The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-31
The Socialist Labor Party and Mr.
Cleveland

AS the letter published in THE Sun YES.
terday from Mr.. HENRY KUHN, the Score.
tary of the State Committee of the Socialist
Labor party in New York, deserves further
consideration, we reprint it here
To THE EDITOR OF THE suS-Sir: have read with
good deal OF mirth your editorial article in to-day
issue headed: rs Mr.. CLEVELAND for the Popuiists 1
The Joke is good. very good. But there is one
serious aspect about It, and that is the attempt to
fasten Mr.. CLEVELAND upon us
As Socialists we are accustomed to being handled
by the capitalist press without much compunction.
But this is decidedly much We object We protest
Mr.. CLEVELAND clearly and obviously belongs to
what styles itself the Democracy. Every pound and
every ounce OF him theirs. and can III AFFORD to
have you throw him upon us. We can't stand It.
HENRY KUHN, Secretary.
HEADorARrERs STATE COMMITTEE SOCIALIST LABOR
PARTY OF THE STATE OF NEW York. NEW YORK. Oct. "a.
We can think OF but one explanation why
the Socialist Labor party should deny
GROVER CLEVELAND as one of its members
BY the record his title to belong to that
organization is so far broader and stronger
than that OF any member on its enrolment
list, that, upon a comparison Of credentials
we do not believe any Socialist will have the
face to put himself in competition.
In the first place, Mr.. CLEVELAND, like
the Socialists, is, in this election, OPP
posed to the Democratic party on its
most important battle ground. He is doing
what he can in the ways OF his own
selfshness, to defeat the Democratic candi-
date for Governor. No one would for an
instant suppose that this was for the bene-
fit Of the Republicans. The Republicans
have never been either friends or worship
pers of Mr.. CLEVELAND. Prohibition being
out of his sympathies, the Socialist Labor
party remains his one natural ally.
On the question of party principles what
page Of Socialist literature contains any
more infammatory expressions than the
many memorable CLEVELAND eruptions
during election time against capital and
capitalists, from his miserable apology for
the Homestead atrocities to his recent char
acterization of trusts as the " communism
OF pelf'' Yet these are only words. The
greatest deed of Socialism yet known to this
country, the establishment of the income
tax in time Of peace, taken directly from the
Socialist party platform and passed in the
name Of party historically pledged against
it, has no parallel in the doings of any other
Socialist The Socialist Labor party put it
INTO ltS PLATFORM. III renamed Tor CLENE-
LAND to put it into the national legislation.
Mr.. KUHN's letter must have been
prompted by the conviction that no man
is worthy to be admitted TO Socialistic fell
lowship, who, despite otherwise unique
qualifications, is ashamed to display his
colors openly. The statesman who de
nounces trusts as the communism OF pelf,
and has for his familiar friend one of the very
magnates of trustism, and fattens on the
latters hospitality after substantially de
him as a robber; or who, despite
his adoption Of the Socialist Labor platform
still strives TO be known as a Democrat,
can bring neither satisfaction nor honor
to any party.
The fact that to-day no party will &C
knowledge GROVER CLEVELAND, should
serve TO clear the sight Of all eyes to the
permanent lines Of American politics All
Democrats in New York, even those at
tached by the habits of superficial partisan
ship to the Republican organization, will
and should vote for DAVID BENNETT HILL