New-York tribune., 1885-03-04
A JlYGO POLICY For CLEVELAND.
ADVICE FROM A DEMOCRAT OF THE OLD
SCHOOL

SCHOOb
The v.rerabIe Democrat whose signature to the
following letter Is omitted, though little known 10
the majority OF his party to-day. sat in Congress
with Calboup. Mason and Hunter, DAVIS, Sldell
buchanan and Douglas What Democracy once
was he remembers and he has never been able 10
censure his party so far to east other than
Democratic vote If the publication of this letter
surprises him. as well as the distinguished Demo-
crat to whom 1t addressed, he will, nevertheoss
not deny that 1t was written III most sihccio "o
sire TO aid the President-elect with every reason
TO believe that il wOuld prove welcome resPohso
to questions which it was natural ana hohorap,o
for Presdent-elect impressed with sense vi HIS
great responsibility. to ask from men OF large On
perience and with no idea that 1t would meet o,ni
ewes than those for which it was intended IL is
not the fault of the author, OF OF the Iresiue"'
elect that il is published, and one of them knows
| II NAV be added, that blame attaches to III"
TKBUNr in the matter. The omission OF the sigma
ture. which Justice to the parties requires VIII pS
no means deprive the letter of interest.
Hon. GROVER CLEVELAND. Presidenteiect
DEAR SIR When saw James H. Polk ihaugura'cu'
am sure that he felt something of the same soiicituue
which, rejoice believe, is the uneigned expression
of your patriotic feelings. Though you nave meitcu
high honor by the performance OF those duties 10 "ch
you have called by other expressions o the peopo
that You were selected for the Presidency first by te
National Convention of the Democracy ana aiterwaru
by the free electors this Nation not In spite OF bu
because YOU had borne conspicuous part IN lhe po
cal struggles of the past twenty years
You were therefore the more Tree !" "p
ply to the grave and difficult questions win
which a Democratic President now has 10 deai
those Democratic principles which were held sacred by
the marty in earlier and purer days OF the RepuDc
Eternal as truth itself unchanged ana uhuimheu U!
lapse years those principles shine the more olis'
when the dazzling glare of Republican cehtra%"''o"
passes away But the danger OF the time ls thai Wai!
men, and even many Democrats. accustomed to the artl
fetal briancy the recent past will not be content TO
be guided by the mild, pure and steady light OF the
Democratic principles
When Mr. Polk took the oath OF Office filed with high
and honorable aspirations. and not unlnndIu OF the
grave responsibilities OF the station to which he was
called the defeat Of the brilliant Clay the idol OF the
Wings by a very slender plurality in the state ot New
York had caused intense feeling and it was felt hal te
least mistake by the administration III
cnlng trembling balance to the side OF the dea'e"
but powerful resulute enraged and desperate oppositoh
woald destroy the Democratic party 1t had pre'aheu
only because small faction OF the oppo-
sition had refused TO support Mr.. Clay, Just as
a small faction in the State reoelled last
wear against Mr. Blaine But IL plain thnt1lfPolk'
though he were gifted with superhuman wisdom. cond
not please both the malconent Free soilers VINO h"u
turned the scale his favor and the sanch defenders
OF the interests and constitutional rights OF the SOUTH
who were the brain and bone the soul ana snew OF the
Democratic party Somebody he must periorce onehd'
To offend either. parties were then divided was 10
throw himself and his party into minority 10 wreck his
bark it had fairly left the harbor on It's voyage
To him the wisdom OF sage cOunseliors brought 'he
same advice which you also will soon hear The voice
of faction stied the patriotism OF the Nation
was kinlled, the discussion OF yeXed questions
Wne1
the opponents OF the Democracy were placed
m the attitude OF who resist and embarrass the
Government in time Of Had the execution OF the
plan been a. sagacious the plan itself the Democratic
pary would at once have entered upon the long lease OF
power which, in spite OF Democratic mistakes and the
military glamour Of Taylor. was not long DELAYED.
You likewise as President Will ind It impossible %
please both the little faction OF Republican nalcontents
and the Democratic masses. An attempt to satisfy
either VIII repei votes enough 10 leave your party IN
pitiful minority in Northern States In your own state
for instance you know full well that policy which
vould plcase the squad service theorists would
insure defeat OF your party at the next election by
majority greater than cast against Fog"r Like MT
Polk vou must have wisdom thrust veXed questions Of
domestic policy into the background or yon VIII bury
vour partv An old-fashoned Democrat, who reInem-
bers with the teachings and practices Of Jackson
has not much for civil service theory which would
not only have excluded Old Hickory himself from clerk
ship but would imply that hs Administration was one OF
the the country ever saw Are we TO believe that
Won mean to insult the memory OF those who were Demo
cratic and Presidents in the days when Democracy
WAS purest and most powerful by refusing 10 use the
executive power build the party which has elected
YOU T. whether you do you must offend one body
OF men or the other-either the fangedreformes,
who teach that 1t Is wrong 70 foster the sacred
principles Of Dcaocracy by judlcous appointments,
or the millions who wish to those
principles again firmly entrenched in tn
a. IL eaftIo t,.au uttafxH H,sl,
1t needs superhumau gift to forcsee that offence to
either death to the party II dome site questions
are allowed to engross the minds OF men.
One OF the blunders which cost the Democratic party
the eecuon Of lsis that II imposed meaningless.
horizontal duty the bundering and unsccntihc OF
all tariffs ever enacted in this country instead OF true
revenue tariff the very threshold Of its Thus
IL broke down the industrial system based upon the
theory protection, but gave 10 industry intelligent
consistent aud scientific basis OF organization instead
II cast away the partial encouragement to special
facres and localities but refused TO the people le solid
wrath protected manufactures only dsgsed those
blunder you also will be urged to commit II you
also attempt compromise betweeE protection and free
trade through device OF horizontal trh or horizon
taI reduction OF tariff your Administration will
tain melancholy condition of friendless isolation
OF office pires deal with difficult questions foreign
policy. You cannot treat lightly the demands OF those
British aud German soil. Neither you take any
oute or Vigorous policy on this or any other quGs
hostile unless you appeal to motives more powerful
than those OF party. The course which far-sceiDg
craftsmanship marked out for Mr.. Polk necessity will
also force upon you In plain words the country must
be engaged In foreign interests and controversy and In
yolyed In foreign without much delay, and the
trotsm the people aroused to uphold the Government
or your administration will be quickly reduced to pitt
fn series OF suberfngos and evsons frivolous lodges
and eowardy compromises There are occasions by the
score for controversy with foreign powers n tit
TO open our eyes to them. The treatment Of Americans
on the Rio Grande and In Mexican courts the conduct
OF Spanish and Cuban authorities the exclusion OF
American products not by law, but by Illegal coDstruc
tions OF law which German and French statesmen
scarcely attempt defend, call for public notice not less
than the treatment OF American citizens by Great
Britain.
policy OF territorial annexation Is always popular II
kndes The pride OF the Naion and appeals with