Cleveland In The South

There is a significance in the nomination of Mr. Oates for governor of Alabama that extends far beyond the political effect in that state. It has come to be the usual thing for the opposition to claim that Cleveland has lost his prestige in the South and that his administration is without substantial endorsement in that section. That this is not true is known to those who gather the sentiment of the South through its public press. There are antiadministration papers flying the democratie flag in that part of the Union just as there are in the North, but by far the larger portion of the people he is upheld as the champion of those principies for which the party declared in its last national platform. The president has not wavered in the policy to which he was committed by those who elected him. His promises have not been kept to the ear and broken to the hope. He has steadfastly adhered to a course of action which his pledges made obligatory and, so far as his influ' ence could be reasonably exerted, j has induced the same line of action j on the part of others. Even those of the South who disagree with him cannot question the honesty of his purpose or the loyalty of his adherence to that declaration of principies made in the platform on which he accepted a nomination. There is a local protection sentiment in the iron districts of Alabama, and the friends of silver are strong in the state. For this reason it was confidently predicted that the state convention would fail to indorse the administration if it did not openly denounce it. To bring about this result some potent influences were employed. Senator Morgan traveled home all the way from Washington to take the stump. Senator Pugh was as active as Morgan but in a less open way. Their chief contention before the people was that the indorsement of Cleveland was the indorsement of his financial policy; a plea which they seem to regard as irresistible. Despite their powerful influence, backed by the anti-administration papersof the state and of Georgia, Oates was nominated, and his nomination was made unanimous. The confusión of the kickers was complete when the administration was indorsed without dissent. The action was a hearty one and a sure refutation of the claim that the president has lost his strong hold on the