The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-23
CLEVELAND AS A CANDIDATE.
= MEMBER OF THE CABINET RE
WIVES THE THIRD TERN TALK.

He Expresses the Opinion That the
President would Not Decline the
Nomination IL Forced Upon Him,
Though lie Would Prefer To Re-
tire 10 Private Life-NO Other
Available Candidate seen on the
Democratic Horizon by the
Speaker.
Washington. March 22.-"Clevcland is
our only available candidate. and If the
democratic party at Chicago tenders him
the nomination, he viii accept it, even If
he does so at a great personal sacrifice"
This very significant remark was made
by a member of Mr. Clevelands cabinet a
few days ago. while discussing the polti-
cal situation with several democratic con-
gressmen. No confidence is violated i'm re-
peatng the remark for II was made in the
most open and free-handed manner pos
sible, and strange to say it did not excite
tie slightest surprise among those pres
ent for more than one of the group has
entertained similar views for some time
past.
The conversation was proceeding in a
general way and the entire political field,
including Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia,
New York and other states was sur
veyed with a view to summing up the
democratic prospects in the coming cam
paign. There was a difference OF opinion
as TO the chances for democratic success,
i'm view of the result OF the last congress
sional and state elections. nevertheless,
the ma jority Of the gentlemen present IA
vored AN aggressive contest to maintain
the supremacy of the democratic party.
"a ftsa
SidcratiOn OF presidential possibilities who
are supposed TO be IN complete harmony
with the present administration, and the
qualifications of Secretaries Olney aud
Carlisle and Postmaster General Wilson,
We're briefly referred to and quickly dis
posed OF.
like boOms of Secretary Olney and Sec
retary Carlisle persisted and the Wilson
died in the ground without putting forth
sprOut TO mark the place Of It's plant
ing. Thus enumerOus names We're Sug-
gested. but they We're weighed and found
wanting. in the estimation of this con-
genial little Coterie of self-constituted
Finally the question was asked: "Who
can we nominate who Will have a ghost
of chance TO VIM"
Then ii was that the cabinet officer
present suggested the name Of President
Cleveland.
Would he accept the nomination if we
II know very well that he does not
desire the nomination and is ready 10
retire from public life at the close of his
present term, but 1 am equally sure that
If the party should force the nomination
upon him. and pledge him the united
the Will of his party and make the night,
not as the leader Of any faction OF the
party, but as the leader of all those
who believe that the interests Of the gov
ernment demand continuance OF the
true principles of democracy"
This statement was made with so much
earnestness that every one present lel5
| that the cabinet officer had been inspired
| by previous conversation with the Pres
ident That was the impression IL made
| upon the minds Of those who heard IL, ana
| il is generally believed to be the correct
position the President occupies to-day on
| That subject
were interposed to test the strength of
| the proposition to again trust the dem
| ocratic standard in the hands of Pres
| ident Cleveland. In reply 1t was argued
| that none of the heretOfOre-considered
| presidential possibilities i'm the democratic
| party is willing TO come forward and take
| form, excepting Mr.. Cleveland, cons equent-
ly there is burt little choice 1T is either
| Cleveland or the nomination goes by de-
| fault 1t was further cOntended that Mr..
| Cleveland would gain votes in the eastern
| states THAT could not be poled for any
| other democrat, owing to his financial
policy, and when the little circle parted for
| the evening the Cleveland boom
was the only one to be seen
on the democratic horizon. There may
be others, but they have not revealed
their identity up to the present writ
| ing. In democratic circles in Washing
ton the impression grows stronger and
! stronger daily that Mr.. Cleveland will
be the democratic nominee Of the Chi
cago convention. THE activity Of the
administration forces in Kentucky, Geor-
gia, Alabama, Texas, Virginia and
wherever there is a state contest, is
pointed to as sure indications that the
friends of Mr. Cleveland hope and ex-
pect to have "A commanding voice at the
| Chicago convention. Some of the polit-
ical opponents Of the President charge
that the Cleveland organization that was
so potent in the southern and western
states four years ago has been kept in
tact. and it will be in evidence at the
convention Many Of the political bosses
i'm the party have tried to shut their eyes
to the existence of the wen organized
ginning to realize and admit rs presence.