Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-19
DISLIKEBRYAN
Cleveland, Campbell and Will
lett Speak to Democrats.
UTTER WARNING WORDS
Party Leaders Representing Three
Sections of the Country Give Ad.
vice on Coming Fight
CleveIand's letter.

New York, April 19.-W Words of warn
ing against Organism We're uttered by
three famous party leaders at the JET
ferson dinner of the democratic
club of Brooklyn last night. These
leaders spoke for three sections of the
country Cleveland for the east,
former Governor James Z. Campbell
OF Ohio, for the middle west, and
j. j. Willett, of Alabama, for the
south.
Mr.. Cleveland gave his views by
proxy in letter of regret to Louis i.
Burchard, read at the banquet. Messrs.
Campbell and Willett personally voicea
their sentiments. The keynote of all
less open, was: ~
its sponsor. The silver issue must be
leading champion. Bryan without sill
Bryan means another disastrous party
defeat.''
MIR. Cleveland,s Letter,
Tho not advertised as such, the din
ner was in reality the opening of the
Ianti-Brvan democratic campaign in the
east. 1t signals the opening or the
expected fight against the Nebraskan's
denomination. Its accompaniment may
be the hosting OF the Dewey banner
and an attempt to stampede the ma
tional convention at Kansas City for
1.-THE admiral.
Mr.. Cleyeland's letter of regret was
lcouched in the cautious tones peculiar
to him, avoiding all direct mention of
either men or issues, but all those pres
ent read it between the lines. Its text
| follows:
81 regret that l am not able to ac-
lcept your invitation to attend the din
ner to be given by the Brooklyn demo-
cratic. club on the 18th instant, to
commemorate the birth of Thomas JEFF.
1ferson.
when those who profess the demo-
cratic faith meet to celebrate the birth
OF the man who first gave that faith
distinct formulation, their pride in the
achievements and triumphs of the par
ty which he founded should not en-
tirely displace all thought of the pres
ent situation, and the conditions which,
in the light of experience, appear to be
essential to its success. .4f
Power of Democratic Party.
"Tho the faults Of the party in pow
er are many, and tho its offenses
against the political health and safety
of the country are fragrant, these
things should not encourage us to base
an expectation of success and hope
for the restoration of wholesale adj
ministration upon the shortcomings
of our adversaries. We should too well
understand their ability to attach to
their fortunes the powerful contingent
of selfish interests to place reliance up
on the weakness which ought to be the
lpenalty of their misdeeds.
| Besides, 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
1.-The sturdy and consistent adherence
to it's time-honored principles, which
have proved sufficient to meet ev-
| cry emergency of our national life.
Inviting Calamity.
| "Whatever successes may have at
tended party of opportunity, with
sails spread for every transient breeze
| of popular sentiment or excitement,
experience has abundantly demonstrate
ed that democracy is so constituted
that it is only strong when courageous
in the right, and only victorious when
| its forces are marshaled under its old
and well organized standards.
"Our principles are so simple, and
they accord so well with the honest
American disposition, which loves free
dom and cares for the public welfare,
that they are easily understood by the
democratic masses. AS a result of this,
there has never been a time wnen false
leadership of our party and a depart
ure from the simple democratic faith
have not been quickly discovered and
ruthlessly rebuked by listless support,
pronounced detection and bitter defeat
These consequences have so far been
inevitable that the lessons they teach
cannot be disregarded without invit-
ing calamity.
Examination is Urged.
'The fealthfulness of our party may
well be questioned when it shrinks
SUCH du llOl VI Ills E)OSl-
tion as will enable it to avoid disaster,
by keeping in u course of safety, un-
der the guidance of true democracy.
Therefore those who claim to be fol-
lowers of Thomas Jefferson will fail
TO discharge a solemn duty if, in this
time of doubt and temptation, they me-
glect such an examination, and if this
discloses a tendency in party control
to subordinate the principles of true
democracy, and to distrust their con-
quering power, then conditions should
not continue without a brave and early
democratic protest.
81 have addressed these words to fell
low democrats in the full consciousness
that 1 am far removed from any in
| fuence in party management, bur l
love the old democratic party, and |
have written under the sanction OF
l ~. 49, ,aL