The times., 1897-04-25
He Abuses the Party That Thrice
HOnored Him.
SPEECH AT THE REFORM CLUB
Calls the Men Who Made Him Pres
dent "Dernngogues and Agitators
Who Are Trying to Cover the
Fair Fame of the Country With
Shame and Scandals"

eX-PteSident OF the United STATES, ulS-
| cussed ''P resent Problems tonight, at
| the tenth annual dinner of the Reform
the Waldorf The problems which he de-
voted himself to are political and party
questions Mr. Cleveland read his speech.
| He mas not Improved as reader. With
| eyes glued to his manuscript, most of the
time he delivered himself of what he had
| to say in dreary monotone.
Mr.. Cleveland was in the house of his
| friends, how ever a nd the 500 admirers, who
crowded the banquet-hall, wildly ap-
| plauded all his utteranccs. The gallery was
crowded with ladies, among whom were
Mrs. John G. Carlisle and Mrs Charles
| s. Fairchild.
1t was 9.2O when the coffee was reached
John Dewitt Warner, the president Of the
club made a short speech and then intro
duced the eX-President, for whom three
cheers were given.
Mr.. Oeveland's reading was interrupted
with repeated cheers and laughter. much
of which was misplaced The inopportune
ness VI JiliS was 81 III ohC NStoC
that MFR. CLEVELAND mildly chided the enthu-
sasts for laughing at a solemn warning
Mr. Cleveland spoke In part as follows:
we are gathered here tonight as pa
tliotic citizens, anxious to do some thing
toward renstating the prosperity of our
fellow countrymen and protecting the
fair fame of our nation against shame
scandal on every side we are con-
complaint These are largely due to the
work Of agttators and demagogues, who
have buSily sowed the seeds Of diSCon-
tent in order that In the harvest they
may reap personal advantage. While
scattering the seeds of discomfort they
have also cultivated growth of sec
tional and class suspicion and distTusJ,
which threatens TO choke or destroy that
fraternal feeling which leads to cunsid
crate counsel in the day of common mis-
fortune, and which is absolutely essen
tial TO the success of our plan OF Govern
| ment
1t was q rude awakening for the negli-
gent and over-confident and day OF terror
for sober and patriotic men when the bold
promotes OF this reckless creed captured
the organization OF powerful political
party, and seiZing its banners shouted de-
fiance To the astonished conscience and
conservatism of the country. Hosts of
honest men, in blind loyalty, gathered be
hind the party flag they had been aCcus-
toned to follow, failing to discover that
their party legends had been effaced. The
| deliverance came through the action of
those who saw the trick, and loved the
principles of their party too well TO follow
its bann ers n an attack upon those national
safeguards, which party, as well as pa
tIiotism, should at all times defend.
Though the first engagement resulted
| in the defeat OF the combined forces Of
dangerous and unwholcsOme policies, sur
vey of the field is by no means rcassuring-
The party placed in power as the result of
splendid Democratic patriotism has failed
to meet the eobligations Of the people trust
Instead of addressing themselves to
this task, the managers and representatives
of this victorious party-these profcssed
| champions of sound finance-have, before
the eyes of an expcctant people, returned
in hot haste to their wallo wing in the
mire of extreme protection, offending mil
lions of voters by their exhibition of
party's bad faith, and disgusting millions
more by their unconcealed determination
to reDay partisan support from the pro
Ceeds of increased burdens OF taxation
placed upon those already overladen-'
After declaring that the "allied forces
of calamity are still active and aggressive,
which should warn all true Democrats to
the danger they are in" Mr.. Cleveland
gave his definition of what he considered
sound Democratic doctrine, saying that
it did not mean blind partisanship and
spoils He said:
above all things, true Democracy in
sists that the money of the people should
be sound and stable, neither shrivelling
in purchasing power, in the hands Of the
poor, nor by its uncertain value, driving
enterprise and productive energy into
hiding
Those who believe that a crisis is at
hand can hardly fail to see that the party
in power is SO Joined to its idol of mad
protection and is so completely doomed
to popular condemnation, that it is a
useless instrument of defence against the
impending peril
Il do not fear that I shall be accused
of sinister designs, untitled to the at
mosphere of this occasion, If 1 insist that
the path OF duty and the best hope OF
safety lie In an immediate and earnest
attempt to accomplish the rehabilitation
and regeneration of the Democratic party
and it's return to the principles of true
Democracy. In q large part of the coun-
try, where financial error is most general,
the Democratic name can best arouse the
political sentiment OF the people there,
as everywhere in our land. The people
can be trusted to arrive at correct
conclusion if they have adequate oppor
tunity for examination and inforina ton.
The task is not an easy one, but surely,
it is not hopeless. The better we appre-
ciate It's magnitude, the less Will be the
danger OF ineffective and misguided effort.
The work has already been tnaugurated
by the creation of an organization founded
upon declaration of Democratic prin-
ciples so sound, SO clear, and so patriotic
that they should rally to their support
every true Democrat, and supply an In
spiration for bidding defeat
"But if relief under the restored flag
OF true Democracy, is late in coming, we
VIII not despair, but will remember that
a just cause is never lost, and on our
camping ground, we will work and walt,
with approving conscience and Instant
faith, declaring, like the sturdy, old, un-
recanting German reformer: Here we
stand-we cannot do otherwise-God help
u.s."
Among the other speakers were John
G. Carlisle, and ex-Postmas ter General
Wilson. Mr. Carlisle took strong ground
against any silver legislation whatever,
declaring that the only safety lay In
firm adherence to the gold standard.