The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-18

PRINCIPLES, NOT Men.
Tho Georgia Hlites have, it Is stated
placed over their headquarters in Atlanta 'ne
motto Measures. Not Men ms may "''
sound very well. but is it up to the practces
which the Hill men have invariably ihdu'seu
in?
When in November 1890. the telegraph an
nounced that the Democracy had swept 'he
country like a cyclone on account OF the UNI
versal opposition TO the Mckinley BILL the
Democratic party throughout the Union were
united. o. one men upon the issue OF arm ho-
form. aud by common consent Hon. uto'e'
Cleveland was accepted as the logical candi-
date Of the party upon that issue, because ne
had been more prominently identihed wi'h
Tariff Reform than any other OF the leading
men of tho Democracy. True Tariff Reform
had from time immemoral been Democratic
principle but year after year. and election
after election passed by without any decided
stand being taken. the party evidently being
afraid 10 agitate the subject lest 1t should
lose popularity by arrayng against u
the protective element Of the country.
IL was not until Grover Cleveland President
of the United States. with characteristic
courage Of bis convictions, first fear!essly
advanced the reform standard 10 the iront
that tie party openly arTayed Itself on tha'
line. and though beaten IN 1855 through tue
ignorance Of the people. yet two years later
after the seed sown By the campaign OF edu-
cation inaugurated by President Cleveland
4 IL d. s4o
pie won everywhere. and the elections con-
verted q bitter radical force-bil Congress
Republican in both branches, into House
twothirds Democratic, and Senate only
Republican by meagre majority which the
elections could not touch.
This recognition of Tariff Reform as tho
great and leading issue Of the Democratic
party in '92. with Grover Cleveland as the
logical candidate for President upon that
issue. remained unbrokon for many months
and would have continued unbroken until az
ter the approaching election. had not the mar
mony and unity OF the party been broken by
the ambition OF one man. who imagined that
he could, through his personal popularity
alone. change the condition Of affairs and get
himself nominated by the Democratic party.
lie set to work with VIM TO tie victofs
belong the spoils0 was his only motto, his only
idea Indeed le refused TO commit
himself to any principle, or to express
himself on any of the issues before the
country. and relied for success only by
making the spoils the fuel to furnish steam
for his machine. To this end he promised
dazzling place and position TO every one who
would help him. and through the desire OF
gain and greed for place with which he in
spired his adherents, he succeeded III getting
up a very respectable following, who, un-
mindful Of principle and carried away only
by hope Of reward in case Of success, at one
time threatened to throw the party into con-
fusion and produce chaos where harmony
had once regned.
This is the faction which now boasts that
they are in favor Of Measures, not Men"
But who are they who are really entitled 70
make that boast Only the friends of the
man who is always ready to sacrifice his am
bition TO his sense of right. and who always
places principle above all things else-Groyer
Cleveland. His friends do not support him
because be is Cleveland, nor because he is as
great as his party-that neither he nor any
o her man can be-but because he Is the
greatest living exponent Of the principles of
that party, and because in him they know
those principles will ever be honestly assert
ed and fearlessly championed. This is the
position of the friends of Grover Cleveland
and it is fortunate that they compose the
vast majority of their party-in fact, are now
their party while the spoilsmen are but a
faction. They. and they alone. have a right
to march under the banner Principles. not
Men,