of
decency.

_Question_. What do you think of the political outlook?

_Answer_. The people of this country have a great deal of
intelligence. Tariff and free trade and protection and home
manufactures and American industries--all these things will be
discussed in every schoolhouse of the country, and in thousands
and thousands of political meetings, and when next November comes
you will see the Democratic party overthrown and swept out of power
by a cyclone. All other questions will be lost sight of. Even
the Prohibitionists would rather drink beer in a prosperous country
than burst with cold water and hard times.

The preservation of what we have will be the great question. This
is the richest country and the most prosperous country, and I
believe that the people have sense enough to continue the policy
that has given them those results. I never want to see the
civilization of the Old World, or rather the barbarism of the Old
World, gain a footing on this continent. I am an American. I
believe in American ideas--that is to say, in equal rights, and in
the education and civilization of all the people.

--_New York Press_, June 3, 1888.

CLEVELAND AND THURMAN.

_Question_. What do you think of the Democratic nominations?

_Answer_. In the first place, I hope that this campaign is to be
fought on the issues involved, and not on the private characters
of the candidates. All that they have done as politicians--all
measures that they have favored or opposed--these are the proper
subjects of criticism; in all other respects I think it better to
let the candidates alone. I care but little about the private
character of Mr. Cleveland or of Mr. Thurman. The real question
is, what do they stand for? What policy do they advocate? What
are the reasons for and against the adoption of the policy they
propose?

I do not regard Cleveland as personally popular. He has done
nothing, so far as I know, calculated to endear him to the popular
heart. He certainly is not a man of enthusiasm. He has said
nothing of a striking or forcible character. His messages are
exceedingly commonplace. He is not a man of education, of wide
reading, of refined tastes, or of general cultivation. He has some
firmness and a good deal of obstinacy, and he was exceedingly
fortunate in his marriage.

Four years ago he was distinctly opposed to a second term. He was
then satisfied that no man should be elected President more