The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-19
President Cleveland on Democracy.

President Cleveland on Democracy.
Ex-President cleveland's diagnosis Of
the case Of the Democratic party is un-
doubtediy correct yet it Is much to be
doubted whether the patient is willing to
concede the correctness OF It. or to accept
the prescription which Mr.. Cleveland
thinks Is the proper one to effect cure.
Certainly the men who will have control
next four years and direct it's actions will
not accept the suggestions made by him,
for they are the very men who have head
ed the party in the wrong direction. and
who have, as Mr.. Cleveland expresses 1t,
Wandered OF after strange gods" To a
man they have expressed a determination
ture as for the past four years. and they
loudly proclaim that they have learned
nothing by defeat. They thus show that
they have firmly grasped one fundamental
tenet of primitive Democracy. which is
never to learn anything and never to for
get anything. The Bourbons are in con-
troll
Mr.. Cleveland's suggestion that the par
ty return to FIRST principles" is not ac-
companied by any suggestion as to what
those first principles are; which is the
weak point in his otherwise good advice.
He seems to forget that the Bryanite wing
Of Democracy has been loudly proclaiming
principles; that in it's ranks and there
alone can be found the genuine. unaduter-
ated and simon-pure brand OF Jeffersonian
Democracy, and that all other brands OF
the article are fraudulent. fictitious. and
DO not have the name blown in the bot
tie.
between parties which at one time existed
in the country have been obliterated; ane
that return to primitive first principles
on the part OF either party, is practically
impossible. From the earliest foundation
of the country down to the war era, the
Democratic party of Jefferson and his fol-
lowers stood for personal liberty and in
dvidualism. 1t constantly and consistent
ly opposed all attempts to enlarge the
powers of the national government at the
expense of the state government: and all
attempts to enlarge the powers Of the
state governments at the expense Of the
individual. Capitalization of power was
the Democratic bugaboo. Upon this fun
damental tenet, the Democratic position
upon all public questions which then d.
dided parties. ultimately rested. The ex-
| eeptions were rare when the Democratic
attitude was not thus defined, The vari-
Gus parties which opposed the historic
| Democratic party were more or less COM
| mtted to the policy OF enlarging the pow
ers OF government, state and national and
were more or less afflicted with genuine
| distrust OF the wisdom Of the mass OF
the people.
by the federal government were UMPIRE
cedented. They were appalling to those
men educated In the Democratic school
| who were stil periodically devoted to
their country and heartily in favor of the
prosecution ~ the war Yet the fact that
no serious harm resulted 10 the institu-
tions Of the country or to individual Iib-
erty By the exercise OF those powers, did
much 20 ansettte the idea that any permn-
nent danger lay In strengthening the
hands of the federal government; partleu.
larly as those powers were no longer used
after the extgency was past At the same
time. the distrust OF the wisdom of the
mass OF the people. which prevailed
among the old-iine Federaiists and wings
ana their successors In the Republican
party. was likewise dissipated Lincoln
himself had profound belief In the CON-
eessive Republican presidents and Rspab-
lean leaders have had a like faith in the
people aud have departed entirely frea,
Federalist and whig traditions. Although
those traditions stan llngsr In conserva>
tive communities. they have never infia-
enced the Republican party's policy since
the war
As conditions now stand. the Repuhll-
can party Is the .nhcritor and custodian
OF the best principles OF both the Federal
lists and the Democrats Of the primitive
lays Of the Republic. II has always been
progressive; always willing to accept the
best OF new ideas, but conseryatively and
| slowly. and, in the same manner to slough