The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-18
THE NEWS MAIL BAG.
Why Was II Thus?

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS;
SIR-Years past, for quite a period, tho
stalwart, unterrified, unwashed Demo
cracy OF Providence aud vicinity have
made quite gala day of the 9Th OF jan
uary, the anniversary OF the battle
OF New Orleans. cstensibly to
honor General subsequently Presi-
dent Jackson, hero in army and a
statesman in civic life. Nothing of this
kind this year; Democratic enthusiasm
and patrio ism seems To have been corked
up. Ia former times they had free flow.
Oratory was imported from Boston, elo-
quence from New York, sandwiches with
grandioquencs from Maine Nothing OF
the kind this year; no celebration un-
less individual, in some GIN mill or
back shop of some corner grocery.
Why was it thus? Why such back set?
Why was the registering silent in Tara's
Hall? Alas, has the fine gold OF Demo-
cracy become pinchbeck and its patriot
ism worm eaten like the Treasury? Or
did spell come over the Faithful in view
OF that White House dinner recently,when
Grover and David crossed legs under the
table TO enjoy q delectable menu OF
crow-soup and cuckoo broth? Oh, that
was pitiable scene, as much 80 as that
which Cassins once pictured as occurring
in the Tiber, when he and the great
Caesar" plunged into the "angry flood"
to swim to a point Mt a distance. But
the "great Caesar" made q failure and
finding he could not stem the roar
ing torrent, exclaimed, "Help me Cas-
sius or / sink" So now has that event.
full time has been paralleled. The Presi-
dent Is in a roaring torrent, but the
yeasty waves are too much for him.
No life preserver will fit him, and in his
extremity he exclaims in his agony OF
soul: Help me, David, or sink. David
rushes In, but / fear too late. Fate, in
exorable fate, has marked Grover Cleve-
land and the Democratic party. Coming
into power overw whelmingly, majorities
have melted away, and as time moves on
the President Is constantly losing his
grip and there are only handful to pay
him reverence.
Under these circumstances 1t was
forlorn business to attempt a celebration
in these Plantations. Domestic matters
have been at loose ends for months and the
cutting and carving OF the offices has
been Herculean. Mr.. Owen, chairman OF
the State committee, has repeatedly
visited Washington. even leaving the
speakers chair for tho purpose But ef-
forts have not materialized at all satisfac-
tory. There have been too many mouths
for the teats there has not been one-tenth
enough to go around. So jealousies and
chickering's have arisen, the frauds being
carried into the wards aud large towns,
caucusses in many cases partaking OF tie
character of Donnybrook Fair. SO in
the posture of affairs at the capital and at
home, we possibly find an answer to the
ouaatfon tXNby vyoa ~ thua9,
Providence was not alone in the nom
observance of the day, showing that dis
affection is becoming widespread, and
men are discovering the cheating involved
in the name of Democracy. The profes-
sions Of the politicians are allshallow pre-
tense. They conjure with the names Of
Jefferson, Madison and jackson to juggle
with the people. They have no clearly
defined policy, no well-digestcd system
OF economy, not a single coherent
idea which can evoke o COM
prehensive statesma anship. Indeed,
they never have had since the party went
down In the Whig boom OF 1S40. Since
that time the party has been only buzz
zard trimmed in the stolen feathers OF the
peacock. For Grover Cleveland, his re-
tainers, henchmen and followers to claim
afiiliation with Andrew Jackson, thereby
dragging him down to their low level, is
more than political blasphemy; the
"offense Is rank it smells to heaven"
have written rs / have because en-
Enthusiastically hailed his election to the
Presidency in 1923, his reelection in 1882,
and during his two terms was impressed
with his craftsmanship and steady at
tempt TO check the encroachments on the
rights and liberties of the people by
the Bank Power, which sought to
dominate, and, in fact, become the
government. i was Jacksonian
then, and as events have unfolded
they vindicated the accuracy OF my
judgment in sustaining the policy he
pursued. Being Jacksonian l am
jealous of the name ana fame of the Old
Hero and shall ever stand ready TO defend
him and denounce the pretenders TO De-
mocracy, who would mask themselves be-
hind his great personality TO play tricks
that would make angels weep and devils
laugh.
Az Orn JAc,EaoN MAN