Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-06-13
PILGRIMS TO THE TILDEN SHRINE.

PILGRIMS TO THE TILDEh SHRINE.
On June 10Th there is to be Demo-
cratic pow WOW in New York, the &C.
casion being the Inauguration OF the
new Tilden club. A large body OF
prominent men will be there, calling
themselves Democrats, men from both
wings of the party we are told. We
have never admitted that the Demo
cratic party had two wings, but some
alleee that it has. If SO it flies lOpsided,
because one wing-the great wing
which polIed in 1896 one million more
votes for VIM. J. Bryan than Grover
Clev Gland ever got when he was elected
lie so huge beside the poor, weasened'
shrivelled little bit of an excuse Tor a
wing which went to Palmer and Buck
ner. and carried but one precinct In
the United States, and that precinct
where not over Is votes were cast,
that creature with two such wings
could never be classified. but would be
a rara avis, belonging to no known
species, and inhabiting no known
planet.
The chief attraction 10 said to be
Grover Cleveland, "that stalwart DEM
ocrat, that Gibraltar which has stood
and will forever stand against popu-
lism and anarchy" A secondary at
traction is to be possibly, but OF this
there seems to be doubt, "Wm. ). Bry-
an, the populist, the advocate OF that
D ernicious doctrine Of free silver and
other feresies which have proven so
baleful to the welfare of the nation"
These in fine are what the Republican
press, and that SO called press which
was bought bag and baggage in 1895.
and which would have been bought
again in 1900 had 1t been worth buying,
and a lot of stray sheep from the DEM
ocratic fold, say of Cleveland and
Bryan.
1t is supposed that out of this pow
WOW a Democratic annunciation OF
principles will be evolved. Some say
Cleveland and Bryan will embrace,
and Bryan will admit the error OF his
way and the great Grover will forgive
him and allow him to 60 and assume
a sitting posture way back In the
Democratic party. Then Grover will
again tell the party what it ought to
do. will choose a leader for them, and
start them again in the path Of right
and virtue, and retire to the
classic shades of Princeton, having
again demonstra ted to mankind that
he is the wisest and greatest statesman
and leader who ever rose, or reigned,
o. fell.
II any portion of this millennium
comes to pass on the 10th then we may
look for the entire millennium to take
place. The lion and the lamb will
surely lie down together and a little
child shall lead them. 1t is true that
there will be few on hand, who, when
the great Grover has spun his long
and impressive sentences, imagine
that the six millions of voters who
stood by the Democratic party, it's
nominee and its principles in 1896,
when Grover skunk away, and when
his trail, like that of the serpent, was
over many who had boosted, as did
Peter, of their loyalty, will shout
amen, and leap for JOY. We suppose
there will be some whose imagination
will lead them into such realms, but
for moment only. The emerging of
Grover from innocuous obscurity will
of course be awaited with interest, but
when he has uttered bis dogmatic doc
trines, and told the party what fools
they have been he will find that he is
not dealing with his cabinet whose
noses he took between his thumb and
finger and led them where he wot
The American people If they admire
any traits of character, those traits are
gratitude, loyalty, and sincerity. These
have never existed In Grover Cleveland
and should he attempt his dogmatic
rule with them, as he has exercised 1t
oyer others, notably his cabinet, they
will laugh him to scorn. they will spew
him out Of their mouths, as In fact
they have spewed him out of their re-
gard and out of their politics. He
should speak at Roosevelt or Hanna
clubs where he belongs, and where be
would find the environ ment suited to
his tastes, his opinions and his actions.