The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-11
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL
BOOMS.

BOOMS.
This is the day of presidential booms-
Several have been f1oated on the dem
ocratic side In the last few mohths'
Some have collapsed and some are Nv
ing. kept afOat with much effort by the
friends of the candidates but the Hor-
man and the Cleveland boonas SEEM
to use an Irishism. TO be kept af1oat
by their own weight. Mr.. Germans
ncsition as leader of h democrats in
the senate gives him great advantage
over the other men whose names lave
been mentioned for the democratic
nomination. We do not suppose there
is any doubt about the fact that he
would be glad of the nomination and
he would be one of the strongest can
didates the democrats could nominate.
While holding no populistic ideas, he
stood by the party in 1896 and 1860 and
voted for Bryan on both occasions.
This fact will make him solid with a
great many democrats who would not
vote for Cleveland or Olney, while he
gold standard wing of the party could
not object to him because Of n free
silver tendencies.
Nc doubt Mr.. German will use-legi-
timately of course-his position as
ade of the democratic party IN con-
gress to strengthen his chances for the
nomination, and a good pull it gives
him.
As to NJ. Cleveland. the public SEN
timent in his favor seems to be grow
ing daily, especially at the south. His
name is kept before the public by such
papers of this section as are beyond the
suspicion Of being subsidized in his
Interest. IF public sentiment in his
favor continues 10 grow from now
urtil the meeting of the national con-
vention as rapidly as it has in the last
few months the third term idea will
not stan in the way of his nomination
by that convention. We believe that
could ne get the democratic nomina-
ton he would surely be elected. He is,
in our opinion, the strongest man the
democrats could nominate. AS against
MI. Roosevelt for the republican NOM
lDet ne COuIu pOIl mo 'OltS AISiA d44S
rIan in the democratic party 1t VIII
DE much harder to nominate him in a
democratic convention than it would be
to elect him. The twO-thirds rule will
compass his defeat. There IS no
chance of his nomination unless the
democratic masses all over the coun-
try. falling in line with the present
growing sentiment in his favor. rise
no and demand of the political leaders
OF the party hat they shall give hin
the northumberland as leader him
whom they know can and will lead them
to victory. Mr.. Cleveland you'd today
ard would in November OF next year
receive a larger proportion Of n float
ing vote in those states where the float
irg vote counts. than any man the
democrats could nominate. Yet Mr..
Cleveland has to be sacrificed to a
sentiment.
MT. Bourke Cochran IS perfectly cor
rect in saying that if Mr.. Cleveland
could be nominated ne would be eler-
ed. On this subject the Charleston
News and Courier says:
"BOuTke Cochran has returned TO the
United States after Il prOtracted visit
to foreign lands. The most significant
Ting aid by him upon landing at New
York was that If tn efriends of Mr..
Cleveland can so influence the public
as to cause the public to force his
nomination ne Will be elected" That
is what the friends Of Mr.. Cleveland
or rather the friends of republican
government i'm this country. Viii trs
to do. We are not particularly con-
CeUued about whether his nomination
shall be pleasing to the So-CaIled
leaders OF the party or not. What
We want to do at the next presidential
election Is to have a candidate who
can be elected. and there Is no other
man in the democratic party so strong
today as Mr.. Cleveland