The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-21
DEMOCRACY, PAST AND FUTURE
Mr. Cleveland Points Ont the Errors
Made and Suggest It's Future Course


Made and Suggest It's Future Course
Philadelphia, December 19-Former
President Grover Cleveland contributes
to this weeks issue of The Saturday
Evening Post. of Philadelphia, an ex-
tended article on the plight OF the de-
mocracy and the remedy. He begins
by reviewing the history of the party,
and discusses its defeats since 1864, in
detail. In taking up the question of
the present conditions of democracy he
says that the success Of the party in
1892 was SO decisive and over whelming
that long continuance of its suprem-
acy was anticipated. Then came "the
fallacy Of free silver and populism." !"
Mr.. Cleveland proceeds as follows:
Copyright 1900 by the Curtis Publish
| ing Company
1.-The elimination of democratic woe
was reached when it's compact with
these undemocratic forces was COM
plete, and when our rank and file were
summoned to do battle under banners
which bore strange symbols and were
held aloft in unfamiliar hands. The
result of such a betrayal was fore
doomed. This abandonment. of the
| temptuous disobedience of it's tradi-
| tions. and this deliberate violation OF
| the law of it's strength and vigor, were
by a decree as inexorable as these of
| fate, followed by the inevitable punish
ment of stunning, staggering defeat.
"The disaster of 1872, invited by sim
| liar mad adventure, was quickly follow
ed by return to the professions and
practices of sane democracy. But the
| extent and persistency of our wander
| ings in 1896 is illustrated in a most as
founding way by the command, issued
| on the day Of our route and discom-
| future, that a second battle should be
| fought on the same field, with the same
false war cries, and the same leader
ship, that had brought us to the sur
| rounding gloom of defeat"
Again he says:
THUS in 1900 the lesson Of 1896 was
| contemptuously rejected, and every
| hope of democratic success was willful-
" cast aside. Again our long suffering
| rank and file, whose loyalty and obedi-
ence deserved better things, were sac
| rificed in a cause theirs only in name;
and again it was demonstrated, but
| more clearly than ever before, that the
| only forces that can win democratic
/ success are adherence to recognized
| democratic principles and reliance upon
| democratic councils and leadership.
| "Why should we not return to these
| and in their name again achieve victo-
| ries no less glorious and renowned
| than were ours in the days of cour-
| ageous advocacy of our time honored
| faith? Are our principles so shop
worn or antiquated as to require reno
| walton, or their displacement by others
more fashionable? There is not an hon
est democrat in this broad land that will
| concede these things, nor is there one
| who would not hail the proclamation
| of the old foi with fiOhfinp n
thusiasm that foretokens democratic
triumph. As new conditions arise, our
principles must be applied to them +;
but In the creed that has guided US
through a century of party existence
we shall find the key TO every such ap-
plication; nor shall we need the lexi-
con of populism to aid us in inter-
preting this creed.''
Mr.. Cleveland touches in turn on free
silver and the federal courts, and be-
lieves that true democrats are against
| condemning 1.-THE general government
for protecting itself III the exercise of it's
functions against violent obstruction
within a state"
Further on he declares:
Il believe no democrat will have the
hardihood to deny that we have fought
our last two campaigns in alliance with
undemocratic forces. and that this al
lance was immensely costly in defeat.
Is there not good reason to suppose
that even in success such an alliance
would have proved Improbable and
dangerous?''
| He breaches the return of democracy
to it's old faith, saying:
Sincere democrats of every condition
and in every part of the land realize
that he situation of the party needs re-
pair. Reorganization Is not necessary,
but a return from our wanderings is
absolutely essential. Let us be frank
with ourselves and candidly acknowl-
edge the futility of attempting to gain
democratic victories except in the dem
ocratic cause and through democ ATTIC
methods. Reorganization is worse
than useless. Above all things, there
should be a manly rer 1nciation and
avoidance of undue sectional control
| Democracy will not operate efficiently
on sectional lines.
There is much for US to do; and the
future is full of democratic duty and
opportunity. Our fighting forces will
respond 1istlessly and falteringly il
summoned to a third defeat in a
strange cause, but if they hear the raj
lying call of true democracy they will
gather fer battle with old-time demo
cratic enthusiasm and courage.
eff / should attempt to epitomiZe
what / have written, IL suggesting a
plan for the rehabilitation and restora-
tion Of true democracy. I should en-
body it in these words:
"tGive the rank and file a chance. .
| A RAILROAD WAR