The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-18
coon pE,rocRArrc TALK.

Democrats of the country nave spoken in the persons of Grover Cleveland and Richard Olney, and it win be we'll for Democrats all over this land if they will lay aside prejudice and hearken to the words of wisdom these men have uttered. We know there are Democrats all over the country who almost foam at the mouth when Cieveiand's name is men, toned, and who stand ready to asperse his political character and to discredit his utterances, but the lime for that is passing away and it win be we'll for the party and the country when all this kind of feeling is buried along with the false political theories which gave birth to and encouraged it.
 As might be expected when two really great men, thoroughly grounded in the principles of genuine Democracy. and thoroughly familiar with the conditions now existing. give public utterance to their thoughts there is practical agree ment in their sentiments. They both see that there could hardly be a better or more favorable time for Democrats to hark back to what are universally agreed to be Democratic principles, and make the fight on that line. leaving out refer ence to the disturbing causes which have lately rent the patty. at least for the present. with the hope and belief that they will eventually cease to have weight or to divide Democrats.
 It was to be expected of MT. Cleveland that he would insist on making the tariff the dominant issue In the coming strug- gle. He is 50 fully identified with, and has so long been an advocate and ex- ponent of the Democratic doctrine of a tariff for revenue only that he was sure to make that the prominent feature in anything he might say to the public. And he knows. too. ..-.s is recognized by all Democrats now as a genuinely Democratic doctrine on which all may agree. and upon which they can har- monize. The differences of opinion which have so divided Democrats on financial questions are not now vital, and there can nothing good come of disputing and quarreling over them. The next national will settle that question. and though we may argue 1t fin the meantime 1t is not a subject to split the party on.
 But the tariff question need not wait till 1904 for it Is all the time with us, and all can see the injustice, inequalities and downright robbery of the present sys- tenn, and of the trusts, which are it's legit- innate offspring. Democrats may differ honestly about gold and silver. but there Is no need for them to differ on the sub- ject of correcting the real and many evils directly from our present tariff laws. The old veterans, as MT. Cleve- land calls them. have behind them the experience and recollection of tariff fights and triumphs of other days. as well as an experience of the hurtful effects Of some of the old duties. but the young men of the party should be encouraged and trained to take up the fight for tariff reduction and carry 1t forward. even if the conflict lasts till the veterans in poli- tics have laid down their arms for good It must and should be a fight to a finish, and the time for 1t is always the pres ent And. In this connection we quote this paragraph from the interview with MT. Cleveland:
 I am at loss to understand by what process e reasoning the notion has gain ed q footing in certain Democratic quar- ters, not only that no importance at taches to a Democratic ascendency in the of aNof but that 1t might be advantageous to party prospects in l904, for 1t to continue in it's present minority now Political warfare ought to be regarded as continuous and if the results battled for are worth hay ing at all. they are worthy of our best efforts at all times and under all circum- stances. Constant vigilance and unre- leDting attack are essential to victory Armies are captured by first driving in the outpoSts.
 This is the advice of one well qualified to advise and who outlines the policy for Democrats to pursue. We may not be able to coetrol the next House. but a Congressman gained Is so much advance made. Each Democratic member added to those already in the House lessens the power for evil of the Republicans and encourages the Democrats to further eff forts. To say that we need not try to obtain possession of one department of the government because we cannot get all of it at once Is bad advice, bad reasoning and bad politics. As well might soldier say there is no need to capture one de- tachment or post of an enemy because he can't get all of them at one coup. MT. Cleveland's reasoning is sound
 Mir. olney's Boston speech was largely devoted to other matters than the tariff, but his scorehing arraignment of Repub- lican methods, Republican sins of com- mission and omission. and of the need of a change was directly along the line of true Democracy. His charges against the istration were direct calls to Democrats to set to work at once to oust that party from power and to bring the government back to those Democratic principles and policies which were once recognized as the foundation stones of national pros perity When he pointed out the faults of the party in power he was at the same time showing Democrats that it is their dutv. to, alAtsin control of the government and administer its affairs according to Democratic principles
 As we have intimated it is to be ex- pected that the utterances of these dis tinguished Democratic statesmen will cause unfavorable comment in some quarters, but that will not in any degree lo.roo+ eroY, +ba forea of thai- v.,oras or