The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-20
MR.. CLEyELAND.s LITTER.


Brooklyn Democratic Club probably has
more political significance than appears at
first glance. 1t is unusual for ex-Presi-
dents to make formal declaration regard
ing current politics, and as this is the
first that Mr.. Cleveland has made since
his retirement from Office there must be
motive behind it, He could have declined
an invitation to the banquet with tie
usual expression of regrets, whereas he
writes letter of considerable length in
which he makes some suggestions regard
ing party management and leadership
which seem calculated to bring him once
more to the front in politics.
With Cleveland's comments on the al
| legged faults and misdeeds of the Republic
an party we have no particular concern
AS Democrat, and candor requires IL TO
be added an honest and consistent one, 1t is
his business to condemn the Republican
party. though he must admit that it repre-
sents the Jeffersonian idea on the money
question. The most suggestive part of his
letter is that which warns the Democratic
party that If it is to succeed at all II must
be by it's own strength and merit and
| not through the shortcomings or misdeeds
of the Republican party. This part is
worth careful reading. He SAYS:
Our principles are so simple and they
accord so well with the honest American
disposition which loves freedom and cares
for the public welfare that they are easily
understood by the Democratic masses. AS
a result of this there has never been a
| time when false leadership of our party
and a departure from simple Democratic
| faith have not been quickly discovered and
ruthlessly rebuked by listless support, pro-
nounced detection and bitter defeat. These
consequences have thus far been so in
evftable that the lessons they teach cannot
be disregarded without inviting calamity.
The healthfulness of our party may we'll
be questioned when il shrinks from such an
examination of its position as will enable
| IL TO avoid disaster by keeping i'm a course
| of safety under the guidance of true
Democracy Therefore those who claim to
be followers OF Thomas Jefferson will fail
to discharge a solemn duty If in this time
| of doubt and temptation they neglect such
an examination, and II this discloses a ten
| dency in party control to subordinate the
principles of pure Democracy and to dis
| trust their conquering power these condi-
lions should not continue without a brave
and early Democratic protest.
Read between the lines this means that
| the Democratic party was beaten four
years ago by the detection of it's own
members. owing to the false leadership
| of the party and its desertion of true DEM
| ocratic principles. This. of course, is a di-
rect slap at Bryan and Organism. The
| extract shows further that. in the opinion
of Mr. Cleveland, If the Democratic party
promulgates the same doctrines and falls
under the same leadership this year that 1t
/ did four years ago it will be beaten again,
and will deserve to be. Finally, Mr. Cleve-
| land thinks that If, careful examina-
ton. conservative Democrats find that the
| party is likely to fall under the control
of false leaders they should enter "a brave
and early protest. preliminary to the re-
| buke they should administer If false lead
ers get control of the party in spite of
| their protest.
| Coming from such a man as Mr.. Cleve-
land this letter doubtless means all ii
says and perhaps more. 1t certainly means
that he thinks 1t would be better for the
| country and for the Democratic party
| that il should be beaten again If IL falls
under false leadership as it did in 1896
and it may mean that Mr.. Cleveland him
self would accept nomination for Presi-
dent on a platform of Jeffersonian Democ-
| racy. He is a of convictions and
courage. and even if he did not expect to
| be elected he might be satisfied with per-
forming a patriotic duty In comprising the
| defeat of false Democratic leader and
administering another needed rebuke TO his
| party for abandoning true Democratic prin-
ciples. Grover Cleveland in 1900 would re.
ceive great many more votes thar
Palmer and Buckner did four years ago
and his candidacy might prove the means
of bringing back to solid ground a party
that is now fioundering in the sloughs OF
| Populism and Organism.