The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1900-12-28
HE SAYS HIS SAY.
What Cleveland Thinks About
the Democracy
WHAT THE PARTY NEEDS.

/ SHt~ SNGN "
Ths Ex-Pfss'dsn. Says u !s
Time to Olve the
Rank and File a
Chance.
Former Prcsidon. Grover Cleveland
| contributed to last weeks issue Of the
Saturday Evonipg Post Of philadelphia,
an extended article on tho plight Of the
Democracy and the romody. Mr..
Cleveland begins by reviewing tho his
tory Of tho party and he discusses it's
dofccts, sinoe 1864, in dotail. In TAX
ing up the question OF tho present
condition Of tho Democracy he says
that tho success Of tho party in 1892
Was 90 decisive and overwhelming that
long continuance OF it's supremacy
was anticipated. Thon oamo "tho fal.
lacy OF FREQ silver and Populism. Mr..
Cleveland proceeds as follows:
Tho elimination OF Democratic WOO
vas reached whom it's compact with
those undemooratio foroos WAS complote,
and whom our rank and fio wcro sum
moned to do battle under banners which
bore atrangc symbols aud wcro hold
aloft in unfamiliar hands. Tho result
Of suoh a betrayal was forcdoomed
This Abandonment Of tho principles Of
true Democracy, this oDntomptuous
disobedienoo Of its traditions, and this
deliberate violation Of tho law Of its
strength aud vigor wore, by decree
as inexorablo as those Of fate, followed
by thainovitablo punishment Of stun
ming, staggering defeat.
Tho disaster Of 1872, invited by
similar adventure, was quickly followed
by o ro,urn to tho professions and prao-
tices OF sane Democracy. But the ex
tent and persistenoy Of our wanderings
In 1895 is illustrated in q most astound
ing way by the command, issued on tho
day OF our rout and discontinue, that
a socond battle should be fought on tho
same fold, with the same falao orios
and tho Same leadership that had
brought us to tho surrounding gloom Of
defcat." .-',
Again he says:
.Fhus in 1900 tho lesson Of 1896 was
ooDtemptuously rejaotod and every
hope OF Democratic suooeSs was wilful-
ly oast aside. Again our long. suffer.
ing rank and ale, whose loyalty and
abedienco deserved better things wore
sacrificed in oauso theirs only in
name; aud again it was demonstrated,
but moro clearly than ever before, that
tho only forcos that can win D D,moora,io
success arc adherenco to recognised
Democratic principles and rolianoo
upon Democratic councils and leader
ship.
why should We not return to those,
and In their namo again achieve yicto-,
ries no loss gloriou, ard renowned than
were ours in tho days Of courageous ad-
vocacy OF our time honored fa.thP, Arc
our principles 30 shop-wora or antigua.
tod as to require renovation or their
displacement by others moro fashiona
bls? There is not an honest Democrat
in this broad land that will oonoodo
these things, nor is there one WHO
would not hail the proclamation Of the
old faith with that fighting enthusiasm
that f0retokens Democratic triumph.
AS now conditions arise our principles
must bo applied to thom; but in tho
creed that. has guided us through q
century Of party existence wo shall find
tho key to- every such application; nor
shall We neGd tho lexicon OF Populism
TO aid'ns;in interpreting this oroed. !
Mr. Cleveland touches in turn on free
silver and the Federal Courts, and bo-
liovos that true Democrats arc against
oondemning ..',ho General Government
for protecting itself 10 tho oxorcise of
its function against violent obstruction
with , State"
Further on ho declares:
i bolievo no Democrat will hego the
hardih0od to dony that wo havo fought
our last two campaigns in alliance with
undomocratio foroes, and that THE al
lance was immensely costly in defeat.
Is there not good reason to suppose
that oven in SUCCESS such sn alliance
would have proved Improbable and
daogerous2" Ho breaches tho return
Of Democracy to its old faith, 50, ing:.
"Sinoo Demoorats,of every condition
and in every part OF the land ,roajizo
that the si.uation Of thu party needs
repair Re0rRanlaation is not nooesaa-
ry; but q return from our wa odoriug Ia
absolutely ossontial. Let us bo frank
with ourselves and eandidly aoknowl.
odgo tho futility Of Attempting to gain
Democratic Victories exoopt in tho
Democratic cause and through Demo.
cratic methods. Reorganization is
worso than usoloss and the arrogation
of superior party virtue will breed only
mischief. This lis 8 time for sobor
thought, tolerant language and fra,orn-
al oounsels. -We aro dealing with the
condition Of a party that cannot bo de-
stroyed by external foes; and since its
ruin can be wrought only from within
it should bo impcrishable. Abovo oil
things thore should bc d manly renun.
citation and avoidance Of undue seotlon.
al control. Democracy will operate Of
fciently.on sectional lines. M
..Thoro is much for us to do and the
future 10 full OF Democratic duty aud
opportunity. Our fighting foroos will
respond liotlossly and faiteringly if
summoned TO third defeat in strange
cause, but II they hear tho rallying;Gal
Of true Democracy they will gather for
batsle with old time Democratic on
thuaiasm and courage. 'T
III l should attempt to epitomIso
what | have written, by suggesting a
plan for rehabilitation and restoration
Of true Democracy, / should ombody