Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-04-30
CLEVELAND AS A CRITIC.
A Speech of POnderOus Plati-
tudes

Grover Cleveland made his first public
appearance since he retired from the pres
idency in New York Saturday night at the
annual banquet of the Reform club. Rep
resentative gold-standard Democrats were
present. and 800 persons cheered the ex-
president when he arose to respond to the
toast "Present Problems His remarks
redounded with ponderous platitudes ar
raigning the silver Democrats and the Re-
pubicans, and pointing out that the duty
of the "true Democracy is to evangelize
the West. He said in part
1--WE are gathered here tonight as
patriotic citizens, anxious to do some-
thing toward reinstating the prosper
ity OF our fellow cOuntrymen and pro-
tecting the fair name OF our nation
against shame and scandal. On every side
We are confronted with popular depression
and complaint. These are largely due to
causes OF natural and certain recurrence,
as the inevitable accompaniment OF all
human endeavor, and perhaps they are as
largely due to the work OF agitatoIs and
demagogues who have busily sowed the
seeds Of discomfort, in order that in the
/ harvest they may reap personal advantage.
| Distressing Ills, real and imaginary have
been so constantly and luridly presented TO
the minds of honest men, that they are
tempted to accept, without taking counsel
Of reason or judgment, any nostrum cum
ningly offered as a remedy for their low
| condition. But even so promising a field
as this has not satisfied the designs of ruth
less agitators. While scattering the seeds
| of discomfort they have also cultivated
| growth of sectional and class suspicion and
| distrust which threatens to choke or
destroy that fraterna feeling which leads
to considerate counsel in the day of COM
mon misfortune and which is absolutely
essential to the success of our plan of gov
ernment. Those enlisted in this
crusade of discomfort and passion, pro-
claiming themselves the friends of the peo-
pie, exclude from that list all their country
men except those most unfortunate or un-
reasonable and those whom they themselves
have made the most discontented and
credulous.
This power, born of sordid greed, and
maintained by selfish interest and partisan
ambition, has at last assumed command,
and has largely recruited its waiting forces,
by intamng those inclined to be patient
with tales of AN ancient crime against their
rights to be avenged, by encouraging the
resistless and turbulent with hints of great
er license and by Offering 10 the poor as a
smooth road to wealth, and to those in
debt as plan for easy payment, and to
those who from any cause are unfortunate
and discouraged as a remedy for all their
ills, the free and unlimited and indepen-
dent coinage of silver at the rate of sixteen
to one, with a deprecated currency and
cheap money.
1T was a rude awakening for the negli-
gent and overcOntident, and day of terror
for sober and patriotic men when the bold
promoters of this reckless creed captured
the organization of a powerful political
party, and seizlng its banners shouted de-
fauce 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. None
can forget the doubt and fear of that bois-
ferrous and passionate campaign, when the
fate of the nation seemed in the balance
The danger of the situation arose from the
hasty impulse of those whose mis-
fortunes had been cruelty played upon, and
from the enthusiasm of unquestioning
:houghtless party fealty. The deliverance
came through the action of those who saw
the trick, and loved the principles of their
party too well to follow its stolen banners
in an attack upon those national safeguards
which party, as well AS patriotism, should
at all times defend.
Though the first engagement resulted
in the defeat of the combined forces oi
dangerous and unwholesome policies, g
survey of the field is by no means reassur
ing. The party placed in power as the re-
suit of splendid Democratic patriotism
has failed to meet the obligations of thu
peoples trust Its distinct campaign dec
laration that it was unreservedly in favo
of sound money, the character and con
trolling effectiveness of the support i
gained on the faith of that declaration, the
universal concession that the conflict of ii
nancal theories constituted the issue which
was passed upon by the sutfrages of th
people, and the country's pressing exigen
I cies and needs all demanded prompt ant
efficient action by the party intrusted will
power, in an effort to place our nations
S finances, adjusted to every popular need
, upon a safe and sure basis, approved b
( the business Judgment of the land, aud Sc
l cure from successful attack because de
, Tended by majority of the thoughtful
, honest men of all parties.
:. selves to this task the managers and repre-
sentatives of this victorious party, thes
e professed champions of sound finance
, have, before the eyes of an eXpectant pee
a pie, returned in hot haste to their wallow
S ing in the mire of extreme protection, OF
Tending millions of voters by their eXh
: bition of party's bad faith, and disgust
ing millions more by their unconcealed de
termination TO repay partisan support fror
the proceeds of increased burdens of taXS
tion placed upon those already overladen.
The latter part of the address was d'
voted to showing how the "true Demo
racy'' redeemed, regenerated and diser
thralled, is to bring peace and nations
safety.
How Cleveland Perverted the Facts
Grover Cleveland ought to know bett'
than to speak of the Republican party {
being placed in power by splendid Dem
cratic patriotism" Over 100000 Dem,
Gratis voted for free silver and mob Law
and the "true Democracy" to which M
Cleveland so enthusiastically refers, cast
total of less than 1873, 900 votes for Palm'
and Buckner. The vote for the gol'
Democratic ticket was not factor in Il
result of a single state. Had each gol
Democrat who cast his vote for Palm
q q and Buckner, cast his vote for Bryan, Il
le Mckinley column of electoral votes wou
| have been unchanged.