The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-28

No intelligent man can stay i'm WASH
ington city a week. keeping his eyes ana
ears open. without seeing clearly that
Il g. understood in oficialdom there
and all Washington IS oncialdom-that
the triggers are being set for the re-
nomination OF Mr.. Cleveland by the
Democratic party. OF course, this could
not be going on right under Mr. Cleve-
lands eyes without his knowing II, and
the fact that IL is going on with his
knowledge. with no word of protest or
objection from him. makes out a per-
fcctly plain case of its being done with
his appreciation and consent. IT only
makes plain what The Times has been
long satisfied Of. that Mr.. Cleveland has
been scheming all through his present
term TO have himself renominated at
its end. 1t is. therefore, incumbent upon
the Democratic party TO take This mat
ter into very serious consideration and
determine what it will do about It.
And at the outset this great and i'm
portant fact cannot be overlooked, that
the very best element of the Demo-
cratic party-the men who were born
Democrats, and have inherited all the
traditions Of the party, and who will
die Democrats II they were the only
Democrats on the earth-these men
think that for Mr.. Cleveland to DE made
President again would be TO elect him
TO a third term They may be pooh
pooed and laughed at and called senti-
mentalists. but il cannot be denied that
this is their fixed conviction. that they
are unalterably opposed 10 it, and that
they are at last the backbone of the
Democratic party-the contingent that
gives IL its life in times of success and
that is its 'old guard" in times of disas-
ter.
IL the managers Of the Democratic
party propose to launch their ship upon
its next voyage without reckoning with
these men they are the rashest uaviga-
tors that ever attempted TO sail stormy
waters. We call upon our Democratic
brethren. therefore. 10 pause and think
before they deliberately challenge the
convictions and ride rough-shod over the
creed of these men. Tney VIII want
them when the hour of trial comes, and
they Will not have their support when
the crisis is reached. II they treat them
In this way Ina the next place, IL is
needless TO disguise the fact that Mr..
Cleveland has alienated from him a very
large element I'm the Democratic party.
II may bee said that this element is Popu-
istic In its tendencies. SO Doe u. But The
Populists will have presidential ticket
In the field. and then frec-silvor people
will certainly vote for 80 If Mr.. Cleve-
land Is the candidate OF the Democratic
party With some other man we might
retain them with Mr.. Cleveland as Che
candidate We certainly lose them.
And where are we 10 go 10 make un
the losses that the party will suffer from
these two elements? IL viii be- said |
they can be made mp from the staid. |
steady. conservative proporty-owning elc- /
ments Of the country. That might have /
been said two months ago. but il cam |
not be said now. Two months ago Mr.. 4
Cleveland had greater hold upon this /
element OF our people than any other
living man. But TO a man almost, this
element Of the people condemn his war
message concerning Venezuela. They
think Il one OF the most foolish acts that
could have emanated from the most
feather-headed politician seeking an cleo
ton 70 Congress- II has destroyed their
confidence IN the ovenness Of his judg-
ment, and has made them fear that.
instead OF being one Of the safest. be IS
one Of the most dangerous men in the
country
The country's financial system s. the
greatest concern OF these people, and
Mr.. Cleveland's strength with them has
come from their belief that he could
always be relied upon TO use his best
Efforts to Keep that sound But they are
beginning 20 ask themselves what is the
good OF being saved from ruin by keeping
he Populists out OF control n they are
10 be destroyed by the rash act OF
1 man who Is capable Of making such
/ bl9nder as he made in the Venezuela
natter? However much the Republican
,arty may coQuct with free silver and
,ther financial heresles the people have
nevertheless perfect confidence that the
Republican party is never going TO allow
his country 10 slip of OF the gold stan
lard when they are In control OF il. That
= the matter that the element we are
low considering IS most interested in,
md II Is perfectly satisfied that the