The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-24
of Weight From the Demo-
cratic Ex.Prcstdcnt.

LAND laid down Yesterday In q rem ark
able communication to the Neu York
World is Of interest to citizens Of all fac
tons Of all parties.
Scarcely less significant, perhaps, is
the satisfaction with which the former
leader Of the Democracy regards the
prescn, political situation. Assuming
that the party will now again be true 10
itself and its principles, Mr.. CLEVELAND
sees nothing but reasons for confidence
and hope. Our party he says, has
certainly rcgained it's old-time fighting
condition and recovered the morale that
promises old-time success and prestige.
These expressions of encouragement
and hopefulness derive considerable i'm
portance from the source from which
they come In his views of public affairs,
and particularly of political conditions
affecting election probabilities, the ex-
President has never been a statesman
prone 70 foolish optimism. II is not the
habit Of his mind to generate rainbows.
He is a cool and experienced observer
of fluctuations in popular sentiment, and,
as things stand to-day, at least, per-
fectly DISTINGUISHED observer.
Tho issues specifically mentioned by
Mr.. CLEVELAND as affording promise.
in connection with an absolute abandon
ment of the Populstic or SoCalistic poll
cies which have wrought disaster to the
Democracy IN the past two Presidential
elections, are these, briefly stated:
IL - f,,s l.
steps away from highly protective
tariff system and in the direction Of
tariff For revenue. Mr.. CLEVELAND does
not now use the phrase tariff for revenue
only"
?. Opposition to aggressive expan-
sion, as incompatible with what has
always been regarded as safe American
ism" We suppose this means anti
imperialism but there is nothing in Mr..
CLEVELAND statement OF the issue that
necessarily implies the abandonment
either " territory or of duties and re-
sponsibities already acquired or in
CURED
3. The growth OF trusts, so far as
that growth -stifes healthful COMPETE
ton and throttles individual enterprise :"
Here again it will be noted that Mr.
CLEVELAND has nothing but pernicious
monopoly in mind; and that he stops
abort Of any recommendation or even
mention of a measure so clearly repug-
nant to true Democracy as the amend
ment of the Constitution in order 10 in
vest the Congress with unlimited super
vision and control OF all business within
the States, thus giving it the power Of
life or death over individual enterprise
or associated enterprise everywhere in
the land.
4. The stupendous Governmental ex-
travagance that now prevails, This is
the old Tilden issue, on the strength of
which, mainly. the Democracy elected
it's candidate for President in 1876 and
gained the impetus which enabled it
both to elect a President in 1884 and to
inaugurate him in 1896, in the person of
Mr.. CLEVELAND himself. The scrutiny
Of Government expenditures is legiti-
mate and respectable proposal on the
part of any party in opposition, and.
after long periods Of comparative neg
lect or Indifference ii is always a desir-
able issue to be raised in the interest OF
good government
Such is the programme outlined by
Mr.. CLEVELAND rs a substitute for the
recent vagaries Of Organism. Our pur-
pose ia to state it rather than to dis
cuss it in detail. We may say, however
that there is no item of the Cleveland
platform. barring possibly the last men
toned, which has not recently had analo-
extreme and disturbing expression within
the Republican party itself,
In other words, the Democratic ex-
Presidents advice TO his party brings nc
new firebrand to fash it's baleful light on
the existing structure Of national pros
perity. The questions raised by him in
general way in his Princeton manifesto
aim no new form of dynamite at the
foundations Of public confidence in the
stability Of our Institutions and system
On the question Of Federal interference
with the business activities Of the coun-
try, for aught he says, it is quite con
ceivable that the development of the ISSUE
under his guidance might put the De
mocracy on the conservative side IA OPP
posed to radicalism in some Republican
quarters.
Nor is there any new frebrand in the
tariff issue, As to the effect upon bust
ness Of renewed attack on the protcc
tive principle, under Mr.. CLEVELAND,
auspices. two things may be said. Ii
the first place, il carried TO the extrem,
81 academic violence such an assault
could become present menace 70 pros
peri,y only in the event of Republican
cooperation in Congress sufficient il
volume to make the enactment of anti
protective legislation an actual danger
II could become future menace only b,
the election Of Democratic Congress
and Executive upon that very issue; ant
after the experience Of the past ten years
and the past two Presidential elections
every citizen can form his own idea o
the likelihood Of such a catastrophe Ii
The second place. Mr., CLEvELANp's care
fully considered language leaves Us il
doubt rs to how far his own rccolleCt io
of ,hp noodles. havoc ,yrcnpht NM,