Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-28
WELVE PAGES
FRIDAY. APRIL rs, 1899.
NOT A DEMOCRAT.

In q recent editorial. headed IAN I'm
needed Warning" on Il message of
President Cleveland to Congress. rec
omendlng the withdrawal Of the United
States from the entangling tripartite al
lance OF this country, Germany and
England, under the Treaty of Berlin, to
exercise a joint Protectorate over and
practically govern the Samoan Islands.
our local morning contemporary calls
attention to the almost prophetic char
acter of the message, as we'll as It's wis
dom. and also incidentally applauds the
attitude which Mr.. Cleveland so bold
~ took toward England in defence OF
Venezuela when that British power
threatened the South American State
with coercion. THE VIRGINIAN-PI-
LOT heartily applaudcd Mr.. Cleveland
at the time for his prompt interference
in behalf of Venezuela, as it did in 9TH
err cases where his undisputed courage
vindicated American doctrine and
Democratic principle and policy.
Yet, while concurring in giving due
honor to Mr.. Cleveland. and yielding
due credit to our contemporary for
much that 1t says in the editorial re-
ferred to. the article contains some in
cidental or side-remarks against which
We protest. and of which the following
is a. fair sample:
1t may not be popular nowadays to
stand up for the only Democratic Pres
iGent since the Civil War. bur il is right
to stand UP for him: and the Judgment
OF history Will certainly b. that in
Grover Cleveland the United States mad
one of its greatest executives.
That is our contemporaries hero
worship. and not the real Cleveland,
who was not n Democrat at all. either
in personal character or political prin-
cple. and who did more harm to true
Democracy and the Democratic party
than any avowod enemy of them could
do. He was no Democratic President
therefore; and IL he possessed any of
the clements of greatness, he exhibited
them only in the evil qualities that
dCmineer and assert an arbitrary will
over pledges. oaths, constitutions,
rights. Liberties. states and peoples,
without n hesitating scruplc, or re-
pentant or relenting emotion.
Mr.. Cleveland was elected President
by party and on platform that
were for no decentralization, nor single
money standard. but which declared in
1854. as always. by word and act. that
I'VE believe in honest money. the
gold and silver coinage Of the constitu-
ton, and circulating medium con-
Vertiple into such money without loss"
He was renominatod the second time
in 1888 on platform that had nothing
to say about coinage. and was de-
feated. In 1892 lie WAS nominated the
third time, and was elected to n second
term as President. upon platform
which declared:
I'VE hold TO the use OF both gold and
silver as the standard money of the
country, and to the coinage of both gold
and silver without discrimination
against either metal. or charge for
mintagc."
Notwithstanding the well known at
titude and profession of the party. and
its declaration in each of The platforms
upon which he was elected, he was the
most implacabe enemy of silver and
the most Jealous advocate of n single
gold standard throughout his term
sticking at nothing TO put down silver.
establish gold monopoly and fighting
his party with n brutal disregard of
every obligation. Indeed, before he was
inaugurated, and while he was not yet
President. though elected, he began his
unparalleled outrage upon his own high
office and Congress by direct written
appeals to Democratic Seniors and
Representative to abandon and betray
their party by uniting with the Rcpub-
licans for gold alone, against the Demo
cratic position in favor equally of both
gold and silver.
When President. and all the time he