Evening journal., 1896-03-04


From the Pen OF One OF the Foremost
Men OF the Dsy-The Hopeful Outlook
Of Famous Ex-Journalist-The West
Should BE Given n Chance.
A special dispatch from Washington 10
the Cincinnati Commercial Gszette, over
the signature OF Stilson Hutchins, says:
ut Is assumed by many Republicans.
and admitted by many Democrats, that
the next Presidential election Is as good
IS decided. The man, not the successful
party, Is In doubt. And yet Wo have
seen IN the last four years three political
convulsions, which have. shattered the
most carefully y-oonstructed schemes and
aspirations. Who. IN 1891. would have
been rash enough TO predict that twelve
months later, tho Democratic candidate
for the Presidency would secure the
electoral votes Of Illinois and Wisconsin,
tie the popular vote ef Ohio, carry New
York by majority OF 90, 600. and make
even Massachusetts, doubtful
WHO. even after that series OF sur
prises, would have hszarded the prophecy
that House OF Representatives with
Democratic majority OF 100 wonld be
displaced by a Republican majority Of
100, aud that states like Missouri and
Indiana would be completely upturneo2
Between February and November
there Is abundant time, and II one will
look for them, abundsnt reasons for
another equally as startling revolution.
Whatever machine politicians and
stump orators may say, the thinking
masses know that there Is q very narrow
boundary line between the two great
political parties. They also know there
is less discipline than division. There
are hosts OF revenue reformers who are
In the habit Of voting the Republican
ticket, and hordes OF protectionists who
have never failed to cast q Democratic
ballot. 1t would be impossible TO show
fewer silver men in one party than In the
oUher. Instead OF line Of demarkation,
we fnd g labyrinth.
MANY of the old questions over which
we b ave been Ia the habit Of getting red
In the face stand for nothing now. The
slavery controversy and all that pertained
to it is expurgatsd. The negro has both
the right and the chance to do all there
Is In him to do. and Is lynched with
equal impRrtlality In Ohio and Georgia
aud for the same crime.
$50 thoroughly ia the war over that It
would not particu lsrly surprise any body
to see an ex-ConfederAte on the Rspubi.
can Presidential ticket, and 8 stRy-at
home money making banFer at the head
Of It.
THE Democratic party, therefore for
reasons already suggested, and many
more which lack time TO enumsrate.
| has, on this occasion, moro freedom OF
choice than has been granted to II for
the last forty years. II is not obliged to
60 to New York, Or even to the North
for It's candidate. IL has had no notices
Of "favorlte syns" served upon II. It
owes no man @ "vindicGtion." It can
nominate whom It chooses
whatever advantage there Is that is
evident, however, points to the West.
For thirty six years nine full terms.
the Democratic candidate has been taken
from the East, and every time practically
from the State Of New York
Meanwhile. two OF the states Of the
West have outgrown the New York of
I 1860, and the whole Of them united with
the South. twill cast enough electoral
votes to choose q President. Good poli-
ties, therefore, designates a Western can
didate. l am one who believes the
Democratic party would act most wisely
II it nominated a plain, practical every
day man-one with a record sufficiently
prominent TO lift him out Of the common
place and protect him from cGlumny.
Such q man, | think, is William r Nor
rison, Of Illinois, who for forty years has
filed every position 70 which the con.
fdenoe Of the people, rather than his
own ambition, has called him, with
ability, with dignity, ard, above all,
with modesty.
''Mr. Morrison Is Of good stock -Vlr
ginia and Pennsylvania combined
"He is Of good pluck, fighting through
the Mexican war before he Was OF age,
and was one Of the first to fall uphold
ing the Union standard In the early
Dattls Of Fort Donelson, on whose field
he WAS left for dead, but was nursed and
nOurlshed back to life by devoted wife,
who Is no less devoted and useful to him
at the present time
''Mr. Morrison Is a man Of honor. His
word Is his bond political opponent
will accept 1t and rely upon it as conf
IDENTIFY as friend.
Mr. Morrison Is neither a phenomenon
nor an egotist. He does not believe-at
least. he has never assumed to believe
that he is one of those men so indelibly
and distinctly marked by fate, ss to
warrant his being toboggsned from 8
City Council Chamber into the White
House. Neither does he believe that all
wisdom Is bound up in him, or will die
with him, or that whoever differs with
him is either or both ignorant and
wicked, and should be hunted out OF his
party and surroundings
"Mr. Morrison Is a man or ability; l
should not put It too strongly II l said o
great ability. His fight for a lower tariff
was the strongest that has ever been
made In the last City years, and on the
best lines as well-thst Of uniform (hor
| izontal) reduction, until Congress could,
by practical experience, discern just
where and how deep the kuiie should be
applied.
"a small force OF assistant Republi-
cans, led BY Randall, prevented his sue
cess, defeat which kept Mr.. Morrison's
name from being as familiar As that Of
Mckinley
Mr.. Morrison is an honest man. Dur
ing twenty Eve years Of congressional
and capitol life there has never yet at
tached to him suspicion Of wrong doing.
There is no man-or II there be l have
d