The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-19
EASTERN DEMOCRATS MEET.
CLEVELAND's LETTER OF REGRET
AND WORD or WARNING.


ger Ahead in Bryan and Free sill
ver-siIver Should he Relegated.
Campbell Hopes for Revival OF
JeferSonian Democracy.
New York. April 1s.--The Brooklyn DEM
ocratic Club gave a dinner tonight at
the Germania Club, to commemorate the
one hundred and flfty-seventh anniver-
sary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson.
About 150 persons were present.
AT the guests table were ex-Gov. James
H. Campbell Of ohio, Joseph j. Willetb
of Alabama, and other prominent public
men. Former President Grover Cleveland
sent a letter regretting his inability to be
present and expressing his opinion on tho
present Democracy. The Letter was as
follows:
princeton, N. j., April 12, 19Oo.-To
Louis f. Burchard. Dear Sir: 1 regret
that 1 am unable 90 accept your invl-
| tation to attend the dinner to be given by
the Brooklyn Democratic Club on the 18TH
instant. to commemorate the birth of
Thomas jefferson.
when those who profess the Demo-
cratic faith meet 10 celebrate the birth
of che man who first gave that faith
distinct formulation, their pride in the
| achievements and triumphs of the party
which he founded should not entirely dis
| place all thought OF the present situation,
and the conditions when in the light of
| experience appear to be essential TO it's
success.
Though the faults of the party in pow
| er are many and though its offenses
| against the political health and safety OF
/ hp rn IA nd
should not encourage us 10 base an ex-
| pectation of success, and hope for the
| restoration of wholesome administration,
| upon the shortcomings of our adversaries.
1--WE should too well understand their
| ability to attach to their fortunes the
powerful contingent of selfish interests, to
| place confident reliance upon the weak
| ness which ought to be the penalty OF
| their misdeeds
DemOcracy's Strength.
BESIDE none of us can close our eyes
to the fact that the Democratic party is
only formidable in its own strength Its
| power to win victories has always been
found to depend upon a sturdy and con-
sistent adherence to its time-honored
principles, which have proved sufficient
to meet every emergency OF our national
life. Whatever success may have attend
ed a party OF opportunity, with sails
spread for every transient breeze of pop
ular sentiment or excitement experience
has abundantly demonstrated that Demo-
cracy is so constituted that 1t is only
srtong when courageous in the right, ana
only victorious when its forces are mar
shailed under its old and well organized
standards.
"Our principles are so simple, and they
accord so well with the honest American
disposition which loves freedom ana cares
for the public welfare, that they are easily
| understood by the Democratic masses. As
a result of this there has never been
time when false leadership of our party
und departure from simple Democratic
faith have not been quickly discovered,
and ruthlessly rebul1ed by listess sup
| port pronounced detection and bitter de-
feat. These consequences have thus far
been so inevitable that lessons they teach
cannot be disregarded without inviting
calamity.
Open to Examination.
"The healthfulness of our party may
well be questioned when It shrinks from
such an examination of its position as
will enable It to avoid disaster, by keeping
In a course of safety, under the guidance
of true Democracy.
| "Therefore, those who claim to be fol-
lowers of Thomas Jefferson will fail to-
discharge a solemn duty, If, ~. this time
| OF doubt and temptation, they neglect
such an examination, and II this discloses
a tendency in party control to subordinate
the principles of pure democracy, and To
distrust their conquering power, then con-
| dtions should not continue Without
brave and early Democratic protest
| ''I have addressed these words to fellow
Democrats In the full consciousness that
l am far removed from any influence In
| party management, but 1 love the old
Democratic party and have written un-
der The sanction Of that freedom OF
speech which Thomas Jefferson placed
among the cardinal factors Of our Demo-
cratic creed. Yours very truly
"GroVer Cleveland"
letter was also read from ex-Gov.
Boles of Iowa. in which he advocated the
freedom of Cuba and The giving up OF the
Philippines
Gen Joseph Wheeler and Col. Norris
| G. Osborne, editor Of the New Haven Pa
liadium, also sent letters of regret. The
| latter was to have responded to the toast
| "Thomas Jefferson"
WnIctt on Democracy.
Josep j. Willett Of Alabama responded
TO the toast, "A Century Of Democracy"
He said, In part:
"ITnouestionably the silver question
split our party open, and as 1t is settled
for at least four years to come, and we
can never be united upon it, II should be
| relegated TO the rear. We at least might
lear1 something from our adversaries
who did not hesitate to drop the force bill
because they saw 1t was dividing their
party.
but say that we relegate silver to the
rear and agree upon the platform, how
about the candidate? 1t is clear TO my
mind we cannot nominate Mr.. Bryan and
relegate the silver question. He Is the
very incarnation of that question, and
the very name of Bryan throughout the
whole country means free silver l6 to /.
The man in this case would be the plat
form. II Is said the stars in their courses
fought against Sisera, and truly the stars
have fought against Mr.. Bryan since 1895.
| His Cassandra-like prophesies have failed
Of fulfllment and the country was never
more prosperous than to-day His ar
gument about the indissoluble connection
between the prices OF silver, cotton AMI
! wheat, now seems positively ludcrous In
the light Of recent experience. while his
present cry OF calamity and the horrors
OF falling prices nwakes our genuine end
unrestrnlned mirth when we see prosper
fly on every side and prices jumping into
the sky. II Is as good as a show. How