Huntsville gazette., 1892-02-20
WHAT is DEMOCRACY7
Difference of Opinion as to What 1t
Really Means.

Difference of Opinion to What 1t
Really Means.
What appears to be much needed
just now at the opening of the presi-
dental campaign is an intellectual bu
reau that shall be able to explain what
is democracy. The democratic leaders
themselves seem to be in state of
confusion The country knows where
Mr.. Cleveland stands, but Mr.. Cleve-
land is one kind of democrat and the
democratic party is mostly another
kind. There is one feature in the life
and character of the ex-president that
men of all parties have respect for,
namely his manly and independent ad-
herence to his political convictions re-
gardless of the effect upon his political
fortunes. If not always right, he is
always courageous. Though virtually
repudiated by the election of Crisp as
speaker over Mills, Mr.. Cleveland ap-
peals from the decision of his party in
the house to his party outside the
house, and boldly fings out the gage
of battle to the triumphant faction of
his party.
son banquet, January g. Mr.. Cleveland
plainly serves notice on the Hill-Gor-
man Crisp com bination that the demo-
cratic party must stand by the platform
of 1888; that it will tolerate mo shifty
schemes and insincere professions"
that it is in mo mood for political
maneuvering," and twill not waste
time in studying conundrums, guessing
riddles, or trying to interpret doubtful
phrases" This indicates that the Cleve-
land forces are prepared to lock horns
with the Hill crowd in congress, and if
the astute Mr.. Springer attempts to
push through moderate tariff bill he
will encounter opposition in his own
party with a bill for the sweeping re-
peal Of the Mckinley tariff, involving
contest strictly between the Hill and
Cleveland factions, which the republic
ans would regard with great COM
placency, because it would inevitably
kill off both candidates and disinte
CRATE the democratic party.
Again the silver question, like the
tariff issue, is to the democratic party
a two-edged sword. Mr.. Springer, with
his usual adroitness, proposes to
sheathe it until the presidential war is
over. Mr.. Cleveland, with character
istic boldness, is willing to draw it
now. Mr.. Hill recommends the repeal
IF II, silver ICS Oh lo90. without n firm
ative action until after the presidential
struggle. 1t will be seen that the Hill
Springer policy is to ''palter with us in
a double sense" wriggling and shift
ing to evade discussion of the cur
rency question so that the democratic
position shall not be defined until the
presidential battle has been fought and
the hazard is passed. With such ire
concilable differences prevailing among
the party leaders both in and out of
congress, each claiming to preach pure
and unadulterated democracy, what
sort of discipline should be expected
among the rank and file? Who shall
decide what is democracy? Does it
mean party afraid of its principles?
1t would seem so, unless the free trade
issue is pushed to the front. Does it
mean that the free-silver fanatics have
struck their flag and surrendered to
the gold bugs" and that, so far from
treating the coinage question as para
mount, they will lay it over till the
second session Of the present congress
to prevent the fatal barrassment of
party division in 1892?
Not if Mr. Cleveland and his mug
wumpian phalanx can prevent it. The
Boston Reform club, which was the
nucleus of the republican bolt that
elected Cleveland president, and which
has been comatose since 1884, has lust
been resuscitated and rechristened as
the Columbian party. 1t demands, es-
sentially, that the democratic party
shall accept Mr.. Cleveland as presi-
dental candidate on platform of his
construction, which means free trade
and honest money. If the democratic
party refuses to do this, then, to quote
the words of Colum bian orator: 1--WE
shall infict defeat upon it in the next
election" This is an ominous declara-
tion. If the democratic congress is
wise it will promptly swear allegiance
to Grover Cleveland, then march to the
rear of the column and fall in behind
the Colum bian party y.-ChicagoGraphi