The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-08-30
IHg PRESIDENTS MISSION.
Standing OF the Democratic Chief Ex-
ecutiys with His Party


ecutivs with His Party.
Mr.. Watterson's observations about
third term for President Cleveland
are vigorous and full OF shrewdness, IL
not in the highest degree compliment
tary. He maintains that the president
cannot be renOminated, that il he
were nominated he would Eot carry a
single congressional district in the
United States. and that she man is "a
fool or craven tool who thinks that
Mr.. Cleveland will be considered one
of the greatest statesmen of the coun-
try. But why this heat?
President Cleveland believes in a
tariff for revenue only, and has really
lifted his party above itself in forcing
it to make a determined fight for one.
of its traditional principles. If demo
cratic principles deserve any honor
whatever, the president has in his
particular been one of their foremost
champions Possibly Mr. Watterson
may have observed that the only an
nual message ever devoted by presi-
dent to one controverted topic was in
spired by Mr.. Cleveland's anxiety to
sweep out OF his way other aspirants
for the democratic nomination. But
if that is true, it is still the fact that
he led the way to the only complete
victory his party has won for more
than thirty years, and if its fruits
prove Dead sea apples, that is the fault
of the democratic theories and prin-
ciples, and not of the president who
tried 10 get them adopted The battle
for tariff reform, as he and his friends
would term it, results in disaster to
his party, not because he yielded or
wavered or compromised, but because
the kind of tariff which his party has
for half a century constantly demand
ed is one which prostrates American
industries. Mr.. Watterson himself has
been for many years bold and uncom-
promising advocate of such a tariff.
Why is it that he cannot find words of
praise for the president who has
brought democratic theories to some
thing like practical test?
Mr.. Wattcrson also believes in sound
money. He must admit that in this
respect the president is much nearer
right than the great majority of his
party. lie has not been altogether
consistent, it is true. His advocacy of
the state bank scheme would deserve
the severest denunciation from Mr..
WattersOn, though it does not appear
that this IS the basis or cause of the
distinguished kentucESian's hostility.
AS to silver, the president has not been
entirely consistent, but no other dem
ocratlc leader has managed TO lift him
self so far above the vicious and de-
structive tendencies of his party, and
if ne has thereby made himself pro-
foundly hated by democrats it does not
appear that Mr.. Watterson ought for
that reason 20 censure him.
Presumably President Cleveland
could not be elected third time, but
it may be his destiny TO dictate his own
denomination, and by doing SO to in
sure more complete defeat for his
party than IL would meet with any
other candidate. Indeed, il looks as if |
the denomination of the president
would simply destroy the democratic
party as 4 coherent political force, and
briag about the permanent rupture
which has so long been threatened and
with so much difficulty avoided. The
southern and western democrats would
probably go over TO populism in great
numbers, if they had TO ochoose between
support OF President Cleveland and
abandonment of their party But this
might after all be the greatest and
crowning service of the president to
his country. II it snould prove his
mission TO abolish the democratic
party, and TO put an end to its chances
of success, he would have some claim
to the gratitude of Americans.-N. Y.