The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-02-25
CLEVELAND'S PLATFORM.

litioal import that has been published
the past week in this country appears
in the current issue of the Saturday
Evening Post. 1t is emit tied The De-
mocracy's Opportunity 'and is an enun-
ciatiouby ex-President Grover Cleve.
land of the main issues which he be-
lieves theDemooratic party should raise
in the coming campaign. Coming as it
does from man who three times led his
party in the political fray who twice
won the fight, who lost his hold on
his party and has for nearly eight
years been classed as renegade by
the new leader, hut who is being
listened to once again with something
like difference by at least a portion Of
that party, his latest contribution to
the political literature OF the day will
attract attention and comment
throughout the land.
Mr.. Cleveland declares it to be his
belief that there is an opportunity
for the SUI cess Of the Democratic
party. In support of that belief he
points to signs of return to united
action by the party and harmony in
it's councils. But it should be noted
that while talking harmony he strikes
blows at the Bryan wing of the party
which are likely to be anything but
conducive to that harmony. He refers
to the "fatuous persistence in new
and strange party councils" which
have twice brought defeat, the need
of casting away un-American baubles,
and disdaining the brides of selfish
ness, and of returning to "the I'M
adulterated creed of genuine and safe
Democracy.
The ex-President advocates plat
form expressed in language easily
understood, unconfnsed by evasion,
and untouched by the faint of jug
glery,' with obsolete issues and
questions no longer challenging popu-
lar interest manfully abandoned. For
the principal planks he proposes ::
Tariff reform; attack upon existing
tariff as beneficial to monopolies;
economy in public expenditures; that
the people of the Philippine Islands
should be aided in the establishment of
government of their own, and that
when this is accomplished our inter-
ference in their domestic rule should
cease. The Panama canal is discussed
briefly and favorably but it is insinu-
DF
honor laid up against the Republicans
in the matter.
Such is the platform that the once
powerful Grover proposes. Will it be
endorsed by those now in control of
the Democratic party, or who will be
in control at the time of the conven-
tion in ST. Louis? Perhaps so. If it
is so endorsed and made the party
platform, will the voters endorse IL in
November? That is another question
altogether. Mr.. Cleveland advocates
the abandonment of obsolete issues, but
does not the tariff issue border on the
obsolete? Will not the unquestioned
and omnipresent prosperity of the
country count as stronger argument
concerning the tariff than any theo-
retical declarations and conclusions
that Democratic spell binders can pre-
sent?
Then again can any Democratic
stand against the trusts, supported
by any record the Democrats can show
on the subject, count very strong
against the actualities of the "'Inter-
state commerce. and "Sherman anti
trust acts" passed by Republicans and
now being enforced by. Attorney Gen
eral Knox in the famous merger"
case? Can any Democrats stand be
more satisfactory to the people on the
Crust" question than that of Presi-
dent Roosevelt? 1t seems very inn
probable. Economy In public expend-
itures? Details would be interesting.
particularly details of where Demo-
cratic administrations, even those of
Cleveland himself, have made mark
for economy as compared with the
Republicans, especially with nation
increasing in size, wealth, and re-
quirements at an unprecedented rate.
And is independence for the Philip
pines to be the magnet which will
draw the voters to the Democratic
standard? If the Democratic leaders
think so, they are violating none OF
their precedents for political acumer
that have been so we'll established
during the past eight years. 1t il
possible that they might be disillu
stoned in November
Cleveland's closing paragraph ma,