men.--See the _Nation_ of October 5; also the New York
_Tribune_, October 4.]

In accepting the Democratic nomination Cleveland had the great
advantage of not being obliged to refer to anything of which he was
ashamed. Its tone was simple, sober, and direct, and from the
principles expressed, the measures advocated, or the language
employed, the reader could form no idea to what party the writer
belonged. He desired primary elections to be "uncontaminated and
fairly conducted"; condemned the interference of "officials of any
degree, State or Federal, for the purpose of thwarting or controlling
the popular wish"; favoured tenure of office in the civil service
being dependent upon "ability and merit"; and denounced the levying of
political assessments, declaring "the expenditure of money to
influence the action of the people at the polls or to secure
legislation is calculated to excite the gravest concern."[1800]

[Footnote 1800: Cleveland's letter appears in the press of October
10.]

The campaign became historic because it revealed the most serious
disturbance in the Republican party since the war. Little was heard
save apology, indignant protest, and appeal to tradition. Whatever
Republican hope existed was based upon the unworthiness of the
Democratic party. In a letter to an Albany meeting Folger declared,
after highly praising his opponent, that "There is one difference
which goes to the root of the matter when we are brought to view as
public men and put forward to act in public affairs. He is a Democrat.
I am a Republican." Then, becoming an alarmist, he referred to the
shrinkage in the value of stocks on the day after the Democratic
victory in Ohio. "That shrinkage has been going on ever since," he
said. "Do the business interests of the country dread a return of the
Democratic party to power? Will the election of Cleveland increase it?
These are questions for hesitating Republicans to ponder."[1801] This
Stock Exchange view of politics, redolent of the operations of brokers
in Wall Street, did not help the Republican candidate. Curtis thought
it, coming from the Secretary of the Treasury, "most extraordinary."[1802]
Besides, the decline in the stock market began before the Ohio
election, when conditions indicated Republican success.

[Footnote 1801: Albany _Evening Journal_, October 19.]

[Footnote 1802: _Harper's Weekly_, November 4.]

The local campaign in the metropolis assumed more life. In spite of