The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-12-29
Mr.. Cleveland and Party Reorgan'
ization.

Two papers of Atlanta, Georgia, had con-
troversy as to whether or not Ex-PresIdent
Cleveland voted for Mr.. Mckinley at the late
election. In reply to a telegram from the
editor of one of them, on the subject, Mr..
Cleveland wrote that he did not vote for Mr..
Mckinley.
In 1896 Mr.. Cleveland and his whole cabl-
net, except Hoke Smith, were opposed to Mr.
BRYAN and the Democratic platform. smith
resigned and supported Mr.. Bryan. Mr..
Cleveland was even vicious against the Demo-
cratic ticket, encouraging officials under him
to speak and work against Mr.. Bryan and re-
moved some of those who spoke in his behalf
for ''officious partisanship." During the late
campaign he was silent, but wrote to TREND
that he had not changed his views as gwen
out in 1896, and that friend had that leuer
nublsbed. 1t was against what Mr.. Bryan
stood for, and was consequently used by the
Mckinley press to show that Mr. Cleveland
was still against the success of the Democratic
ticket.
Since the election Mr.. Cleveland has written
an article for the Saturday Evening Post,
Philadelphia, in which he criticised Mr.. Bryan
and inveighed against certain parts OF the
Democratic platform. In closing he says that
this is no time for elimination and recremlna-
,;on and fayors a reorganization of the Demo-
cratic party.
Mr.. Cleveland and his followers, by open
hostility to the Democratic nominees IN 1895,
thus aiding the Republican party, defeated
Mr. BRYAN, and the same forces accomplished
his defeat in 1900. In view of this, II seems
that all the reorganization the Democratic
party needs is for the C!evelandites to put
themselves back into the Democratic ranks,
submit to majority rule aud not undertake 10
ruin when they cannot rule.
The action of Mr.. Cleveland and his fol-
lowers in 1896 gave the election TO Mr.. Me-
Kinley, who is owned and controlled by Han
ma. That action gave us the war with Spain
and the war with the Flipinos and our mud
die in China 1t gave MS virtual alliance
with England. against which Washington
warned us. 1t gave us Imperialism, II large
standing army, expansion by force, an in
creased public debt, and odious and vexatious
and burdensome taxation. 1t has resulted in
the denial of the Declaration of Independence,
the violation ofthe Constitution and the abro
CATION of the Monroe Doctrine.
The action of Mr.. Cleveland and his friends
in 1900, by silence or open espousal of the
reelection of Mr.. Mckinley, confirmed all
these outrages, and makes them responsible
for all the evils that may be done daring Mr..
McKinley's second term.
If Mr.. Cleveland did not vote for Mr.. Nc
Kinley last month, AS he said he did not, he
simply lacked the courage of his convictions.
He cannot excuse himself by declaring he
was against the policies of both of the great
parties. Every man owes it TO his fellow
man aud TO his country to vote, and to vote
for the best interests of the people, as his
Indictment dictates. On one side Mr.. Ceve-
land saw a majority of the white voters, lead
in part by many who had held responsible
places under his administration of affairs and
by those who in the Senate and House gave
him cordial aid and support. On the other
side he saw ninety nine of every hundred
we're his political opponents, who IN three
campaigns endeavored to accomplish his de-
feat. If he were opposed to the candidates OF
the two great parties, he should have done
the best it was possible for him to do, choose
the lesser evil and have worked and voted for
Mr.. BRYAN. If he is Demo crat he knew
that the republic would have been safer in the
hands of party composed of the bulk of the
Democrats than in the hands of Mark llama.
But evidently he was opposed TO the election
of Mr.. Bryan, as shown by his silence during
the campaign and a fixed determination to
give no utterance upon public matters. And
he has proven it IN his article in the Saturday
Evening Post, by his criticism of Mr.. Bryan
and some planks of the Democratic platform.
We repeat, therefore, that the only reorganl-
cation the Democratic party needs, is for Mr..
Cleveland and his friends to step back inle
the party, abide by the Democratic principle
of majority rule, and not try to ruin when
they cannot control.