The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-25

StruCt the law OIHceTS Oh tlIC So'0iA'
ment to institute vigorous prosecu-
tions against Illegal trusts and mono
nolies. which. during the campaign,
he had promised to destroy. The only
answer was the presence of the attof-
nev for trusts and monopolies IN the
Office Of Attorney-General, Whose
vigilance in NOT prosecuting thetrusts
secured for him promotion to the pre-
miership of the administration.
These things, not to mention the
filing of judicial positions with the
tools of great corporations; the policy
of ignoring and trying to destroy every
Democrat of prominence who as
serted independence; the unnecessary
issue of bonds, under circumstances at
tended with grave suspicion, to enrich
the bondholders and gold spectators;
the continuation in every particular OF
the policy inaugurated in the Treasury
Department by John sherman; the
contempt of the doctrine of the soVer-
eighty of the States, and other VIOLA
tions of time honored Democratic
principles, estranged and outraged the
Democratic masses in every State IN
the Union. W hen the election OF 1894
was held almost every State III the
Union, including five Southern States,
that had been Democratic under all CIR
cumstances and changes, were carried
by the Republicans, who waged no
campaign except denunciation OF the
Cleveland administration. This repu-
diation caused no change in the Presl-
dents programme. Determined to de-
strov every man of ability who did not
bow the knee the administration for
ces were employed in Kentucky TO
crush Senator Blackburn, with the re-
suit of making the State Republican
for the first time in quarter OF
century.
The sum total of the effect OF Mr.
Cleyeland's policy, which he persisted
in against the advice of the Democrats
in every Democratic State in the Union,
was to discourage the Democrats, in
crease the strength of Populism, and
render Republican success sure in two
thirds of the States of the Union if
approved by the party in convention
If he and his adherents could have
said: ut is true that the Presidents
policy is unpopular in the South and
! West. but it has strengthened the par
/ tv in the North and East, and endorse
merit of the policy will make the party
invincible in those populous sections =
if this had be true. there might have
been some argument that. would ap-
peal to some party men, for endorsing
the administration, though it could
have had no weight with genuine be-
levers in silver. But the friends of
! Mr.. Cleveland were forced to admit
that his policy had cost triumphant
Democracy the control of the State of
New York: had given New Jersey and
Delaware a Republican Governor for
the first time in twenty-five years;
had made Connecticut hopelessly Re-
publican, and trebled the Republican
majority in the other gold States
, They were bound to admit that gold
plank and gold platform would Sc
, cure McKinley's election, and yet they
fought for it, preferring personal en-
dorsement to a victory at the polls
| They did not deny-they cannot deny
! that people who want gold stand
ard have no confidence in the Dems-
cratic party's friendship for that bond
breeding, tax-increasing, industryde-
stroying policy. If we are to have
gold standard, the Republican party
ought logically to be in power. They
demonetized silver; they made coin
obligations payable in gold; they pass
ed the act under which recent bonds
have been issued; they first made the
, Treasury a mere branch of the New
York bank syndicate; and they have
constituted Mr.. Ueveland's chief sup
porters in his policy of carrying out
the measures they began. Not only so,
but at the ST. Louis Republican Ma
tional convention, the Republican par
ty was pledged to maintain the single
gold standard, thus endorsing Cleve-
land and Sherman together. 1t is in
return for this endorsement, no doubt,
that Mr. Cleveland viii seek to secure
the election of Mckinley, treading upon
and repudiating his party principles.
and going back on his own statement
that Democrats ought ''to submit to
the ar'bitrament of the National con-
vention." He probably meant that
silver Democrats ought to submit
when they were outvoted, but to ask
the gold men to do likewise, recalls the
old fable in the blue-back spelling
book about the reply of the lawyer to
the farmer whose OK was gored.
IF Mr. Cleveland owed his first allie
glance to the Democratic party, or
if he believed the collective Judgment
of his party was superior to his own,
he would have gotten rid of the boilers
in his cabinet and begged Hoke Smith
to remain. But he long ago came to
think that he was wiser than his party,
and learned to lean on New York bank |
ers, who have made fortunes by reason
of the Presidents favoritism, instead |
Of consulting with the strong men OF |
the party.
The President has come to the part |
ing of the ways. At Chicago the Demo- |
Gratis refused to permit the party to |
longer be made the agent of the money |
syndicate, and pledged return to the |
days when Democracy meant the rule |
of the people-not of the money chan |
gers. The time was, before his associ- |
alton with the Morgans and the Bel |
monts, that Mr.. Cleveland would have |
approved the patriotic utterances of
that convention Of free men. He has |
gradually drifted away from the heart |
of the great common people, and come