratic nominee, and
the platform would make the money question
the leading issue, with a decl aration for gold
MS the one measure of value, the continued
use of silver as money metal ana the main
tenance of the equality of all dollars. Upon
the tariff, the platform would declare for tax
alton for revenue only and such revision or
amendment of the present law as experience
may suggest as necessary and demanded to
produce only sufficient revenue forthe needs
of the government.
II is evident the manufacturing and import
ing interests of the country desire above all
else some stability in the tax laws. Tariff
agitation produces business stagnation, and
this country has had eight years of it, with
two changes in the revenue laws.
Mr.. Cleveland has taken ground against
further general revision of the tariff laws, and
that stand has prevented the passage of
another act. He contends that the present
act, when the country assumes its normal
business condition, will produce sufficient
revenue.
Mr.. Cleveland also stands for the single
standard and the maintenance of every dollar
upon parity with every other dollar, and
upon the money question he is in accord with
the great mass of bankers and business men
throughout the country. Bankers and bust
ness men do not adhere as strictly to party as
other citizens. They rarely take a deep in
terest in politics aud elections, except when
they conceive that harm to business interests
is likely to result from the declared policy OF
political party, and they can be counted
upon to go against the party whose policy and
candidate they regard as dangerous.
The Ohio platform is regarded as straddle.
1t is viewed with suspicion and Mr.. Mckinley
is not recognized as altogether sound upon
the financial question. Should there be any
further concession to the silver sentiment in
the national platform than is contained in the
Ohio declaration, it is safe TO predict that the
Republicans would have poor chance of car
rying any New England state except Yer
l., vIaln Cd In MI
and New Jersey, and defeat would be invited
even in Pennsylvania; and the high Pro-
lection for which Mckinley stands would
weaken the party very materially throughout
the country.
Where the bankers brokers, merchants and
business men generally of the Republican
party would stand should Mckinley be nomi-
mated and the platform declare for Protection
and be uncertain on the financial question,
would depend very much upon the action OF
the Democratic party. If Mr.. Cleveland were
nominated they would support him. He has
been twice tried and from a Republican view
no special harm has resulted from Democratic
rule. But it is by no means certain that the
business interests Republican, would take
the risk with any other Democrat. 1t is true
the people of Massachusetts have twice placed
a Democrat in the office of Governor in recent
years, and so have the people of Pennsylva-
MIA, but it is predetermined whether the peo-
pie of either state would vote to make either
Russell or Pattison President. They would
trust Cleveland, however, as against Nc
Kinley.
1t is true that vast number of Democrats
have no love for Mr. Cleveland. Not only
has he offended many Of the leading men Of
the Democratic party but his administration
of affairs has not been altogether satisfactory
TO large numbers of the plain Democratic
voters. Still, he would practically get the
solid vote of the party should the situation
demand his nomination, for he would be vastly
more satisfactory to those not specially pleased
with his course and policy than any Republi
can would be, and in the choice of evils they
would accept Mr.. Cleveland as the lesser.
Under the conditions as set forth above Mr..
Cleveland would have an equal chance of
success with Mckinley. Indeed it would ap-
pear that he would have better one. but the
contest would not be one-sided by any means.