New-York tribune., 1900-04-19
CLEVELAND ON HIS PARTY.
a LETTER ABOUT ITS LEADERSHIP
AND CONDITION.

RECEIVED WITH ENTHUSIASM AT THE DIN
NER OF THE BROOKLYN DEMOCRATIC
CLUB SPEECHES BY MEssRs. WILL
LETT AND CAMPBELL HOS
TILE TO BRYAN.
The Brooklyn Democratic Club, one hundred
and twenty-five strong, at it's dinner last night
at the Gertnauia Club to celebrate the 157th
niversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson. with
great enthusiasm applauded the following let
ter from ex-President Cleveland:
Princeton, April IL, 1900.
Louis F. Burchard, esq, Chairman. etc.
Dear Sir: l regret that unable to
cept your invitation to attend the dinner to be
given by the Brooklyn Democratic Club the
18th inst. to commemorate the birth of Thomas
jefferson.
When those who profess the Democratic faith
meet to celebrate the birth of the man who first
gave the faith distinct formulation their pride
in the achievements and trumphs of the party
which he founded should not entirely displace all
thought of its present situation and the condi-
tions which in the light of experience appear
to be essential to its success.
Though the faults of the party in power
many, and though its offences against the pot-
ical health and safety of the country are fla
grant, these things should not encourage to
base an expectation of success and a hope for
I the restoration of wholesome administration
upon the shortcomings of adversaries. We
should too well understand their ability to at
tach to their fortunes the powerful contingent
Of selfish interests to place confident reliance
upon the weakness which ought to be the penal
ty of their misdeeds.
FORMIDABLE IN ITS OWN STRENGTH"
Besides, of us can close eyes to the
fact that the Democratic party is only formida-
Bile in its own strength. It's power to win VIC
tories has always been found to depend upon a
sturdy and consistent adherence to its time-hon-
which proved SUtf1Cient
meet every emergency of our National life.
Whatever successes may have attended party
of opportunity, with sails spread for every
transient breeze of popular sentiment excite
ment, experience has abundantly demonstrated
that Democracy is so constituted that 1t Is only
strong when courageous in the right. and only
victorious when its forces marshalled under
its old and we'll recognized standards.
Our principles so simple, and they accord
so we'll with the honest American disposition,
which loves freedom and cares for the public
welfare, that they easily understood by the
Democratic AS a result of this there
has never been time when false leadership of
our party and departure from simple Demo
cratic faith have not been quickly discovered
and ruthessly rebuked by listless support, pro-
nounced detection and bitter defeat. These con-
sequences have thus far been inevitable that
the lessons they teach cannot be disregarded
without inviting calamity
MAY WELL BE QUESTIONED"
The heathfulness of our party may we'll be
questioned when 1t shrinks from such an exam
ination Of it's position as will enable 1t to avoid
disaster by keeping in a course of safety, under
the guidance of true Democracy
Therefore those who claim to be followers of
Thomas jefferson will fail to discharge solemn
duty IT, In this time of doubt and temptation,
they neglect such an examination; and If this
discloses tendency In party control to subor-
dinate the principles of pure Democracy and to
distrust their conquering power. then conditions
should not continue without brave and early
Democratic protest
I have addressed these words to fellow Demo-
Gratis in the full consciousness that am far re-
moved from any influence in party management;
but / love the old Democratic party, and have
written under the sanction of that freedom of
speech which Thomas Jefferson placed among
the cardinal factors of our Democratic creed.
Yours very truly. GROVER CLEVELAND.
CHEERS FOR THE EX-PRESIDENT
Cheers were given for the former President,
and there were such cries Growers all
right" and Whats the matter with running
him again?''
Letters of regret and ~admonition
ceived from Ex-Governor Horace Boies, Of Iowa;
General Joseph Wheeler Edward NJ. Shepard
and Norris Osborn. Perry Belmont sent tele-
gram saying that he detained on a New
York Central train between NewYork and AL
bany.
The speeches of Joseph ]. Willett. of Alabama,
who wants Augustus Van Wyck for Demo-
cratic Presidential candidate and Ex-Governor
James E. Campbell. who Jocularly remarked at
the close of his speech that IF he couldn't be
President himself he had choice of candi-
dates, were pervaded by a tone of defiance to
Organism and despair of success for the Demo-
Gratis in November.
Ex-Judge Willett's speech full of material
which can be utilized by the Republican cam
paign managers. One of the things that made
his Democratic auditors fairly groan In spirit
was:
The men the South interested
In building cotton factories and furnaces and open
ing coal mines than in nominating and electng
Presidents.
Ex-Governor Campbell continued the Demo-
cratic dirge by saying:
Now the unemployed have plenty of work at
and happy. What they dread is this continued
attack upon their improved condition. 1t will be
hard 10 enlist their cooperation to destroy oppres-
sion in Porto Rico or stay imperialism in the
Philippines. unless first abandon the
to their prosperity. The average American
wishes do right by all the world. but he is
rally interested in the welfare of his
family than in that of some other man ten thou
sand miles away
SOME OF THOSE PRESENT.
No promfnent machine Democrats attended
the dinner At the guest table. besides the
of the club, who presided and made becoming
Introductory address: Louis F. Burchard. Henry
HentZ Daniel Moynehan and Charles T. Hoag
land Perry Belmont in his telegram OF regrets
said
deeDlv being present at gathering
of true Democrats who prefer the triumph of Dem
ocratic principles to a surrender to Populism.
Ex-Governor Boies in the retirement of his
Iowa home has discovered that the country Is
fairlv gaIoping to political perdition, and in