The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-03-27
DEMOCRACY on PRESIDENTIAL SEAS

pers of late to the effect that President
Cleveland would soon get out of the
great fight of 1896. 1t has been stated
that he would find an excuse for writing
letter to somebody. declaring himself
not in any sense a candidate for anoth-
er term, and expressing his choice for
private life for the remaining Years
that may be allotted to him. There
was sort of semi-official flavor about
the statement. Nobody who has the
ANALYTICAL habit. and who reads between
the lines for inside meaning, could
have failed to see that notice was
given that the President was still alive
to public affairs. Indeed. it was more
than limited that Mr. Cleveland would
write his letter whenever he got good
and ready" that his words would ap-
pear ut the moment when they would
do the most harm to the opponents of
the prevailing policy: that the free sill
verites and ''Sich need not tiatter them
selves that the Chief Executive was 90
ING to quit without firing Il destructive
broadside into their hulk and rigging.
These newspaper reports have not
been idle rumors. The readers Of the
Enquirer may rely upon their accuracy.
The story is amply confirmed by those
who actually know, but who can he
reached only by the gum-shoe routes of
journalism. The newspaper man who
knows the most about what is going on
is frequently he who does not put his
informants on topographic parade. Not
only is it true that Mr.. Cleveland will
write such Il letter, but it is a fact that
a result very different from retirement
is looked for from this move on the
chess board Of politics. With Mr..
Cleveland out it is expected to be plain
that the Democratic party is rudderles>
and without sails or fuel in the middle
of Il turbulent ocean. \ situation is to
be shown that will demand Il sacrifice
of the rest which has been earned by a
man who has served for eight Years as
President of the United States and
leader of a great party in three national
campaigns. In short. Grover is to be
drafted again.
There is no sense in any man rest
fully hugging that which he wants to
he, and assuming that anything else Is
impossible. Those who are against Mr..
Cleveland rs well as those who are for
him, will find it best in the end to look
the condition fairly in the face. What
is the Democratic Situa ion. What is
there in prospect. rs things stand ut
this moment. but violent collision and
hopeless wreck at Chicago i'll July.
With the gold and bond forces Of the
Administration declaring that they will
not bulge an inch. and the silver forces
of the West swearing that neither will
they compromise. what is there in sight!
What state is earnestly presenting Il
candidate for the Democratic nOmina-
ton for President? What man sees in
the probable crash at Chicago and in
vitatiOn to offer himself for leadership!
Who is wise enough to foresee- what
sort of platform he must stand upon!
Who can be candidate now without
putting himself in the unenviable posi-
ton of having no opposition! \ few
excellent Democrats have been men
toned as possibilities, but there cannot
he said to be an organized movement
in favor of one Of them. There is con-
fusion behind and chaos in front.
The Republicans are working with
great zeal to push the tariff to the front.
The nomination of Mckinley, who is
now the most advanced candidate Oh
the Republican side, would emphasize
the tariff as the leading issue. and Gu
able the Republican management to
satisfy the free silver men in their par
ty with sinuous and soapy sentences
on money, like those employed in Min
neapolis platform Of 1872. This is the
Republican plan. whoever may he nom
mated. Even with the silver tipped
Allison. of Iowa. in the role of general
ship there would be no change i'll the
plan of making the money question
secondary.
The Ohio convention has Just set the
ball rolling, and the Republican cry is
going to be that the Democrats. by
their tariff tinkering. have reduced the
country to Il condition Of poverty and
distress from which there is no rescue
except in the restoration of the Repub
lican party to power This is the great
consideration. the Republicans will say.
and the people will have to get along
with the money question the best they
can under the circumstances. One
great issue must he paramount.
This is the garment to be thrown
down. This is the def that is to put
the parties at extremes again on the
tariff question. Who is to pick it up!
Who. will the administration men ask.
is there but the man who electrified the
country with the famous anti-protec-
ton message of 1887. who was with
difficulty restrained from going to the
extreme of personally denouncing the
benefciaries Of projections: who was an
advocate of the tariff destruction meas
Ire reported by Mr.. Wilson: who de
nounced less radical measure rs per
tidy and dishonor: who refused to ap-
prove Il measure which was Il conserva-
tive compromise between the Mckinley
and Wilson bills: and who was elected
in 1892 on the tariff issue 10y a great
majority. carrying states tlat mat not
been Democratic since the war. and
even taking one electoral vote from
Ohio! If the Republican managers
think they are embarrassing Grovcrby
pushing Mckinlcyism to the front.
they are mistaken. What they may
be doing to the Democratic party is
another question.
The commanding men, who secured
the nomination of Grover cleveland ut
Chicago in 1892, are still steady i'll his
interest. They still have their old skill
in politics, the same practical resources,
the same persuasive power that made
them Kings four years agone. They
hive lost nothing in the quality of Sc
uu't!V-n .s-s that Knocked 50 much