Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-07-08
THE PARTY, NOT THE MAN.


for President in 1888, the Philadelphia
Enquirer truthfully says:
president Cleveland is evidently growing
stronger in the admiration of his party, ana
he may before 1888 grow strong enough to
secure the denomination; but as for MIR. Ill
den, he can only grow weaker, for he ls IN
no position of vantage as Mr.. Cleveland is
to strengthen his hold upon the regards of
the Democracy. His greatest element of
popularity was the Fraud cry OF 1876. But
that is n very old cry now. and Will be older
in 1888, with no power whatever TO set tine
echoes flying for Mr.. Tilden in another cam
paign."
Like all other dead issues, the Hayes
fraud has run its course and should be
shelved The country has received, read
and digested Mr. Tilden's letter declining
to ever again take up the gauge OF politi-
cal battle, and the grand sentiments ex-
pressed in that letter should teach his
friends that he really desires rest and
peace, and shrinks from ever again enter
ing the political arena. The Fraud cry
OF 1876 served its purpose in establishing
a case which will ever be warning to
Democrats, and as it was perpetrated un-
der the guise of law and was submitted
to by the people, it can do no good to the
Democratic party to awaken it from
its disgraced sleep, and warmit again into
life. Mr.. Tilden is not, cannot be, and
does not wish to be considered as Pres
idential possibility, and the awakening
of that hideous fraud can do no good to
the Democratic party or the man they
choose to represent them in 1888. The
Democratic party condemns in its oppo-
nents the bringing in of dead issues for
political purposes, and should not lay
itself open to similar action. Its duty
now lies in strengthening the hands OF
the present Administrator, and helping
the respect and esteem of all men, and
thus make it possible TO elect its candi-
date, no matter who he may be be, rs il
is conceded fact that no man can lead
the party to victory in 1888 unless the
actions OF the Government in the mean
while are such US to establish faith ant
confidence in its principles, and unalloyet
trust in its work for the future. 1t is moi
the man whom the people now have or
trial, but the party; therefore it is the
first duty of every Democrat in the lane
to SO shape his course and actions rs tc
aid the central power in q sound admin
istration of the Government, and re
demption of all pledges given to the peo
pie in 1884. Ii the hands of the presen
Administration be strengthened, anC
they permitted to enforce the laws on tn,
basis now outlined, the effect for the goo'
OF the party will be far greater in the en'
than any spasmodic pluming OF individu
ais or self-glorifcation can ever be. TIL,
general people are steadily advancing il
knowledge and insight into the affairs o
the Government, and the time is passet
when they can be hoodwinked into sup
porting either party, when that part,
fails to make good its pledges or keep it
word inviolate with those whose supper
it sought. President Cleveland is to-da,
in peculiarly trying position, aiming t.
80 conduct the Government as to estab
lsh faith and confidence in it unde
Democratic rule, and opposed by hand
full of renegades, who are powerful 70
discord, because their personal wishe
have not been gratified. Such opposition
is always short-lived, and this will G
down as all similar opposition has gon
down, before the better judgment OF tn
better class OF the people, who will nc
be caught with glittering generalities
but who look rather for solid results il
place of broken pledges. The very ma
ture of the opposition developed agains
President Cleveland is the best vindica
ton Of his course he could have, an
happily, the people are learning to s.
view it. Ii he was man of vacillatin
temperament, he would be tossed abou
on the present sea of conflicting persona
ambitions, as shuttlecock about tn
wires, and his power for good be los
He is, on the contrary, strong and resc
Lutte for the right, as the wants OF tn
country gives him to see the right, an
the people who honored and trusted hin
feel that at last they have the right ma
in the right place. Detraction is one {
the burdens President must bear, an
the manly way in which Cleveland ha
borne the vile abuse of his eneme
proves him to be far above them, and a
the more worthy of the peoples col
fidence, Democrats should work harmC
niously throughout the next two years
to the end that the Government shall b
so administered that the people will hay
u lasting faith in the Democratic party
and there will be no trouble in success
fully electing its candidate when tn
time comes, regardless OF what persona
following he may have, The party, nc
the man, is now on trial.