Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-28
John Alden Speaks for Himself.

Several months ago The Star expressed
surprise that MIR. John r. Mclean should
be alternately booming Mr.. Cleveland, Mr..
German, and Mr.. Olney, for the presidency
when his own claims to consideration were
so conspicuous. 1t pointed out his strength
both from the geographical standpoint and
from tFat respecting current Issues. The
| suggestion seemed lost on Mr.. Mclean. He
continued to speak for others in the COL
| umns of his Ohio newspaper, and generally
to breathe the atmosphere of Altruria.
But he is alive to his own interests now,
and probably from this time until the meet
ing day of the democratic national conven-
ton we shall hear from him in no uncer-
tain tones as to what may be and should
be done at that gathering for the party's
salvation.
In the Cincinnati Enquirer of Friday APP
peared an editorial. entitled NO Sectional
ism," with reference to the democratic
candidate. from which the following is
taken:
He should especially be available in
those states which the democrats must
| have to carry the election. An adherence
to this theory would not necessarily imply
that the candidate must come from any
particular state. New York for example,
has good men, but there are those not resi-
dents of that commonwealth who would be
as strong there the home talent
THE southern democrats can be trusted
confidently this point. They have be-
| haved with sense. modesty, discretion and
self-abnegation in the presidential years that
are past They know too much to be de-
ceived by some recent sinister advice that
| they should assert themselves and push
| themselves to the front, now that the civil
war has been over for nearly forty years.
| Those who have been giving such advice
would be the first to charge madly on a
southern presidential candidate simply for
the reason that he was from the south. If
we may borrow little pat phraseology, the
southern democrats know their business
and their brethren of the north are not go
ing to have any trouble with them If they
have the right man to present, the north
should give him sincere consideration. If
the southerners want northern man. they
should be accommodated. Or perhaps both
sides might agree on some man who has
comfortable seat on Mason and Dixon's
line
Let us lay the emphasis where it properly
belongs. Let US fix attention upon the last
sentence of this excerpt Mr. Mclean has
two residences: legal, voting, residence
in Cincinnati, and everyday residence
here in Washington. If we take him as an
Ohio man we find him right on the division
between north and south and IL we take
him as washingtonian we find him almost
similarly placed. At either point he may be
described man who has a comfortable
seat on Mason and Dixons line" mo sec
tionalsm' Certainly not. And the only
| way to avoid 1t will be 20 nominate the can
ddate from the dividing line.
Miss Priscilla. you heer Mr.. Alden's latest
proposition. He has his bearings now, and
is worthy of attention. He is no longer the
emissary of that stocky, bluff old soldier,
CAPTAIN Grover Standish but has hea ri
of his own, and the courage of his desires
Ii he speaks little guardedly, his meaning
is none the less plain. What is your reply /?