The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-20

Mr.. Cleveland said:
Il have been urged to participate in
this occasion by those who have assured
me that this handsome structure is to
be dedicated tonight to the rehabilita-
ton and consolidation of the Democrat
ic party, under the inspiration Of
name which. during the days of Demo-
cratic strength and achievement, was
houored in every Democratic household.
Such an assurance made to one who fol
lowed with hearty devotion the leader
ship of Samuel J. TiIden when living,
and who has since found in his career
and fame the highest incentive to Dem
oCratic steadfastness. could hardly fail
TO overcome the temptations of my con-
tented retirement from political actiV-
ity. Perhaps there are those who could
define my position as one of Danish
ment instead of retirement. Against
this I shall not enter a protest. Tt is
sufficient for me in either case that
have followed in matters of difference
within our party the teachings and
counsel of the great Democrat in whose
name party peace and harmony are t.
night invoked. No confession OF party
sin should therefore be expected Of me.
I have none to make nor do I crave
political absclutiOn. / am here to take
counsel with others protesting the same
party faith concerning the Democratic
situation. I suppose we are all con
WINGED that this situation might be inn
proved, and some of us may think it is
perilously undermined. Whatever the
me 2sure Of it's impairment may be, our
condition as an organization cannot be
improved by calling each other harsh
names. nor by inaugurating a system
Of arbitrary prescription and Danish
ment- The members of a business firm
in financial embarrassment should not
sit down and look in each others faces
in mute despair neither viii they re-
gain financial sOundness or the conf
denCe of the business community by
Tecrimination and quarrel, nor will any
members of the firm aid in its res tora-
ton to solvent strength by an angry
insistence upon continuation of the
business methods which have invited
the embarrassment.
''Fhe Democratic party is very far
from political insolvency, but no Ons
here should be offended by the sugges-
ton that its capital and prospects have
suffered serious injury since Mr.. Tilden
was elected president. Then and after
wards northern Democratic states were
not rare curiosities; northern Demo-
crauc senators, now practically extinct,
We're quite numerous and northern Dem
ooratio governors, now almost never
seen, were frequently encountered.
II this state of impairment exists, an
instant duty presses upon the managers
OF the Democratic estab lishn emit and
one which they cannot evade with hon
o. Those of us less prominent in the
party-the rank and file-are longing to
be led through old Democratic ways to
old Democratic victories. We were
never more ready to do enthusiastic
battle than now, if we can only be mar
shaled outside the shadow of predes-
tined defeat. Is it too much to ask our
leaders to avoid paths that are known
TO lead to disaster? Is it too much to
ask that proved errors be abandoned
and that we be delivered from a body
of death. and relieved from the burden
of issues which have been killed by the
decree of the American people2 Ought
we not to be fed upon something better
than the husks of defeat? If these ques-
tiens are met in an honest, manly fash
ion, I believe 1t viii be productive of
the best kind of harmony.
In dealing with new issues we Of the
Democratic faith are extremely for
tunate in the SIM licity Of Democratic
standards and the ease with which new
questions can be measured by those
standards. A party based upon care for
the interests of all the people as their
aggregate condition demands, with no
unjust fav0ritism for any particular
class, a party devoted to the plan OF
popular government as our fathers or
dained it and for the purposes which
they sought to establish; a party whose
conservatism opposes dangerous and
unAmerican experiments and yet puts
no barrier in the way Of genuine and
SAFE progress, ought to be able to deal