The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-07-26
CLEVELAND And HIS LITTLE
CRITICS.


CRITICS.
The congressional convention OF
yesterday was well attended, at least
60 delegates being in attendance. All
the counties of the district were
represented with but one exception
Yet a convention with only 6O dele
gates can hardly be considered OF such
size as to forbid the free and open dis
cussion and adoption or rejection Oh
resolutions. Yet this or some other
reason dictated the appointment Of
committee on resolutions and the star
chamber proceedings incident thereto
At the proper time three resolutions
we're offered in open convention one
indorsing Cleveland in ringing
terms, another Joe Sayers ana
the third calling for making the Bra
EOS river navigable. With these three
resolutions the committee with all
possible dignity retired for consulta'
ton. For half hour they labored
terribly and then wholly ignoring
the third resolution, they reported to
the convention the miserable, cow
ardly makeshift noted in our local re-
port. The gag law was put on, dis
cussion cut off, the committees re-
port was adopted and the convention
Immediately and hurriedly adjourned
as if ashamed of itself or in 1ear that
somebody was after it.
THE STATESMAN guarantees toat
there is not true Democrat In the
Ninth congressional district, If he
could have seen how the thing
was done and if he will read
between the lines and see what ls
meant by the resolutions, but that
will be ashamed of his party.
Had any member of that convention
read the superb letter of Grover Cleve-
land on the tariff question which
Thursday electrified the congress OF
our nation and yesterday caused every
honest tariff retormer, or true Demo-
crat, to rejoice that America had pro-
duced such magnificent man of hon
est, answering convictions and with
the bravery to give his advice at such
q momentous crisis? Did he not in
that letter reach the acme of Demo-
cratic greatness-if Democracy has
meant anything by its quarter OF a
century struggle for tariff reform?
Did he not in that letter, as in every.
thing else he does, prove himself a
noble man, q consistent and broad-
gagged statesman. the loyal friend of
American interests, and a Democrat
of spotless reputation? Who in that
convention who wished to deprive
him of the poor need of praise be so
richly deserved, was worthy to unite
the latchets of his shoes in anything
that goes to make up craftsmanship
or Democracy?
Now, Cleveland was not all issue In
yesterdays convention and he GER
tainly can exist without its approval
or even with lis disapproval. But
when he was brought into the con
vention, as Democrats the delegates
should have treated him fairly and
Justly. He certainly did not deserve
the condemnation implied in thu
praise OF 80 Democratic congress and
president" What congress has don'
that the nation should be grateful TO
we fail to see, except when under tn,
spur of Cleveland's urging it repealed
the Sherman silver law. For eigh
long months it has uallied with tn
most important question of all to tn
commerce and general welfare of tn
people, and yet the tariff seems ia
from being settled. Do they deserv
praise or blame for this? And ye
after all these weary months of della,
the very day after Cleveland icon
trary to all precedent, yet urged o.
by the gravity of the situation an
his desire to truly serve the people
PUSHES into the breach and plead
with congress to do its duty, and wit
Democrats to be true to their prime
, ples; the very day after this exhit
ition of craftsmanship and loyalty, "
of the Ninth congressional distriC
have the assurance to damn him wit
b the feeble praise given congress.
Is it any wonder that trIs men be
Il come disgusted with the workings
, that mystical business called polite
b and yearn to relegate forever to OF
livion the political boss and CONVEX
ton big man?
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