Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-24
MR.. CLEVELAND AND
THE RANK AND FILE.
P%ittsburg Post.

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Cleveland contributes much of any val
ue in his discourse on THE Plight of
the Democracy and the Remedy" In
brief, he would reject all ideas SAVIOR
ing of Populism and give the rank
and file a chance in laying down their
policies. Has it not been the rank and
file who have asserted their power in
party matters the last two presiden-
tial campaigns, and in doing so have
sidetracked traditional leaders? AS to
Populistic ideas, so-called, some of
them are good and some Objectionable
and impracticable. Take the income
tax, for instance, which has been de-
rided a Populism. MIR. Cleveland
himself as President approved the in
come tax clauses of the Wilson tariff
bill, which were declared void by the
Supreme Court. Free silver coinage is
generally regarded as a dead issue, and
will hardly figure hereafter in politics.
The National bank Or greenback sys-
tens of currency supply are open ques-
tiOns, and are likely to remain so with
indications Of a National bank and
money trust and organized banking
movements to control politics and gov-
o~nment. That is the issue of Jack
sons times revived. 1t is in the hands
of the banks. If they become oppreS-
sive and pervert the powers of gov
eminent, the people will take part and
the supply of paper money transferred
from the banks to the government;
not an irredeemable and excessive sup
ply, but one well guarded. With green
backs redeemed in coin or intercon-
vertible into low-priced government
bonds there is no more danger than
in the government issuing its notes
indirectly when National banks are
made the security basis. There are
other questions, such as the control
and regulation of common carriers en-
gagged in interstate commerce, rene
dies for the monster trust evils, the
granting of subsidies, and the general
and alarming growth of the organized
money and corporate power, on which
the democratic and the POpulists are
agreed in many respects, but because
OF this agreement it is not likely the
Democrats will abandon fundamental
articles of their faith.
Putting aside the questions of i'm
perialism and coloniali5m, on which
there is no difference among the OPP
ponents of MCKinIeyiSm n Hanna
ism, and which may be disposed Of by
the judiciary, it is easy to sum up the
great issues on which parties divide
in this country and which they are
likely t continue to divide. They re
late to the simple and MISUNDERSTOOD
question whether ours is to become a
government by plutocracy, organized
in many forms OF association and cor
pOratiOn to control administration and
make laws to its liking and money in
terest, or shall remain in the Oft
quoted words of Lincoln, which never
lose their force, a government of the
people, by the people and for the peo-
pie. The country is ruled to-day by
a ~plutocracy, representing many and
sometimes opposing interests. No
candid and honest observer who close
ly scTutinizes affairs at the National
capital can deny this. Look at the
subsidy measures and ether schemes
of eXtravagant appropriation now
pending in Congress and you have
the proof.
This is the perilous trend Of affairs.
and it has its opponents and promot-
ers in every division Of our political
life. The Democratic party, unless
false to its traditions and the great
men and greater principles that made
it d power controlling government for
the first sixty years OF its existence,
has it's place We'll defined in the com
ing battle. 1t will not seek the resur-
rection Of obsolete or dead issues on
which the people have given final
judgment. Whether an Old or a new
issue-whether aided by Populists or
Republicans-it will continue the bat
tie against government by the power
of trusts, corporations. syndicates or
other branches of a combined pluto
cracy. This is the issue Of to-day, as
it will be of the future, and on it Mr..
Cleveland has not a word to say. He
appeals that the rank and file shall
have a chance. They have now and
will continue to have, and he who runs
may read their judgment. 1t differs
from the select few who draw their
political inspiration from Wall street
or the council rooms Of trusts and syn
dicates.
What Mr.. Cleveland calls the rally
ing call of true Democracy" does not
emanate from this source, and never
will.
IT IS TO LAUGH.