Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-04-22

Shall seek all day ere you find them;
and, when you have them, they are not
worth the search"
After several careful perusals OF e4-
President Cleyeland's article on Inc
Plight of the Democracy and the Rem
edy," the only idea, the only tangible
suggestion that can be extracted rpm
the whole article is-that the Demo
cratic party met defeat in 1896 and In
1900. and deserved defeat, because 1t re-
iected his leadership and advice; and
that the Democracy can only nope LOT
success, in the future, under his lead
ership and by accepting his ADVICE DIS
the guiding star of its future course.
Let him speak for himself.
"The success of true Democracy IN
1892 was 20 decisive and overwnelmlng'
and it's effect upon our opponents was
so depressing, that long continuance
of our party's supremacy was Seneraiiy
sntictpated. True, the free silver deiu-
sion had lowered close about the lines
of both of the great parties, but 1t had
been distinctly refused recognition IN
the Democra lie platform; and VIVA eve.
announcement it had received frUin
legislation was not chargeable to Demo-
cratic initiative. With other fantastic
notions. it had found a home In popu-
lisn, which had been an outspoken en-
envy of true Democracy; and its com
1lexion was so undcmocratic as to lndl-
cate that it belonged permanently to
our adyersaries. Thus the situation
should have given no portent that the
fallacy OF free silver would undern'1 nc
the hopes and paralyze the vlsor OF
triumphant Democracy. But the con-
tagion had already begun its work, and
either through its natural growth or
through stealthy promotion, its spread
was so rapid that the astonishing dis
covery was made that, despite the Ell
forts of those who attempted to arrest
its progress in defence of the true dem
ocratic faith, the surrender to others
of sound money heights was clamor-
ously demanded, and it was insisted
that the proud battalions OF democracy
should march below and share the
camping ground of populism.
The elimination of democratic woe
was reached when its compact with
these undemocratic forces was complete
and when our rank and file were sum-
moned to do battle under banners which
bore strange symbols and were held
aloft in unfamiliar hands. The result
OF such a betrayal was foredoomed.
This abandonment of the principles OF
true dem ooracy, this contemptuous dis
obedience OF its traditions, and this de-
Eberate violation Of the law Of its
strength and vigor, were, by a decree,
as inexorxble as those OF fate, followed
by the inevitable punishment OF stun
ming, staggering defeat.
The disaster Of 1872, invited by sim
liar mad adventure, was quickly fol-
lowed by return to the professions ans
practices OF sane democracy But the
extent and persistency OF our wander
ings in 1885 is illustrated in most
astounding way by the command, is
sued on the day OF our rout and dis
conf1ture, that second battle should
be fought on the same field, with the
mme false war cries and the same
leadership that had brought us to the
surrounding gloom OF defeat
IF the first struggle had been on
democratic ground, and for the ascend
nncy of genuine democratic principles,
there would have been nothing dis
csuraging in its renewal; but 1t was
realized by large section of our party
that this was not the situation. Never
theless, all sober adsaonition was
drowned in a confusion Of tongues; nor
did the Ill equipment of our old antag
oHists to enter the contest II pitted
against true democracy, nor the pros
pect Of success, In such changed con-
ditions, avail to check a frenzied pur
pose or to alter a rashly conceived and
cRlamitous plan Of battle
Is Mr.. Cleveland so ignorant Of the
history of that great party which thrice
honored him with the nomination for
the presidency, and twice elected him to
that high ONCE, and which he has dis
honored and betrayed, or does he think
that the rank and file" Of the DeAo
crazy are ignorant OF the policies, prin-
ciples and history Of their party. when
he states that the "fall&cy Of free silver
had found home with populism, Which
had been an outspoken enemy Of dem
ecraey?" Is it possible that a Demo-
States does not know that from 1896 to
and including 1900 that the Democratic
party. in every platform, whenever
the platform contained any declaration
upon, or reference to the subject, de-
clared for both silver and gold-"The
only money of the Constitution" 1t Is
true that these platform declarations,
prior to 1895, have not named the ratio
of is to /, for the very simple and OBJ
vious reason that it was not, prier to
that time, necessary to do so. No other
ratio was ever thought of after 1887 Ia
1887 one OF the last ofieial acts of Pres
ident jackson was TO approve bill
for the free unlimited anu independent
coinage OF silver and gold at a ratio
of 16 to l. and from that time to 1893
whenever the coinage Of silver and gold
was. written of or spoken Of, the ratio
OF 16 to l was not mentioned, because
that ratio was understood to be meant
by all men. In the extra session of
Congress, in 1893, bills were introduced
TOR the free, unlimited and independ-
ent coinage Of silver and gold at the
respective ratios OF 1e to /, II to /,
Is to I, 1s to /, and 20 TO 1. As these
different ratios were discussed and voted
upon in Congress, when the National
Democratic convention met in 1885, at
Chicago, TO avoid any confusion in the
public mind. the plstforra ernlained