The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-09
A Friendly Suggestion for Gray Gables

"
cupant Of Gray Gables. the Democratic can
didutc for President.
During the serious and very practical
campaign which has now begun so auspi-
cously for the Democracy, it might be
better not to write any mora letters like
that addressed to the Tammany Society on
the occasion of its Fourth of July cclcbra-
tion, and from which this is en- extract
~ am satisfied ;ha. tho Tammany Society will not
lose tho opportunity the occasion 1rls teach that
tho Declaration u; Independence was movement on
the part of p,opc determined to govern then selves
that the patriotism ptrcs enjoins unScsh care for
cOuntry's welfare that political rndeavor IA Unly
safe and useful when undertaken in the peoples inter
eat: and that political organization ia only effective
ano successful when approved nMi trusted by m
ineihgcn. popular judgment"
Rurus CHoArE called the Declaration OF
Independence "a tissue Of rlittcrinfs gen
eralities:" but it is not SO by an" means. K
is very husinesslkc document. 1t starts
out with laying down briefly certain general
and "sclf-evidcnt" political principles, rs,
for instance. the right to sclf-govcrnmCnt,
and then proceeds to rccitc specifically and
describe precisely twenty-scvcn causes OF
grievance which the American colonies had
against the British crown. and which justi-
fed them in dissolvlns "a!l political con-
nccton between them and the State Of
Great Britain" and setting up Govern
mcnt for themselves and of themselves.
It is n simple end straightforward state
mcnt Of Democratic doctrine prepared by
the great founder of the Democracy.
There is no bosh in 1t. and no pretence OF
unselhshness is made in it. The Dcclara-
ton of Independence is justified solely on
the ground OF self-interest. when q
long train Of abuses and usurpations. pur-
suing invariably the same object. evinces
n design to reduce them under absolute
despotsm." says the immortal document.
Z" it is their right. it is their duty. to throw
OF such Government. and to pro-
vide new guards for their future
security" 1t proceeds on the principle laid
down by st. PAUL that -" If any provide not
for his own. and specially for those of his
own house. he hath denied the faith The
colonies threw OFF the yoke OF Great Britain
simply because they were satisfied that
they could get along better without it.
There was no humbug about them. They
were too much in earnest and they had too
much at stake for false pretences. After
looking over the situation. they made up
their minds that they could afford the risk
of fighting for their independence. and they
set about the job in a businesslike way.
In such q way Tammany Hall proceeds
at all times. 1t is an organization of sem
sible and hard-headed men, and not Of
wishy-washy Mugwump sentimcntalists.
1t is selfish so far as concerns its sole devo-
ton to the interests OF the Democracy;
but. as "our country's welfare" depends
on the triumph Of Democratic princi-
pies. that Is very desirable selfshness.
OF course. political organization can
not be effective and successful" unless
it Is approved and trusted by an intelli-
gent popular judgment" 1t must get the
votes Of the Intelligent people. 1t does not
appeal to idiots for support. It must bring
people to the polls on election day. and in
duce them to vote for its ticket and it cannot
do that without convincing their judgment
and stimulating their partisan sentiment.
1t wants to electits own candidates. 1t does
not pretend to be unseltlsh. 1t is selfish
always and wholly. and SO is the Demo-
cratic party everywhere. 1t wants to hold
the power and to rule. 1t goes into po-
litical campaign as into battle where.
as BoURKE COCHRAN said at Chicago. it
SlNCo III dudilcl dlu cAptCLs uOle IL uOtS
not throw away tho fruits OF victory. but
takes them to the full. leaving the enemy
empty and despoiled. 1t organizes the
Democracy In order to win practical and
not sentimental victory. Democratic tri-
umph which does not bring absolute Dem
ocratic rule is vain and worthless.
Instead OF writing to the Tammany De-
mocracy such gcneralities as we have quot
ed Mr.. CLEVELAND would have done well
to join with them in making opposition to
the Force bill and Negro Domination tho
keynote Of this canvass That is a square
Democratic Issue, and it unites the Democ-
racy everywhere. The Force bill, to Dor
row the words OF the Declaration Of indie
pendence. Is an attempt ito extend an un-
warrantable jurisdiction" over sovereign
States. and the Democracy rises to resist
1t as did the Revolutionary Fathers the ag-
gressions Of the British King Thcy are
not going out to fight political windmills.
but to resist dangerous practical assault
upon the liberties OF States. They have
heavy work before them. and they cannot
be made strong for 1t on diet OF political
oatmeal cruel.
When Mr.. CLEVELAND has occasion here
| after to write or speak to the Democratic
| people in this campaign. let him follow the
example Of the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence. and state boldly and precisely
the cause for which the Democratic
party are fighting: the preservation OF
the Government by the overthrow Of
the unwarrantable jurisdiction which
the Force bill proposes to establish and the
prevention of the Negro Domination which
it would set up. instruction in the primer
Of the duties OF citizenship is not needed by
them. Tammany. especially. does not
need any kindergarten lessons in politi-
cal organization "A single practical idea
Is worth more than mountain of owlish
political moralizing.