The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-28
HE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY.
ES-Presldent Cleveland Sees Star of
 Hope Rising.
A Letter in New York World.

|
 Hope Rising.
 | A Letter in New York World
 My opinions on political matters are well known. and I should hesitate to make any further statement were it not | for the urgent solicitation of the World, which is pursuing an editorial policy that must. in my judgment tell for dem ocratic success and the public welfare.
 Moreover, what l say to the World's representative will, I know, be entirely free from the outrageous attempts lately made to rpresent me as indorsing not only undemocratie policies, but men who have, unfortunately, gained temporary democratic notoriety.
 It seems to me that the democratic situation is such as to awaken the satis- faction and hope of every thorough and l consistent democrat. Our party has cer- tainly regained its old-time fighting con dition, and recovered the morale that i promises old-tine success and prestige. think however while we can safely assume that we are not immediately l threatened with a repetition of undem- ocratic heresy, there are palpable dan gers to be avoided, if the rejuvenaton of democracy is not to be obstructed. The movement toward this rejuvenation tends | to a complete aDanQonInenL Ol ouL ldlS l yielding to the temptations of expedien- l cy. as against a firm adherence to demo- cratic doctrines.
 The condition necessitates, in my opinion, both in the enunciation of plat form principles and the selection of can didates, a sturdy and determined march of the goal of substantial and through democracy. In other words, l believe that, if the democratic party is tempted fafo olr meaning of the revival of true demo- cratic sentiment, to stop short of this goal, and temporize by presenting to the people platform principles and candi- dates not entirely in keeping with an absolutely changed policy It will fall to convince the people of its sincerity or to satisfy them that 1t can safely be trusted.
 Such a condition cannot better be de- scribed than by homely illustration of a man sitting down between two chairs. Such behavior would discourage sincere and thoughtful democrats now hopeful and expectant, and repel large inde- pendent contingent who seek relief from the needless orrogance of the republican party.
 It may as well be fully understood that any party promising such relief cannot calculate that the people are in the mood to be deceived or cajoled by the tricks of expediency. The movement now un- der way must be pursued with thorough ness, consistency and honesty. There need be no fear that a radical return to true democracy is dangerous to demo- cratic success The history of the party abundantly shows that 1t is only de- parture from principle and yielding to temptations of expediency that have brought disaster.
 The hope of the democratic party lies in the inevitable discovery by our people of it's beneficent aims and purposes. AL ready the benefciaries of the high pro tective tariff are so reduced in number and the benefits derived from protection are so palpably lessened even as applied to the selfish interests of those who have heretofore insisted upon It's continuance, that they are inclined to receive with favor the adoption of the democratic doc Urine of tariff for revenue.
 The popular apprehension of the evils of aggressive expansion, and its incom- patibility with what has always been re- garded as safe Amerieanism, Is con- stantly growing, and cannot fail to be- come in the near future, most impor- tant factor in the political thought of our people.
 The tremendous growth of trusts, the immense business aggregations and the manner In which they stlne healthful
  terprise cannot long pass unheeded by the voters of the land. The stupendous governmental extravaganza that now prevails must at length be appreciated by the people as not only drain upon their earnings and accumulations, but as a most pernicious example calculated to undermine the love of wholesome econ omy among our citizens.
 I see only hope and confidence in the mentioned, and the abuses connected with them, should be bravely and uncompro- nisingly dealt with by the democratic party, as they all involve democratic principle We should have sufficient faith in the intelligence and right-mind- edness of our countrymen to arouse a confident anticipation that they will speedily confide the treatment of these vital questions to the party which satis- fies them of It's intention to deal with them in an honest, unequivocal and pa- triotic manneT.
 I see only hope ard confidence in the future of the democracy, but tbis hope and confidence are based entirely on the belief that the party will be true to itself and true to it's profession of devotion to the welfare of the people.
 GROVER CLEVELAND.