Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1890-06-13
THE DRIFT OF DEMOCRA TIC SEN.
TIMENT,

THE DRIFT OF DEMOCRAT TIC SEN.
IIMENT.
Beyond all doubt much significance at
taches TO the action last week of the Demo
cratic State conventions in Illinois and |
Maine. Their proceedings point unerringly |
to the continued leadership, in the National
Democracy, of Grover Cleveland. That is
the meaning of the sentiment expressed, of
the resolutions adopted, of the character of
the nominations made, of the affiliations OF
the nominees presented To place any other
Interpretation on the assemblages in these
widely separated Commonwealth is to mis-
lead the public. Whether the student of
affairs is Cleveland or an anti-C Cleveland
Democrat, an Administration or anti-Ad-
ministration Republican, Prohibitionist,
Mugwump or Labor Reformer, he will
not misunderstood the truth when 1t is set
before him. The truth is that the Cleve-
land policy holds the minds and hearts of
Democrats everywhere. That Mr.. Cleve-
land will be re-nominated does not neces-
sarily follow. That, however, the indica-
tions favor his renewed candidacy for the
Presidency can no more be doubted than
that he is recognized by thoughtful Repub-
licans as their most formidable adversary.
His star, as matters stand, Is clearly in the
ascendant. Times may bring change.
OF that change there is now no visible sign.
Glance at the situation in Illinois. That
State at the last presidential election polled
an aggregate vote of 747,530. Gen. Harri-
son defeated President Cleveland by over
twenty thousand plurality. Fourth in the
Electoral College and hardly second in
strategic importance, Illinois deliberately
ranges itself anew in line with the Cleve-
land programme. Instead of exhibiting
encouragement in defeat its convention ag-
gressively re-afflrms the Democratic tariff
plank OF 1888. Indeed, it goes step further
toward radical reform. "Realizing," say the
the resolutions, "that a tariff is tax, we in
sist now, as heretofore, that such revenue
administer the Government shall be raised
from internal revenue taxes and duties on
articles of luxury, thus exempting and max
ing cheaper all articles needed by the masses
of the people," Than this nothing could be
more explicit. The Democracy of Illinois
serve notice that they do not intend to con-
tent themselves with "straddle" on the
most vital issue now before the country
They have well defined ideas of what they
want. They voice their demands in direct
nd 10 tn fuh
not under the banner of ambiguous "com-
promise" but in the open field of honorable
and intelligent controversy. While they
value the example of Jefferson and cherish
the memory of jackson, they are not under
the delusion that party can live forever
on its past. On the contrary they conceive
that the true function of a great political
organization is 10 address itself to the living
problems of the present. To this great aim
lor this reason the Democracy of Illinois
have performed we'll their appointed part.
No less determined, no less pronounced
il the attitude of the Maine Democracy.
4 Vhey re affirm the national platform of 1888.
no emphasize their purpose they "malntain
with Grover Cleveland that unnecessary
taxation is unjust taxation, that taxa
ton shall be reduced to the needs Of an
economical government, that such reduc-
ton shall be on the necessaries of life in
common use by the people, and that this
shall be done with direct reference to the
best interests of American labor as well as
the preservation of our manufacturing inter-
ests" The tariff question before the country
is defined as "a question between tariff in
favor of the laborer and a tariff in favor OF
the millionaire" The convention further
declares; 1--WE repudiate the plutocratic
claim that il we legisate for capital capital
will care for labor, and assert that capital
is only the fruit of labor and could never
have existed if labor had not first existed
and we declare that labor is the equal oil
hnd is deserving Of equal considera-
The Democrats of Maine in Other
8, believe that a Just and reasonable
fsion and reduction of the tariff is MOI
Incompatible with the wefafeo( Inc Amerl
"A can people. Believing this they have nl
desire to evade or befog the issue in dispute
with the issue conspicuous in the canvass
They have declared they are ready to move
forward along the lines laid down by Mr.
Cleveland.
In Maine, as in Illinois, the Democracy
have made excellent nominations While
their State is not even debatabe, they have
displayed fidelity to public and party obi
cations by putting Harvard their best men
Whether they win or lose, they are on the
right side of the live questions Of the day
Maine, like the Western Commonwealth
was once safely Democratic. 1t is not toe
much, in the solution of American politics
TO hope that the pine and the prairies will
some time join forces once more under
Democratic colors.
Elections have never been won by proph-
ecy. States have never been carried by
Boosting. Nevertheless the Democracy Of
the United States approach the contests o.
the year under smiling skies. To antici
pate victory in Illinois cannot be more ex-
travagant than to welcome it last Fall in
Ohio and Iowa or to applaud it this last
Spring in gallant little Rhode Island Mani
testify there is a powerful movement among
the masses in the direction of the party OF
the people Its consistent and resolute at.
titude in opposition, not less than in its
conservative and improving course of ad
ministration, has recommended it once more
AS the most wholesome and progressive force
ia public affairs.
Whatever the coming months may bring
forth, Democracy, in the light Of the Illinoi.
and Maine conventions, will be found true
TO Democratic colors There will be nc
backward step in its reform progress. No
matter who leads the onset, its contention
will be on lines consistently maintained.