The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-24
TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE. "a, 1902
THUMPED BY BRYAN
Ex-President Cleveland Held Up as
Too Of Plutocracy.
HE DEBAUCHED HIS OWN PARTY
"Harmony Dinner" in New York
Calls Out "a Rib Rooster From
CommOner Man.

LlQCOln, NeD.. June 24.-Ine absence OF
W. J. Bryan from the democratic har-
mony dinner at New York is pretty we'll
explained by a statement given out by
Mr.. Bryan last evening commenting on
the dinner. At the outset Mr.. Bryan
says there is no such thing as democratic
harmony where former President Cleve-
land is concerned. He says:
The banquet given OH the evening of June
10 by the Tilden club o. New York city was
advertised as harmonious meeting but it
turned cut to be what might have been ex-
pected of such a gathering, an ovation to
the chief guest, Former Democrat Grover
Cleveland. =
There can be no such thing harmony.
between men like him and those who believe
in democratic principles and ne is frank
enough to say so. E" -
He spent no time looking for middle
ground" upon which to gather together dis
cordapt elements. He boldly called upon the
members of the party to abandon their con-
victions and accept the construction which
he places upon democratic principles 81
He even tainted the party with being
sort of prodigal son, and invited it TO give
up it's diet OF husks and return to its father S
house.
He is not only defiant, but he insists
that party success can only be secured by an
open. and avowed return to his ideas Har-
mony is to the be secured not by the sup
preston Of differences. but by the elimination
Of those who differ from him.
He secured his nomination in 1892 by a
secret bargain with the 1nanciers: his COM
mittee collected from tho corporations and
spent the largest campaign fund the party
ever had; he filled his cabinet with corpora
ton agents, and placed railroad attorneys
on the United States bench TO look after the
interests Of their former clients.
He turned the treasury over to a Wall street
syndicate, aud the financial member OF his
off: cial family went, from Washington to be-
como the private attorney Of the man who
forced CD the treasury department to sell
him government bonds at 10o and then resold
them at 1T.
He tried to prevent the adoption OF the in
come tax provision; he refused to sign the only
tariff reform measure passed since the war,
and while laundering against the trusts in his
messages, did even less than Knox has done
to interfere with their highhanded methods.
His administration, instead Of being foun-
tain Of democracy sending forth pure anu
refreshing streams, became stagnant poor
from whose waters foul vapors arose-polson-
pus to those who fingered near.
Having debauched his party, he was CT
Tended by its effort to reform, and gave COM
fort to the enemy Virginius killed his
daughter to, save her chastity: Cleveland
stabbed his party to prevent its return to the
paths of virtue.
And now, still gloating over his poitica!
crimes, he invites the party to return to nm
and apologize for the contempt which 1t mas
expressed for him. Will It? Not until the
principles of Jefferson are forgotten and the
words Of Jackson cease to inspire.
five are to have reorganization, Cleveland
himself should accept the presidential noml
nation. 1t would be due him; his renstate-
ment would be poetic justice to him ana
1,lN dom u
science revolted toward his un-democratlc
conduct .--s-
OF course, he would get no democratic votes,
but, being closer to plutocracyzshan any re-
publican likely to be nominated, ne might O.
vide the enemy and even democrats "oulo
have what little consolation WOULD come from
receiving their disappointment in advance.
Sham Battles Only.
Mr.. CIeveland's speech should be read in
full It answers a useful purpose; 1t out
lines the plan of campaign decided upon oy
the plutocratic elements for which the re-
organizers stand.
Tariff reform Is to be made the chle1 issue
and the men who voted for Mr.. Mckinley the
high priest of protection, are to carry on a
sham battle with their companions OF 1885,
while the fnanciers make the dollar redeem
able In gold and fasten upon the country AL
asset currency and branch bank system.
Trusts are to be denounced in. sonorous
terms, while the campaign managers mort
gage the party to the trust magnates in re-
turn for campaign funds.
Sometimes imperialism will! be denour ced,
as in Mr.. Hopkins Illinois convention: some
times ignored, as in Mr.. Cleveland's speech;
but, whether denounced or ignored. the secret
and silent power that can compel submission
of the democrats to the flnanciers and to the
demands of the trust magnates can compel
submission of the democrats to the exploiters
and the representatives OF miltarism.
The fight is between a democracy that
rneans democracy anda a Clevelandism which