New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-25
Mr.. CLETEL4ND'S LETTER.

No fair minded reader Of Mr.. Cleveland's let
ter 10 THE New-York World printed on Sun
day in that journal and reproduced in our own
columns yesterday. will deny that it is credit
able to the eX-President and of general interest.
As we remarked with special reference TO
letter which he sent TO Democratic gathering
in this city near the end of the recent campaign,
Mr.. Cleveland is sometimes pleased to exercise
his faculty of imparting an appearance of deep
meaning 10 an utterance which is found on eX-
animation TO be merely perfunctOry. But this
letter TO The World is not a production or
that kind. 1t is an earnest appeal to his party
to make itself worthy of public respect in or
der that it may command public confidence and
regain control of public affairs. We do not con-
slider it probable that if the Democracy should
accept his advice the results which he expects
would follow but its credit would be raised and
its chances improved.
Democrats who still support doctrines, meth
DDS and leaders that Mr.. Cleveland has opposed
will find no suggestion Of retreat or compro-
mise in his letter. He gives them clearly 10 un-
derstand that he has not budged by abiding at
the outset to "outra geous attempts lately made
TO represent him las indorsing not only I'M
Democratic policies, but men who have I'M
fortunately gained temporary Democratic noto-
"riety." There can be no risk in assuming that
the Bryan-Tom Johnson school of statesman
ship is covered in that sentence, and we are
glad TO suppose that it was likewise meant TO
refer to David B. Hill. his demagogic coal plank
and his perfdious course of self-seeking. But
while Democrats who know that they will be
readily identified by his description will resent
it. and others of more respectable proclivitles
but of timorous nature may wish that Mr..
Cleveland had been more conciliatory. he is
right in declaring that the path he points out is
the only path of rehabilitation for the Demo.
cratic party. We do not need TO say that in our
opinion. and apparently in the opinion of the
country. the needless arrogance of the Repub-
lcan party is in reality an honorable conf
dence IN its continuing fitness to direct public
affairs based on a fair estimate of its present
and past services-such confidence being quite
consistent with acknowledgment Of def
ciencies and supported by a sense Of obligation
to do still better hereafter But inasmuch as
he is unquestionably sincere we shall not quar-
rel with Mr.. Cleveland because of his stereo-
typed and unconvincing rehearsal of what he
conceives TO be Republican defaults and Of
fences.
The real Importance Of Mr.. Cleveland's letter.
in the view of all that is reputable in the Demo.
cratic party, and in a wider view than that
consists in the fact that it demands decisive
rejection by the Democracy of the cowardly
counsels of expediency and a bold adoption of
a high moral standard. He expects the people
to discover that its aims and purposes are be-
nefcent and therefore he looks for it's ascend
ancy in the near future. We do not share that
expectation, and therefore do not accept that
forecast; hut should rejoice to believe that
the Democratic party was capable Of reforma-
ton and rehabilitation. A strong honest and
patriotic opposition is not absolutely essential
prosperity as our experience has shown during
the greater part Of the last half century; but
1t does serve valuable purposes and is always to
be desired.