The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-05

receptive candidate for the presidential
nomination since be delivered that speech
on the relation of the South to the negro
at the Booker Washington meeting at
New York Until that speech nobody
knew his views upon the question he
there discussed. He made it clear that
he wished the Southerners to understand
he sympathized with their view and
trusted to their better judgment to solve
the difficult problem.
At the recent Educational Conference,
Mr.. McKelway, editor of the Brooklyn
Eagle, in a magnificent speech, under
took in three separate ways to boost Mr..
Cleveland and to set influences in motion
that would further his candidacy for the
presidency He did it with great skill
and effectiveness, wisely commencing and
applaudng Mr.. Cleveland's recent New
York speech on negro education. OF
course the audience cheered that senti-
ment, for in the main they approve Mr..
Olevelands sensible utterances. 1t
seems that the eloquent editor of the
Brooklyn Eagle mistakes the approval
Of Mr.. Cleveland's speech on the negro
question and the applause given to him
for his most eloquent speech, to desire
on the part of the South to see Mr.
Cleveland nominated in 1904 In his
article. printed on Sunday, Mr.. McKelway
says that mixing at the recent educa-
tional conference at Richmond with
governors, judges, college presidents,
chancellors of universities, superntend-
ents OF public schools, editors, clergy
men, and bankers" he found them agree
ing that Mr.. Cleveland was 1.-THE only
Democrat who ought to be nominated or
who could be elected"
Mr. McKelway evidently didn't talk to
many members of that conference. There
were no doubt number of men there
as warm admirers OF Mr.. Cleveland as
Mr.. McKelway and they communed to-
gether, and came to the conclusion that
out of the 6,5Oo,O 900 Democrats who voted
for Bryan; the 100000 who voted for Nc
Kinley: and the 5000 who went fishing
on election day there was only man in
America who fought to be nominated
or who could be elected" When these
excellent gentlemen read the proceed
ings of the next National Democratic
Convention they will be "cussing' the
eleven jurors who disagreed with them,
for, while some excellent gentlemen would
like to see Mr.. Cleveland renominated
they are comparatively very few in num-
Der. If McKelway and the other friends
OF the ex-President believe that the De-
mocracy will seriously consider the NOM
ination OF Mr.. Cleveland, they know very
little of the temper of the unterrified
Democracy of America. No man who
owed all his political honors to the
Democratic party. and as its chief office
holder turned every agency of the gov
eminent to defeat the regularly nomina-
ted candidate Of his party can ever be
the nominee OF the Democratic party for
the presidency
There Is no use to recount the bitter
ness of the past. 1t were worse than
useless to revive the controversies that
caused the selection (for he was not
elected fairly OF Mr.. Mckinley in 1896
1t ought to be manifest to every Demo
crat in America that the suggestion of
Mr.. Cleveland to the G,5O0,OOO Democrats
shaking red rag in the face of a mad
bull They hold Mr.. Cleveland chiefly
responsible for the disaster of 1896 Moth |
ing can change their opinion that il he |
had supported Bryan as loyalty as Bryan |
supported him in 1884, 1888 and in 1892 |
Mr.. Bryan would have been elected in
1856. They are as firmly convinced of
that fact as Mr.. Cleveland's friends are
convinced that the nomination Of Mr. |
Bryan caused the Democratic defeat of
1896 and 1900. Both may be wrong. but
both these factions in the party believe
they are right.
If there is anything that seems to be |
true beyond a doubt it is that in 1904 |
neither Mr.. Cleveland nor Mr.. Bryan |
could be elected. 1t is quite as true
that no man who was conspicuous In ma
tional leadership, in either faction, can |
reunite the party. 1t is even more true |
that any serious attempt to restore Mr.
Cleveland as the standard bearer would /
be disastrous to the hopes of patriotic |
Democrats everywhere who are looking |
to a reunited party to restore the Democ-
racy to power. The supporters of Mr. |
Bryan have no right to demand that the
of 1904 be waged upon the issues |
of 1896 and 1900. The supporters Of Mr. |
Cleveland have no right to demand that /
the principles contended for in 1896 be
repudiated. The Democrats who think
L A.