The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-20
Cleveland and the Democracy.

NaSnNllIe bdnueEs
 Y.ucien J. Walker, a well known Wash inetcn correspondent, writing to Ine Montgomery Advertiser. says:
 "The Democratic drift is clearly ana unmistakabSy toward MT. Cievsiana. o.t finds here astonishing proof of this, at the hands of Congressman just returneS to legislation from prolonged stay witn their constituents. This is not meant to apply to Democratic members alone, out likewise to Republicans, who confessedly have much to fear from the pre-eminent and overmast stering leadership of the only man since 1856 who hasn't led the Demo crats into the mud of misery. IL IS natu- ral enough that none of these Congress men likes to be quoted by name as being impressed with the great Cleveland un, dercurrent; many of the Democrats sun fearing that damp of death, Bryan, free silverism and socialism, and all Repub- licans being indisposed to encourage popular impulse toward Mir. Cleveland which makes for Democratic ascend eney." 4.
 wards MT. Cleveland. as party leader, rather than Presidential nominee The two positions are by no means insepara. ble, and have often been held by different men. "old Hickory" vast vas sun y the a"rsn Dem, succeeded him in the Presidency, and even when the Democrats came agaln into power after four years of Whlg as tendency in 1S44. His record was siLnl.
 
 been three times a Presidential candidate: three times he had received a majority or the popular vote. and he was twice eject ed; but he did not aspire to a third term, and was not seriously thought of as third term candidate. None of the sue cessfuI Democratic candidates for Presi- dent after Jackson's time. was party leader with the exception of MT. Cieve- land in 1892. Not even Samuel J. Tiiden had been among the conspicuous party leaders in Congress.
 We do not believe MT. Cleveland would consent to become a candidate for tnird term The precedent of not more than two terms, set voluntarily by Washing ton has never been violated, and has be- come in some sense. an unwritten law: It was argued by Roscoe Conkllng ana the 103 stalwarts who stood py nm TOT Grant at Chicago in 1880, that an Inter regnum altered the conditions which made the twice occupant of the White House Ineligible for another term, but that con- tention was settled by Grants defeat He was otherwise the m 1st popular man in his party. and personally stronger than James A. Garfield. the man who was nominated.
 There is no doubt that Grover Cleve- land Is now more than any other man in
 America giving direction to Democratic thought. Bryan has, in flgurative sense. been cast into that outer darkness. where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. The sounds of the gnashing come very distinctly from the direction of Lincoln,
 Neh. And Hill Is discredited. He dis played his weakness and lost his oppor- tunity when he yielded to the temptation to sWerye from his conservative course and temporize with a sociallstic princf- ple Grover Cleveland is the one most prominent Democrat who stands firm on the old basis. He has been tnfiexible, never changing, and, however much he may have been abused by the time serv- ing politicians and radical extremists, he has held always the firm respect Of the best elements of the nations citizenship. No politician in America, active or re- tired. commands more profound respect from the eminent scholars, clergymen. professional men and those generally who make m the substantial elements of the social fabric than Grover Cleveland. But he is not a candidate for a third term of the Presidency. and the party would not be wise to again make him it's candidate. MT. Walker. the correspondent from whom we quote was twice an appolntee m the consular service. under MT. Cieve- | land During the last Cleveland admin | istration he held the responsible position l of Consul at Cork. Ireland. He natural | ly feels strongly attached to Mr. Cleve- l land personally, and Is warm support | or of the ex-President's political course. | MT. Cleveland Is now the leader of the | Democratic party, so far as it has any | leader otherwise the party Is adrift | But 1t does not follow that he will either | seek to secure the Presidential nomina- 1 ton for himself or to dictate it, as Jack. | son did in the case of Van Buren. and lands leadership is followed in tho mat
 fer of party principles and policy, there | is olenty of material from which to ss- | ,aof an eligible candidate.