The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-21
CIebeland on Democracy:
Bryan on Ciebeland.
frrom the commoner.l

On another page will be found article writ
ten by x-President Grover Cleveland for the New
York World, and editorially Endorsed by that pa
per II IS reproduced entire that the readers OF
the Commener may know the views and purposes
Of the reofganzers, as presented by the chief re-
organizer.
In deciding what weight to give to Mr.. Cieve-
lands opinion we can not ignore the part which
he has played in recent contests which have re-
suited in defeat
He speaks OF the "old-time success" of the
party and yet he not only did all he could to de-
feat the patty in 1896, but he had the mortihea-
tiori--from which he has never reeovered--of see
ing the ticket poll about a million more votes
when he opposed it than it did when he was the
candidate four years before with united party be-
bind him. The gold democratic ticket which he
pretented 10 support in Iso6--whie he actually
threw his influence to the republican tieket-only
secured 10000 votes in the entire country. Ii
Mr.. Cleveland and his follows demand positions
Of leadership, let' them bring Endorsements that
bear democratic signatures. They are relying
at present upon republican recommendations and
the only recent successes to which they have
contributed are the republican successes which
they now promise to overturn on condition that
the democratic party will become the servile tool
OF the financial interests that dominate the
publican party
But If Mr.. Clevelands record did not estop
nlNl entirely IRON OHGTlUB ADVICE 10 lAG ASlIlO-
cratic party it would show eonclusively that he
is insineere in putting forward tariff reform, i'm
perialism and the trust question as the most i'm
portaut issues. In 900 the democratic party de-
elsred for tariff reform, denounced imperialism
and not only declared a private monopoly to be
ndefensible and intolerable, but pointed out
remedy for trusts. Did this patiorm-setting
forth exactly what he pretends to desre-wn
the support Of Mr.. Cleveland' Not al all. Why?
Because there is another question which to him
is OF paramount Importance, namely, the money
question. He now discourses ponderously about
aggressive expansion" but when the test came
he preferred a gold standard empire to a BIZ
metallic republic. He seems very socitous about
tariff reform and yet he preferred the high priest
of protection on Wall street financial platform
to an advocate of tariff reform running on a
platform TO which the money power was opposed.
He processes TO be alarmed at the growth OF
the trust evil, but he preferred TO join with the
hnanciers to protect the trusts rather than join
with the democrats to destroy the trusts. True to
the interests of financial hackers he studiously
avoids all reference to the currency question not
because he is ignorant Of the schemes that the
money trust has on foot but because his part is
to divert attention to other issues while they Sc
cure still further advantage He entertans the !
family on the front porch while his financial con-
federates plumber the house from the rear.
II the reorganizers regain possession "a pos
sibty so remote that no one should assume ID |
Mr., Cleveland should be the nominee, for he in |
his own person represent the wounds and bruises |
received by the reorganzers as well as their aims
and methods If there is to be "a complete aban-
donment' Of the partys position if the party is
to stand for an absolutely changed policy" then |
no other candidate should be considered. He com |
bines, no other living person does those pecul-
lar and let it be said with gratitude rare intel
leetual and moral characteristics which embolden .
a public official to betray the voters OF his own
party and deliver his country into servtude to the
money changers
OF all those who gather their political in
formation from the ticker and whose party en-
thusiasm rises and falls with the stock market he
IS the only one Of prominence who is shameless !
enough to pose as democratic leader or offer
suggestions to those who give a valuable consid-
Grafton tor the money which they draw from So
ciety. His intimate connection with corporate
wealth and with those who manipulate it incapac-
itates him for the fair consideration Of those
questions which affect the masses IT, instead Of
pra,ing about democratic principles with which
he is unfamiliar he would give the public min.
Ute description OF his stock market ventures since
1883, especially detailing his connection with the
Northern Pacific stock when it rose in value about
the time the merger was being consummated, the
voters would know how much confidence to have
IN his plans for the "rejuvenation" of the demo-
cratic party.
The editor Of the Commoner has no personal
grievance against Mr.. Cleveland for while the
Influence OF the latter was against the former in
both campaigns 1t was Mr.. Cleveland's base de-
'ertion OF his party's principles and the peoples
interests that made Mr. Bryans nomination pos
.iole But Mr.. Bryan is interested in securing re-
orms' political, economic and social, and being
convinced that the Clevelandizing of the demo.
,ratie organization would mean the abandonment
u all prospect or promise of reform he has felt il
lis duty to meet Mr.. Cleveland's advice with
eview OF his record and to warn the rank and hle
Igainst such a disastrous retreat as that eoun-
eled by the sage of Prnceton--a duty made
he more imperative by the fact that most Of the
o-ealed democratic dailies in the large cities are
dominated by the same influence that dictated Mr.
yievelands policy during his second administra.
ION and which would try to force him on the
,arty again if the republican president should
nscoey them. This duty is performed at the risk
II displeasiug some Of those democrats who. with
tut eondemnng the apostasy of Mr.. Cleveland
emalned with our party when he became the
pen ally OF powerful nhagnates whom he had for
our years secretly served.
---zNEz----
POINTS ABOUT PEOPLE.