Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-01
Candidates tor Prealnent.

Harpers Weekly seems very much in
earnest in is advocacy Of Woodrow VIII
son, President Of Princeton University,
for the Democratic nomination for Presi-
dent in 1905 Replying to the criticism
of contemporary that "as a rule the
man who writes history is not regarded
as possessing the peculiar characteristics
of the politician which qualify him to
make it in a government which derives
power through popular acclaim" the
Weekly says: "If it be true that the
man who possesses the arts Of the modern
politician is the only man who is reason
ably sure of success with the people Of
the United States, this Republic has sunk
TO o very low political and social level.
Moreover if the people Of the United
States are so shallow that they can be led
by the transparent wiles Of the party
leader, or hack, or whichever he
may be-to prefer the man who is seek
ing the place for his own or his party's
gain, 10 man who has the wisdom
and the knowledge Of a statesman,
they are in so bad a way that someone,
for them ought to seriously consider the
propriety Of their surendering the right
TO govern themselves"
The record Of nominations and elections
to the Presidency Of this country does
not, we are sure, carry out this assump-
ton by Harper's Weekly that the people
at any time have preferred "the man who
is seeking place for his own or his party's
gain TO a man who was the wisdom and
the knowledge Of statesman" Ger
tainly, the man who was seeking the
place for his own or his party's gain" has,
time and again, been denied the coveted
honor Of the nomination for President,
and although the selection in his stead
was not invariably a man with the wis
dom and the knowledge of statesman"
he was at least a man who was known to
the people and presumed to be endowed
with the elements of popularity although
chances might bave been taken on his
qualifications for the Office.
The bar 10 the success Of Harper's
Weekly's candidate is the fact that he is
comparatively unknown TO the great
body of the people. The latter know that
there is a Princeton University, and that
the presidency of such an institution re-
quires a man Of genius, ability and execu-
tive capacity. They know that Princeton
has president, but thousands do not even
know his name. And there is only the
barest possibility that between now and
the time for the assembling Of the next
Democratic National Convention, any
considerable number Of people viii know
enough about President Wilson Of Prince
ton TO induce them TO bestow upon him
even passing thought in connection
with the Democratic nomination for
President of the United States. Harper's
Weekly, it is true, may make his name
familiar word throughout the country,
but not one that the masses will iuggle
with in discussing the great question of
their party's nominee for the Presidency.
The history of political conventions
records numerous instances Of tho over
throw Of party leaders and the selection of
what has come to be termed clark horse"
candidates, but in no instance has the
candidate so selected been an absolute
stranger TO public life or a man unknown
to the great mass Of tho people Gen.
William Henry Harrison had been Con-
gresham, Senator, governor of the In
dian Territory and noted soldier. James
X. Polk had been governor of Tennessee
and Speaker Of the House Of Representa-
tives. Zachary Taylor was the old
"Rough and Ready" Of the Mexican War.
Gen. Winfield Scott was a hero Of two
waN. Franklin Pierce, in addition to his
military record, was known as Congress
man and Senator from New Hampshire.
Abraham Lincoln WAS the great Republi-
can leader of the West, although TO the
East he was a comparative stranger.
Rutherford B. Hayes had been thrice
elected governor of Ohio. James A..
Garfield was known by his record in Con-
gress. Hancock was a gallant aud popu-
lar soldier. Bryan had served but an
uneventiul term in Congress up to 1895,
but he captured the nominating conven-
tion by notable speech. Judge Parker
had attained political, legal and judicial
prominence in New York.
When President Woodrow Wilson is
compared to thuse accidents Of poll
tics It must be admitted that he does
not show up nightly as possible Demo
cratic nominee for President in 1905.