Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-03

concerned. He says the banquet was
advertised as harmony meeting but
turned out to be an ovation for the
former democratic Grover Cleveland"
and that there can be no such thing
as harmony between men like him and
those who believe in democratic prin-
ciples.
Bryan says Cleveland called upon
the members of the party to abandon
their convictions and accept the con-
struction which he places upon demo-
cratic principles" Bryan selects por-
tons of Cleveland's speech, caustical-
ly criticising the former presidents re-
marks and says "He is not only de-
tiant. but he insists that party success
can only be secured by an open and
avowed return to his ideas. Harmony
is to be secured not by the suppress
sion of differences but by the elimina-
ton of those who differ from him" /,
Bryan insists that Cleveland secur-
ed the nomination in 1892 by secret
bargain with financiers, surrounded
himself with agents of corporations
and railroads, and turned the treasury
over to Wall street. He then accused
SiCfC lchu VI oCNCtdl llSlduCeS vi d.
legged wrong doing, summing up as fol
lows:
His administration, instead of be-
ing fountain of democracy sending
forth pure and refreshing streams, be-
came stagnant pool from whose wa
tiers four vapors arose-poisonous to
those who fingered near"
He accuses Cleveland of having de.
bauched his party" and that now
still gloating over his political crimes
he invites the party to return to him
and apologize for the contempt which
it has expressed for him. 1t will not
do so, however-not until the princi.
pies of Jefferson are forgotten and the
works of Jackson cease to inspire
If we are to have reorganization, u
continues Bryan, cleveland himself
should accept the presidential nomin-
alton. 1t would be due him; his re-
instatement would be poetic justice to
him and retribution to those whose
democratic conscience revolted against
his un-democratic conduct. Of course
he would get no democratic votes, but
being closer to plutocracy than any re
publican likely to be nominated he
might divide the enemy, and even the
democrats would have what little con
ISOLATION would come from receiving
their disappointment in advance
Bryan says Cleveland's speech will
serve, a useful purpose. at outlines
the plan of the campaign decided upon
by the plutocratic elements for which
their organizers stand. Tariff reform
is to be made the chief issue, and the
men who voted for Mr.. Mckinley, the
high priest of protection, are to carry
on a sham battle with their compan.
ions of 1896, while the financiers make
the dollar redeemable in gold and fas
ten upon the country an asset curren
cy and branch bank systen.,
TRUSTS are to be denounced in So
norous terms while the campaign man
ayers mortgage the party to the trust
magnates in return for campaign
funds. Sometimes Imperialism will be
denounced as in the Hopkins Illinois
convention; sometimes ignored as in
Cleveland's speech; but whether de-
nounced OF ignored, the secret and 81
lent power that can compel submis-
sion to the demands of the financiers
and the trust magnates, can compe
submission to the demands of the
financiers and the trust magnates car
compel submission to the demands
of exploiters and representatives Of
militarism.
'The fight is on between democracy
that means democracy and a Cleve-
landism which means plutocracy. Ev.
cry speech made by Cleveland shows
more clearly the odiousness of the pol.
icies for which he stands. We have
more to fear from those who, like Hill
indorse Cleveland's views, but conceal
their real purpose in ambiguous Ian
guage."