The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-01-03
AFTER STRANGE GODS.
Grover Cleveland Again Tells What is
Necessary.

Grover Cleveland Again Tells What is
Necessary.
EXPresident Grover Cleveland con
tributes to this weeks issue of the
Saturday EUening Post of Philadel-
phia an extended article on the
plight of the Democracy and the
Remedy Mr.. Cleveland begins by
reviewing the history of the arty,
and he discusses its defeat since 1864
in detail In taking up the question
of the present condition of the Dem
ocracy he says that the success of the
party in 1892 was so decisive and over
whelming that a long contin uance of
its supremacy was anticipated. Then
came the fallacy of free silver and
Populism. Mr.. Cleveland proceeds as
follows
1.-The elimination of Democratic
woe was reached when its compact
with these undemocratic forces was
complete when our rank and file were
summoned to do battle under ban
ners which bore strange symbols and
were held aloft in unfamiliar hands.
The result of such betrayal was
foredoomed. This abandonment of
the principals of true Democracy, this
contemptuous disobedience of it's ira
ditions, and this deliberate violation
of the law of its strength and vigor
were, by IA decree as memorable as
those of fate, followed by the newt
able punishment of stunning, stagger-
ing defeat
The disaster of 1872 invited by
similar mad adventure, was quickly
followed by a return to the professions
and practice of sane Democracy. But
the extent and persistency of our
wanderings in 1896 is illustrated in a
most astounding way by the com
mand issued on the day of our rout
and discontinue, that a second bat
tie should be fought on the same
field, with the same false war cries
and the same leadership that had
brought us to the surrounding gloom
of defeat"
Again he says; THUS in 1900 the
lesson of 1896 was contemptuously re-
jected, and every hope of Democratic
success was wilfully cast aside Again
our long suffering rank and file whose
loyalty and obedience deserved better
things, were sacrificed in cause
theirs only in name, and again it was
demonstrated, but more clearly than
ever before, that the only forces that
can win Democratic success are ad-
herence to recognized Democratic
principles and reliance upon Demo
cratic councils and leadership.
why should we not return to
these and in their name achieve vic
tory no less glorious and renowned
than were our days of courageous ad-
yocacy of our time-honored faith? |
Are our principles to be shopworn or
Anticipated as to require renovation |
or their displacement by others more
fashionable?
There is not an honest Democrat |
in this broad land that will not con-
cede these things, nor is there one
who would not hail the proclamation
of the old faith with that fighting en-
thusiasm that foretokens Democratic |
triumph. AS new conditions arise
our principles must be applied to
them but in the creed that has guided |
us through a century of party exist
ence we shall find the key to every
such application, nor shall we need
the lexicon of Populism to aid us in
interpreting this creed
Mr.. Cleveland touches in turn on
free silver and the Federal courts,
and believes that the true Democrats
are against condemning 1.-The General
Government for protecting itself in
the exercise of its functions against
violent distractions within a State"
Further on he declares:
Il believe no Democrat will have !
the hardihood to deny that we have
fought our last two campaigns in al
lance with undemocratic forces, and |
that this alliance was immensely cost !
ly in defeat. Is there not good rea-
son to suppose that even in success
such an alliance would have proved |
improbable and dangerous"
I'VE are dealing with the condition