The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-05-05
CLEVELAND'S SPEECH
AT THE BANQUET THE NEW YORK
REFORM CLUB

The Hon. W. J. Bryan writes as
follows to the New York Journal ir
commenting on the recent speech OF
Ex.Pressident Cleveland before the
Reform Club of New York:
The presence of MIR. Cleveland, two
members of his cabinet and such emf
nent gold Democrats as ex-Congress
man Turner, Bynum and Patterson
made the banquet an important polit
ical event, and the address delivered
by Mr.. CleYeland may fairly be &C.
cepted as setting forth the present
views and future purposes of the bolt
ing Democrats.
Probably the most unexpected thing
in the address was his reference to the
administration. He bor.
rows emphasis from a scriptural text
and accuses the Republicans of return
ing in hot haste to their wallowing in
the mire of extreme protection. This
is an unfair criticism, because the Re-
publicans have never shown any dis
position to abandon tX:reme protec
lion.
ON MKlNLEY DEMOCRATS.
Mr.. Mckinley won political fame as
the apostle of tariff, and during the
late campaign reiterated his devotion
to this policy. Those Democrats who
voted for Mr.. Mckinley voted with
their eyes open to tariff possibilities
Neither have those Democrats rea
son to complain of Mckinley s attitude
on the money question. To be sure,
the President has sent an argosy
abroad in search, not of a golden
fleece, but OF an object equally elusive
namely, an international agreement
for the restoration Of bimetallism, but
in so doing, he is only carrying out
pledge contained in his platform.
Unless the gold Democrats were in
possession of assurances not given 10
the public generally, Or expected the
President 10 abandon his platform,
they ought to be satisfied with his fl
nancial Policy. He promised to main.
tain the gold standard until relief
comes from abroad, and he is doing il
in spite of the continued distress
caused by such policy.
CAN CONDEMN POLICIES.
The Democrats who supported the
Chicago platform can consistently
condemn both the tariff policy and
the financial policy of the administra
ton, but those who supported Mr..
Mckinley are only receiving what
they had a right to expect.
Mr.. Cleveland accuses the Rspubli'
cans of determination 'to repay par.
tisan support from the proceeds of in.
creased burdens of taxation placed
upon those already overladen."
He knew that the Republicans had
collected campaign fund larger than
ever before known in Ameican poll.
tics. Did it ever occur to him that
the contributors would expect repay
menl through legislation friendly to
their interests. Has not the Dlngley
bill been drawn exactly upon the
plan CT the Mckinley bill? 1t may
differ in its schedules, but it does not
differ in its general plan and prepara'
ton. But if those Democrats who
supported Mr.. Mckinley have no rea:
son to criticise his course, what shall
we say of those Demo rats who sup
ported the Indianapolis ticket2 VIVA,
claims have they 70 consideration at
the hands of the Presidents
FROM BoLTING DEMOCRATS.
MIR. Cleveland asserts that when the
fate of the nation seemed in the bal
ance, deliverance came through the
boiling Democrats. Does he mean
through those Democrats who voted
directly for Mr.. Mckinley. or through
those who voted for the Indianapolis
ticket. The leaders among the gold
Democrats claim to have voted fo1
Palmer and Buckner. Certainly this
did not entitle them to pose as saviors
of their country. They knew that
the contest would be close, even Mr..
Cleveland refers to the campaign as
one of doubt and fear.
Was it patriotic for gold Democrats
to throw their votes away upon tick
ct which had no chance when their
support might have decided the con
test9 There is q touch of humor in the
boisterous intentions of those who,
during the contest, watched the strug
gle from afar and after the battle was
over claimed all credit for the victory,
HIS WAR DECLARATION.
The important part of Mr.. Cleve
lands address, however, is found IN
his declaration of war against those
who supported the Chicago ticket. In
this last address he has given more
aid to his opponents than to his sup
porters, just as he did by his Official
acts. His surrender of the executive
branch of the government into the
hands of the Wall street 6nanciers
during his last administration did
more than any one thing to arouse the
American people to a knowledge ot
the gold standard.
His thinly disguised support Of thu
Republican ticket in the campaign die
much to drive the silver Republican:
out of the Republican party, and theil
loyalty to bimetallism has not beer
shaken by defeat. In his address Sat
urday night he aided the silver cause
still further by removing whatever
danger there might have been of con
cessions from the regular Democrats
to the boilers.
If he had discussed the Fundamental
principles of Democracy and ther
urged union of force upon a platform
composing differences on the money
question ne might have done US harm
in some section, but his dogmatic in
sistence upon a foreign financial poll
cy and his endorsement of the organi