The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-24
THE NOMINATION OF UN-
 KNOwNS.

In the perplexity that surrounds the
 Democratic Party at present as to choice of candidate for the Presidency there Is a disposition in certain quarters to take
 up some practically unknown man and without regard to any declaration of prin-
 cipies count on hustling the nominee into
 ofice. Srhe whigs did something of this
 kind in 1S4o but they had well-known
 candidate in Harrison. He had been
 soldier and a candidate for the Presi-
 dency in 1886. The whigs were willing
 to omit any declaration of principles. ana
 did omit it, for the country was still
 writhing under the effects of the panic or
 1887 and was anxious to turn out van
 Buren's government. Van Buren was
 held responsible for the follies of the ten
 thousand cotton land and railroad specu-
 lations throughout the country. Even
 with the current setting strong in their
 favor. the whigs did not dare put nonenity at the head of their ticket, nor one whose character or average ability could be assailed. Polk was hooted at as an unknown, but the fact is Polk, had twice been speaker>of the House of Rep resentatives and possessed demonstrated capacity for the Presidency. Pierce, whom we are apt to think of as an un- known, when nominated had served two terms in the House. one in the Senate and was a brigadier general of the Mexi- can War. The first genuine attempt on the part of the Democracy to try It's fortunes with a candidate about whose politics little was known, occurred with the nomination of Hancock in 1880. He was a superb soldier. but the country soon took his measure with his unsoli- cited aid through his foolish deliverance upon the tariff question and in November the leaves covered his political grave. It may be said that the nomination of Governor Cleveland in 1884 was an ex- ample of trying an unknown's running qualities and there Is much truth in this Cleveland had never been in Washing ton until he went there to be present at his own inauguration. He had, how ever. given striking proof of his more than ordinary executive ability, both as Mayor of Buffalo and Governor of New York The significant fact about the campaign is-and 1t Is entirely pertinent to recall this in 1904-he was quite well and familiarly known to the country be- fore August, even the sewers being drag ged for the enlightenment and edificatlon of the Nation. Mir. Blaine, 1t is well to recollect also, found the publicity of the Speakership and of the Senate, deep shadow, compared to the blazing light that poured in upon his private life. when he stood up in the presence of the entire country to be gauged for the great post of President.
 The Democratic Party need not and will not deceive itself. It must have as standard bearer, some candidate whose life will permit of microscopical exami- nation. whose talents assure a strong ad- ministration. whose character will be a guarantee of stability. We cannot un- derestimate the strength of the candidate the Republicans will offer. He is strong IT n6 IS neduy anu ne mas lTIeHuS II ne has enemies. He has never been a cipher at any time of his life. It is the very fact that in all his movements, phy- slcal and mental. he goes with rush that he disturbs and alarms the solid men of the country. They would like to see a President sit still at intervals. Roose- welt is forever on the jump. He has provoked throughout his own party sense of disgust. not to say. fear. as to what he will do next. We know our antagonist in this case and we know what his party stands for. It Is not time-serVing, 1t is the very essence of common sense to put out against Roose- welt and his party a man who is known of the people, a man with a combination of the patriotic and the judicial in temper placed on a platform of sound, timely Democratic doctrines. That way lies success.
 zEcRETAR nv HAY