The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-18
He SEES A CHANCE.
Cleveland Urges Democrats to
Seize Their Opportunity.

Philadelphia, Feb 1S.-In an article
written for this weeks Saturday Even
ing Post, ex-President Cleveland urges
his rank and file associates OF the
Democratic party to unite and take ad-
VANTAGE NJ the opportunities of next
November.
Il am one of those" he writes, who
believe that there is an opportunity for
Democratic success in the coming pres
identtal election. Though attachment
to the party in which I am enlisted
and an intense desire for its ascend
ancv make such d belief exceedingly
welcome. they certainly do not create
It It is built upon an unshakeh anu
abiding trust in the patriotism ana IN
tellfgence Of my fellow countrymen-
Mr.. Cleveland's paper opens with q
reiteration of the declaration that ne
made three years ago on our nenLhs
forces will respond listlessly ana Ialter-
ingly If summoned TO third de1eat IN
a strange cause, but if they hear the
rallying cry of true Democracy they
will gather for battle with old-tlme
Democratic enthusiasm and courage
Referring to his faith in his Demo-
cratic associates he continues:
This trust will not permit me 10
overlook the meaning Of the daily in
creasing unrest among our people,
growing out of the startling and flip
pant aDduQOuIAGlA ~ NA-S - - -
power Of our national traditions and
maxims. its disregard of our national
moral restraints. its incOnSlderate tend
ancy to set aside national good faith,
its willingness to break away from safe
and accustomed mornings and its con-
temptuous neglect of our national mis-
sion. Surely these conditions, together
with the broken pledges and forgotten
promises OF reform that Vex the sight on
every side not only abundantly explains
r1afr- 1TesrTr
everywhere in the land. but suggest
that in such stress of political weather
those of our fellow citizens who
thoughtfully and constantly love our
free Institutions, Wal not be unmindful
OF such safety and quiet as may be
offered them by a patriotic and con-
servative Democracy
Mr. Cleveland thinks these conditions
justify the assertion Of Democracy's
opportunity He SAYS: TT should be
remembered, however, that opportunity
may be only distantly related to actual
accomplishment, and that it does not of
itself. unaided and alone. warrant the
expectation of reaching successful re-
suits.
This is no time for cunning 1nesse,
nor for the use OF words that conceal
intentions or carry a double meaning.
The Democratic party has a message
to send to its follows and to the masses
of the American people. Let that mes
sage be expressed in language easily
understood unconfused by evasion and
untouched by the faint of jugglery. OBJ
solete issues and questions no longer
challenging popular interest should be
manfully abandoned"
Mr.. Cleveland urges tariff reform,
pleads for economy in the expenditure
of public money, and charges the OPP
position with having made promises
and broken them.
He arraigns the administrations
Philippine policy and refers to the 18th
Inian canal in these words:
The Democratic party has been con-
sistent and unremitting in its advocacy
Of an interOceanic canal, and has with
the Hveliest satisfaction looked for
ward TO the day when such a highway
of our government, would be contrib
uted by America to the worlds progress
and civilization. 1t is, nevertheless,
not within the mandate Of the Demo-
cratic creed, that in communicating SO
noble an enterprise as this, the territor-
iai rights of any other nation should
be disregarded, or that our own nation
al good faith should be subjected to
reasonable suspicion"
Mr.. Cleveland concludes as follows:
AT such a time as this the Democratic
party cannot with honor undertake the
battle of the people except under a
leader that not only represents its best
traditions and purposes, but fully re-
Allies what is meant by the tremen-
dous issues of the conflict. and his Sc
lection should not depend upon so small
a consideration as the locality whence
he comes.
The Democracy's opportunity is al
ready in sight, but only in a campaign
of country and devotion and national
morality. under leadership that person
flies these sentiments, would be found
DemOcracy's hope"