The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-20
Is MIR. CLEVELAND AN oBsTRUC-
TION,

The name of Mr.. Cleveland has the
same effect upon Mr.. Henry Waiter
son, apparently, that a red flag has
upon a bull, and he seems to think
that it has about that effect upon the
great majority of Democrats of the
West and South. In an article in his
paper, the COurier-JOurnal last Tues
day, under the title of The Everlast-
ing Cleveland" he says:
To the great body of the Democrats
of the West and South, Mr..
Cleveland is an eyesore. an Offense.
red flag; but to those Democrats who,
like ourselves, would bridge the chasm
of 1S951900 he IS merely an obstruc-
ton. He stands right across the mid
die of the bridge. blocking the way.
Except for him there would be no Sc
rious trouble.
There is one thing in respect to
which Mr. Watterson and Mr.. Bryan
are in accord, namely, dislike of Mr..
Cleveland. Mr.. Watterson dislikes him
because he thinks ne wrecked the
Democratic party, and Mr.. Bryan dis
likes him because he bolted the DEM
ocratic ticket in 1896.
1t seems, however, that there are
good many Democrats who still have
confidence in him and would like to
see him brought to the front again. In
its Wednesdays edition the New York
World in an article entitled why
Cleveland is Strong" says: 1T did not
require the news of Mr.. Clevelands
projected tour of the West to keep
alive or to stimulate public interest in
the possibility of his nomination by
the Democrats for the presidency"
Further along in it's article the World
says: There have been many proofs
of his reviving popularity while the
objections to his nomination have
gained nothing in force. The
whole question resolves itself into this:
What other Democrat is as strong as
Grover Cleveland. What other Demo-
crat could command so many Repub-
lican and independent votes in the
great pivotal states that are absolute
Iy essential to Democratic success?
We do not say that Mr..
Cleveland could be elected. We do not
say that he is saint or the greatest
say that at this time the currents of
political movement seem to be con-
verging in the direction of Grover
Cleveland"
All of this seems very strange in
view of the fact that it has not been
more than a week or two since Mr..
Cleveland announced that he was out
Of politics, and that he would not be
even an adviser of the leaders of his
party unless his advice was sought.
Can it be possible that Mr.. Watterson
and the New York World are really in
earnest in thinking that there are
mighty forces at work to make Mr..
Cleveland the Democratic standard
bearer in 1904? 1t is clear that Mr.
Watterson regards him as an obs
ton to plans for bridging the G.
of 1S96-19OO and the World says Tat
the currents of political movement
seem to be converging in his direction
But what can Mr.. Cleveland do
about it? What would Mr.. Watterson
have him do? lie has already said that
he was out of politics; by which he
meant that his ambition was satisfied
and that he was making no effort for
another presidential nomination. and
that he would not make any. Does Mr.
Watterson want him to say that he
would not accept the nomination if it
were offered to him? He would put
himself in rather ridiculous position
if he were to do that. He has not been
asked to become a candidate for the
nomination, and if he were to an
nounce that he was not a candidate
there would he those who would say
that it was a bid for it, and would at
tack him for assuming that anybody
was thinking of him for the honor.
Besides, If 1T be true that the majority
OF the party want him and think he
could come nearer to being elected
than any other Democrat who could
be named, why should he hasten to
announce that on no condition would he
be candidate simply because Mr..
Watterson and Mr.. Bryan and some
other Democrats are against him?