The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-21
MIR. CLEvELAND,s ADVICE.

3 'Give the rank and file a chance" That
is a good summing up of what is need
full in order to get the Democratic party
back into the position Of an effective polit-
ical organization. Mr.. Cleveland strikes
the heart of the question of the future
of the Democracy when he suggests that
the Democratic voters themselves can be
depended upon, if permitted by ambitious
leaders, to determine what is best to
be done
Since the first nomination of Mr.. Bryan
the rank and file of the Democracy has
had but little to say about the party
policy. The leaders, newly constituted,
and, for the most part, inexperienced,
have had complete control of Tie party
machinery. Such a situation can in the
last event have but one result-party de-
moralization
1t is not necessary to go further than
this city and county to observe the ruin
GUS effect of the new courses The Dem
ocrats of Ramsey county cannot be said
to have participated in the conventions
which it has been found necessary to
hold in the work leading up to national
nominations. Such bodies have been at
tended and conducted mostly by few
men in whom the party has never. shown
any special degree of confidence, and the
representation in them cannot be said
to have been to any degree complete.
The heart has been taken cut of many
of the party adherents. They have had
courses laid down for them without their
concurrence. They have followed those
courses. those Of them who have thought
1T worth while to concern themselves in
the progress of events. They have not
shown that they have lost faith in their
party; only that they have lacked faith
in their leaders, and have not found
themselves able to approve the principles
laid down for their guidance in the name
OF the national Democracy
The Democrats of the nation will do all
the reorganization that is necessary. All
they want is the chance and the encour-
agement. Mr.. Cleveland points out that
the late disaster was hardly known in
its full significance before the country
was assured that the fight would go on
along the lines which led to that and
the preceding disaster Those who gave
that assurance will hardly ever have it in
their power again to secure the accept
ance Of their advice. They have had
their day. Their usefulness in political
life may remain undisputed, but it will
be made apparent in far less advanced
positions in party councils in the future
than in the past. If the party is to con-
tinue in the errors of the past four years
It will only be after the mass of the
party have had the amplest opportunity
to declare their own will, and after the
men who, like Mr.. Cleveland himself,
have during that period been excluded
from active participation in the party's
affairs because Of their unwillingness to
assume responsibility. have in every
community once more been given the
fullest opportunity to make their infu-
ence felt and their advice listened to.
There is ample time before any spc-
cifc action looking to the assertion by
the mass of the Democrats of their
right to control their party affairs need
be taken. With tact and liberation ex-
listing difficulties may be adjusted, and
all possibility of serious dissension be
avoided. The party, as Mr.. Cleveland
says, will not operate effectively on sec
tionaI lines Sectionalism in the terri
torlal or in the class sense has no part
In its creed. When we get back to
those avowed principles which will ap-
peal to all classes in American social
life. we will have got back to Democracy.
Until we reach that point there is not a
vestige of hope Of restored success.