Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-27
TUESDAY. ..........AFRIL ~, 1897
SHALL. THE MINORITY RULER

Mr.. Cleveland is playing the most an
surd role that possibly could be devils I'll
for him-that of a party paciticator. or
all the men in the United States he pos
sesses the least gifts as peacemaker.
He is not person of winning disposition
and during his last four years in Wash
ington he had few friends there beyond
a narrow circle. which was bound 10
him by a lively appreciation Of favors TO
come. In the Senate the ludicrous spec
tacle was presented OF the President de-
pending upon David b. Hill 10 say what
was possible in defence Of the admins
tration's policy.
Mr.. Cleveland succeeded I'm estranging
nearly all the leaders Of his party, and
when his term closed he had amicable re-
lations with very few congressman. More
over Mr.. Cleveland played the dog-in-
the-manger act during all Of the cam
paign for the Democratic nomination for
the presidency. He was obviously can
didate, yet he would not announce him
self. Mr.. Carlisle wished to become a
candidate, too. but Cleveland's logged
perseverance in his position prevented
him.
And so the preliminary campaign wore
on--until ii was clear our free-silver bre-
thren had secured full control Of the
nominating convention.
So we must say that more than any
other man Mr.. Cleveland is responsible
for the division in our party last year.
Now. il he only had the talents as
pacificator that he has displayed as a
marty wrecker, one blast from his bugle-
horn would cause the Democrats TO lock
shields as tightly as ever did Greek or
Roman phalanxes. But to show how he
goes about making peace. we have only
10 refer to the fact that he speaks of the
Democratic banners having been stolen
last year; "stolen," though those banners
were followed into battle by 100000 OF
sincere and loyal Democrats. We OBJ
serve. too, from Mr.. Cleveland's New
York speech that he has fine scorn of
spoilsmn. Yet we know of no man who
has profited more by party henchmen and
ward politicians than he has. For a
great part of his life. since he became a
voter. he has been an office-holder. He
began life poor and now is rich. and near
ly all Of his wealth came from office
holding, through "henchmen" 'spoils-
men," etc.
According TO Henry Watterson, the Re-
form Club, of New York, before which
M. Cleveland spoke on Saturday night,
is made up exclusively of followers OF
Mr.. Cleveland. Watterson thinks the
dinner was given to place Mr.. Cleveland
I'm the field for President In 1900. and he
regards the movement as a great mis-
fortune TO the cause of the gold Demo
Gratis. His advice 10 those gentlemen is
TO unload Cleveland but doubtless he
sees that this win be no easy job-for
Cleveland. the Princeton philosopher and
retired statesman, will resist that TO the
death.
The Democratic party which Mr.. Cleve-
land wishes to have in existence would
be q party in which the minority would
have control; or, in other words, he would
have 1.-The tail wag the dog" This can
not be. The Democratic party which gave
Mr.. Bryan 100000 votes last fall is to-
DAY stronger IMAM ~ ""o thS''' nun
doned by many Of its old-time leaders.
and with hardly enough campaign funds
70 pay for the postage stamps that II
needed, it made a gallant fight, and
came out OF the battle stronger than
When It went in. And 1t is growing
stronger every day. 1.-THE true inward
ness" of the Mckinley policy is manifest
now, and We are daily hearing men say
they are sorry they helped 90 elect him.
We cannot believe the Cleveland mi
pority will have a large following. AL
ready Watterson Is against Cleveland
and Watterson is a leader among gold
Democrats. Watterson resents the idea
of the Reform Club starting ont thus
early to work for CieveIand's electioni
but he IL not yet ready 10 join the ranks
Of the six millions. Wei. be II so. The
six millions are numerous enough 10
drive away any feeling OF loncsomeness
and in the great party struggles that are
TO come Off during the next few years the
probabilities are they Will grow stronger
instead OF weaker. a.