The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-08
Tho Burden Of CIevelandism.

Two noted members of the former Demo-
cratic party, the Hon.. HENRY WArTERsoN
of Louisville and the Hon. HoKE SMITH of
Atlanta, have been discussing the Hon.
GROVER CLEVELAND as an actor in the poll
tics of the day. Mr.. WATTERsoN has been in
times past far moro OF an admirer than a
critic of Mr.. CLEvELAND's public perform
ances, and Mr.. SMITH was once a member
of a Cleveland Cabinet. Two years ago
both of these gentlemen were firm in their
advocacy Of the Governments honorable
maintenance of its historic gold standard
of money, Mr.. SMITH having defended
1t with marked ability and impressive
evidence Of conviction In q memorable
debate between himself and the late
Speaker CRISP, who was on the other side.
To-day Mr.. WATTERsoN is as he was In re-
spect of the coinage question, whereas Mr..
SMITH turned a year ago, when the Democ.
racy turned, and Is o for the party plat
form Of free silver. Together these gentle
men have been expressing opinions pom
the last Democratic President as a candi-
date for a third term. which, apart from
their relevancy or irrelevancy to the posi-
bilities Of the future, may spread some use
full understanding Of Mr.. CLEvELAND's
peculiar relation to public affairs.
Mr.. WATTERsoN has spoken with prompt
ness and well sustained vigor upon the re-
cent Reform Club banquet in New York,
where ex-President CLEVELAND, still fresh
from having caused the wreck of the Ma
tional Democracy. with the attendant and
still continuing perils to the financial
honor and social order of the United States,
was showed to the front a. a guide for Dem.
ocratic Reorganization and Populist sup
preston. Mr.. WATTERsoN saw first and
last In that dinner and It's speech what he
has seen in every political affair with
which Mr.. CLEVELAND has been connected,
namely, a scheme to get him nominated for
the Presidency, a Cleveland third-term
movement; and he acclaimed against it like
a Democrat from whom the last faint OF
cuckooism had disappeared. He felt that
the real purpose of the dinner was to keep
Mr.. CLEVELAND before the public, and that
beyond that there was no serious purpose.
He resented the idea that the gold Demo-
Gratis, stalwart defenders OF the national
honor and the hope of Democratic regene,
ration, should be made worse than useless
to both causes through being shackled to the
hAaohh ait
now publicly odious devotion of Mr.. CLEvE
LAND to his own fortunes. Mr.. WArTERsoN
knows, in common with other people, that
C~LEvELAND's desire and effort for a third
term in 1896 drove asullen but determined
Democracy into the arms of the Populists,
and precipitated upon the country the very
danger against which Mr.. CLEVELAND posed
in opposition. The Courier-Journal will
have none of thisa again II it can help IT.
Possibly the dinner members of the Re
form Club. protested supporters of the golt
standard. have thought that they had erret
In thus jerking Mr.. CLEVELAND to hi
legs after he had been ignominiousl.
but effectually Frustrated. Possibly
touch of shame at their utter inability t,
make any satisfactory explanation O
their gratuitous parade OF him. led then
and their newspaper allies to try to ridicul
Mr.. WATTERsoN for fantastic imagination
and far-fetched timidity. Their treat
ment of the situation has ELECTED an In
structive continuation of the theme iron
Mr.. WAT1ERsoN, who hopes with the san
guine confidence Of gallant spirit for tn
Reorganization of the Democratic party OF
the old lines.
, awning LOT tHo moment, says Tn
| Courier-JOurnal, "Mr. CLEvKLANp's ante
l cedents and the odium that attaches itsel
I to his name with the overwhelming ms
jority of Democrats in the West and South
+. his temperance upon the scene would a
once change the issue from one of SCUM
+ economics to that Of a third term OF tn
Presidency, a fatal transfer on the yer
: threshold. Our whole purpose" continue
, the Courier-JourTal, sis to warn sount
money Democrats, particularly in the We
and South, against the schemes of a sma.
: body of persons, who, however u~nimportan
in themselves, may have 1t in their powe
, to 80 muddle and distort a noble cause, an
a to SO bend a great movement to ignoble an
Q selfish issues, represented In the person
t Mr.. CLEVELAND, as in the end actually I
/ play into the hands of the free silverites."
t While the Mugwumps endeavor I
Q squelch the Kentuckian with levity, I'll
!, Atlanta Journal, the Hon. BoKE SMITH
n organ, which speaks now for the million