The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1902-06-27
Mr.. CLEyELAND'S SPEECH.
Ex.President Grover Cleyelan

Ex-Presldent Grover Cleveland
spoke at the opening of the new
quarters of the Tilden Club in New
York last Thursday evening, and
his remarks have been widely pub
lished throughout the country and
favorably commented upon. Mr..
Cleveland has been twice honored
with the highest Office within the
gift of the American people. He
now has retired to private life and
will never again be candidate, but
he loves his party and is devoted to
its principles and he hopes to see it
again in power. Because he had the
courage and manhood to stand by
his honest convictions, abuse and
censure were heaped upon him by
those who differed with him. 1t
fell harmless upon the broad should
ers of the statesman. He is to-day
the greatest of living democrats,
hence what he has to say deserves
consideration. His words appeal to
reason and common sense. Below
we publish a part of his address,:
have been urged to participate in this occas-
ion by those who have assured me that this hand
some structure is to be dedicated to- night 10 the
rehabilitation and consolidation of the democratic
party, under the inspiration of name which du
ring the days of democratic strength and achieve
ment was honored in every democratic household
followed
hearty devotion the leadership of Samuel j. Tilden
when living and who has since found in his career
and fame the highest incentive to democratic
steadfastness, could hardly fail to overcome the
temptations of my contended retirement from pO
liical activity. Perhaps there are those who could
define my position as one of Punishment instead of
retirement. Against this L shall not enter pro-
test. 1t is sufficient for me in either case, that
have followed in matters of difference within our
party, the teachings and counsel of the great dem
ocrat in whose name party, peace and harmony are
tonight invoked. No confession of party sin should
therefore be expected of me. have none to make !;
nor do crave political absolution. l am here to
take counsel with others protesting the same party
faith, concerning the democratic situation. i sup
pose all convinced that this situation might
be improved, and some of may think it is peril
ouslv undermined Whatever the measure of its
impairment may be- our condition organiZa
ton cannot be improved by calling each other harsh
names, nor by inaugurating a system of arbitrary
prescription and Punishment. The mem bers OF a
business firm in financial embarrassment should
not sit down and look in each others faces in mute
despair; neither will they regain financial sound
ness or the confidence of the business community
by recrimination and quarrel; nor will any mem
Der of the firm aid in its restoration to solvent
strength by angry insistence upon continue
ton of the business methods which have invited its
embarrassment.
The democratic party is very far from political
insolvency, but no one here should be offended by
the suggestion that its capital and prospects have
suffered serious injury since Mr. Tilden elected
president. Then and afterwards northern demo
cratic states were not rare cuoiOsities. Northern
democratic senators, now practically extinct were
quite numerous, and northern democratic govern
ors, now almost never seen, were frequently en-
countered.
If this state of impairment exists, an instant
duty presses upon the managers of the democratic
establishment; and one which they cannot evade
with honor. Those of us less prominent in the
party-the rank and file-are longing to be led
through old democratic ways to old democratic vic
tories, We were never more ready to do enthus-
iastic battle than now, if we only be MARSHALL
ed outside the shadow of predesined defeat. Is it
too much to ask leaders TO avoid paths that
that proven errors be abandoned and that we be
delivered from a body of death, and relieved from
DEGREES OF the American people? Ought we not TO
be fed upon something better than the husks of de-
feat? If these questions are met in an honest.
manly fashion, l believe it will be productive OF
the best kind of democratic harmony.
In dealing with the new issues of the demo
cratic faith extremely fortunate in the sim
plicity of democratic standards and the ease with
which new questions cen be measured by those
standards. A party based upon care for the inter
ests OF all the people their aggregate condition
demands, with no unjust favoritism for any partic
ular class, party devoted to the plan of popular
purposes for which they sought to establish;
party whose conservatism opposes dangerous and
I'm American experiments and yet put no barrier
IN the way OF genuine and safe progress, ought to
be able to deal with questions in manner
quite consistent with democratic doctrine, and
stimulating to democratic impulses and instincts.
Let us not forget, however. that it is not in the
search OF new and gaudy issues, nor in the inter
probation of strange visions that strong and heal
thy democracy displays its splendid power. An
other party may thrive on the ever shifting treat
ment of the ever shifting moods of popular rest
prejudice and selfish anticipatiOn-but the demo-
cratic party never. democracy has already in
store the doctrines for which it fights its successful
battles; and it will have them in store as long as
the people are kept from their own, and just as
long as their rights and interests are sacrificed by
faVorltlsm IN government care-Dy inequality IN
government burdens by the encouragement Of
huge industrial aggregations that throttle individ
ual enterprises-by the reckless waste of public
by the greatest of all injuries, as it
underles nearly all others, system of tariff taxa
tion whose robbing exations are far be yond the
needs of economical and legitimate government
xpenditures-which purchases support by appeals
TO sordidness and greed and which continually cor
ruptS the public conscience.
What but infatuation with the visage of defeat
can explain the subordinatiOn of these things by
democrats when they prepare for battle7
If we are to have rehabilitation and realign-
ment of our party in the sense suggested it is i'm
portant that it be done openly and with mystery
or double meaning. Our people ore too much on
the alert to accept political deiverance they do
not understand; and the enthusiasm of the demo-
era tic rank and file does not thrive on mystery
The democratic harmony of which we hear so
much, cannot be effectively construed by mathe-
matical rule nor by a formal agreement on the
part of those who have been divided, that there
shall be harmony. 1t grows up naturally when
true democratic principles plainly announced,
when democratic purposes honestly declared, |
and, when as result of these, confidence and en-
thusiasm stir the democratic blood. 1t such
harmony as this, growing out of such conditions,
which with the battle cry of ''Tilden and Reform"
gave the democratic victory of 1876 against odds
great enough to discourage any but harmonious
democracy, and against opposing force brazen
and desperate enough to take from us by downright
robbery what the voters of the land gave to us.
believe the times point to another democratic |
opportunity near at hand but believe shall |
reap the fruits of it only by following the lines OF
conduct have indicated. In any event have an |
abiding faith in the indestrucabiity of the party
which has so many times shown its right to live !
md its power for good and am sure the reserve |
If patriotic democratic wisdom will time de-
,lare itself in the rescue of country and our
party.
My days of political activity past; and |
hall not hereafter assume to participate in party
councils. / am absolutely content with retirement,
)ut shall still have one burning, anxious political
SEPARATION. i want to before / die the restora-
ion to perfect health and supremacy OF that demo-
aCy whose mission it is to bless the people a de- |
nocracy true to itself-untempted by clamOr, I'M
moved by the gusts of popular passion. and uncor-
upted by offers of strange alliance; the demOcra- |
y of patriotism the democracy of safety; the de-
l.