The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-09-24
The Democratic Position.


For the Democratic Advocate.
PIKEsvILLE, MD., September II, 1892.
MEssRs. EDITORS When on the 9th day
of November, 1888, o body of $500, 900
American voters, the grandest army of free
men who ever followed leader in the heat
and strife of political battle, had cast their
ballots for the Democratic candidates for
President and Vice President they were com
PEELED to witness the victory that was justly
theirs torn from their grasp, because in sim
gle state they had fallen short of plurality
of less than 5000 votes.
Had popular vote ruled they would have
enjoyed triumph of no mean magnitude, for
it was by plurality of nearly 100000 votes
that the country indicated its preference for
Grover Cleveland over his opponent, Benja-
min Harrison. In that contest the control Of
the Presidency, the Senate and the House Of
Representatives all passed from the hands of
Democracy. But the party from its defeat
was not discouraged, but gained new life and
energy to again battle for the sacred cause of
administering in the greatest nation of the
universe, a government of all the people,
by all the people, and for all the people.
Not merely for machine politicians, but for
the whole American nation. This has been
the doctrine of the Democratic party from the
day of its birth and baptism; it has been the
doctrine of Jefferson, its immortal founder;
of Madison, Monroe, jackson and host of
other gallant leaders. 1t smothered the null
LITIGATION schemes of John c. Calhoun, Crap
pied with the consolidation policy of Henry
Clay and swept away the United States Bank
when it became an object of oppression
against the rights of the people.
To keep the government pure and simple
and out of the hands of corporations, monop-
olies and syndicates has been the aim of the
Democratic party from the foundation of the
republic, and no honest man can justly deny
that such was its purpose four years ago, and
that such it remains today. By four years of
earnest and careful effort to improve the pub
lie service in all its branches, resulting in
large and increased benefits to the people,
the administration had right to expect a
continuance in power. In his adherence to
the cardinal principles of the constitution
Grover Cleveland had gone to the extreme
of cautioning officers of the government, in
Guiding all his personal appointees, to abstain
from all political work that might be deemed
as interfering with the rights of the people.
With the aid of his cabinet he had also
purified the army, replacing favoritism with
justice and fair dealing to all, in the face OF
the most persistent attempts to perpetuate
the scandalous scenes. They rendered
similar service for the navy, which at one
time was synonym for political corruption,
intrigue and extravaganza, and in the face of
enormous difficulties made great progress in
supplying that department with modern ships
and guns, so that in due course of time we
could take our place in line with the mari
time powers of the earth, in regard to naval
power. They also managed the fiscal affairs
of the country in an able and conservative
manner, maintaining the credit of the country
at home and abroad, and by its every word
and act the Democratic Administration of
1SS5S9 gave the lie to its enemies that the
national government would not be safe if
committed to its control and guidance. Could
party have had stronger or better position
And what was the result? When the party
took a decided stand in favor of some moder
ate reductions in duties, which would have
benefited no one so much as the manufactur-
ers of the Northern and Eastern States, the
fact that some of the Southern Democrats
were prominent in urging these reductions
and the fact also that every applicant who
applied for pension was not invited to put
his hand into the nations strong box and
help himself, caused such cry of indignation
to go up from the Republican party, that,
with the aid of the most consummate politi-
cal trickery, in addition to black treachery
in their own ranks, the Democratic Admins
tration was requested to relinquish the reins
of power that it had so ably handled.
The four years of the succeeding rule Of
Mr.. Harrison has nearly passed away and We
are again on the eve of a Presidential contest.
Already both of the parties have chosen their
candidates, and the candidates are the same
who led their respective parties in the pOliti
cal contest of 1888. The Republicans have
renominated Benjamin Harrison, and the
Democrats Grover Cleveland, and the cleo.
ton in November will decide who will be VIC
tor in the contest.
The Democratic party is interested in put
ting the country under Democratic control.
They believe that another defeat would result
in long term Of Republican rule, made GER
tain by the enforcement of a Federal Election
bill. The issues we are compelled to face
necessitates a stern and determined grapple
with an aggressive and powerful foe. We
must not under estimate the strength of the
Republican party, to do so is to invite defeat.
All the elements of our party must unite and
election. We believe that Mr.. Cleveland can
Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Indi-
ana, and several of the so-called doubtful
States of the West, that have heretofore been
in the Republican ranks.
The administration Of Grover Cleveland
was one of the best the country has ever ex
perieneed, and exerted most powerful infiu-
enoe in developing peace, order and good
will among the States and people, and if the
Democracy should be defeated at the ap-
preaching election the clock of the nation will.
be set back thirty years.
CHARLES l.. SHIPLEY.