Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-07-17
Another Prop Knocked Out.

The few Democratic anti. Cleveland papers
in the South have been parading with de-
light resolution adopted by Democratic
county convention at Vicksburg, Miss, in
which ex-President Cleveland was CEN
sured for his alleged failure to put himself
on record in opposition to the force bill dur
ing its tendency before the United States
Senate at Its last session. Assuming that
this charge was true, the papers referred to
have been unsparing in their condemnation
Of Mr.. Cleveland for his alleged want of
sympathy with the Southern people. But
this charge, like other charges against Mr..
Cleveland's democracy, is easily disposed OF.
On the 9Th OF January last, weeks before the
force bill received its death blow, Mr.. Cleve
land delivered an address before the Young
Mems Democratic Club of Philadelphia, In
response to the toast, "The Principles of
True Democracy; They are enduring be-
cause they are right, and invincibe because
they are just" 1t was a speech of great
vigor and eloquence, and In it Mr.. Cleve-
land thus summed up the principles of the
democracy as announced by the illustrious
founder OF the party; "They comprise equal
and exact justice to all men; peace, com
merce and honest friendship with all ma
tions-entangling alliance with none; the
support OF the State governments in all their
rights; the preservation of the general gov
ernment in its whole constitutional vigor |;
a jealous care Of the right Of election By the
people absolute acquiescence in the decis-
ions OF the majority; the supremacy of the
civil over the military authority; economy
in the public expenses; the honest payment
OF our debts and sacred preservation of the
public faith; the encouragement of agricul.
ture, and commerce as its handmade, and
freedom of religion, freedom of the press
and freedom of the person" But Mr. Cleve
land did not stop here. Having in mind
the iniquitous force bill, he said: when we
see our political adversaries bent upon the
passage of a federal law, with the scarcely
denied purpose Of perpetuating partisan
supremacy, which invades the States with
election machinery designed TO promote
federal interference with the rights of the
people in the localities concerned, discredit-
ing their honesty and fairness and justly
arousing their jealousy of centralized power,
we will stubbornly resist such dangerous
and revolutionary scheme, in obedience to
our pledge for the support Of the State gov
ernments in all their rights"
Following this was scathing denuncia.
ton of the debauchery of the ballot by the
Republican party. "a departure from the
sound and safe theory that the people should
support the government for the sake of the
benefits resulting to all, said Mr.. Cleveland,
"has bred sentiment, maniiesting itself
with astounding boldness, that the govern
ment may be enlisted in the furtherance and
advantage of private interests through their
willing agents in public place. Such an
abandonment OF the idea of patriotic polit-
cal action on the part of these interests has
naturally led to an estimate Of the peoples
franchise 30 degrading that il has been open.
ly and palpably debauched for the promo
ton of selfish schemes. Money is invested
in the purchase of votes with the deliberate
calculation that it will yield profitable re-
turn in results advantageous TO the investor.
Another crime akin to this in motive and
design is the intimidation by employers of
the voters dependent upon them for work
and bread" This speech, in which Mr..
Cleveland denounced the force bill as "a
dangerous and revolutionary scheme" was
furnished in full by the Associated Press,
and was published in the papers, seme Of
which now charge him with not having
raised his voice against it. Thus another