The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-21
Outlook For Democracy
As Cleveland Sees 1t
Parker's Telegram Filled Blank in Disabled
Platform Gave Leadership TO Democratic
Cause, and Rallied Supporters"

Grover Cleveland. in fulhllment of his
promise to give public expression TO his
opinion on the Democratic platform
and the Presidential nominee, OF the
party. gives his views in a copyrighted
article appearing in the current Col
liers Weekly under the caption
STEADY. Democrats, Steady"
If sometimes during the past week
those most earnestly and prayerfuIly
sOlicitous for the complete restoration
of the Democratic party to health and
sanity have felt depressed by certain
conception incidents relating to the
money question it is certainly now time
for them and for all who love true
Democracy TO calmly survey the situa-
ton as Il appears since the dust and
swelter of convention controversy have
passed away.
Such a survey is full of congratu-
| lation and hope. In the first place, it
creates the assurance that the national
| Democracy as an organization has been
freed from the financial decisions that
| have made il weak. and has entered
upon a period Of old-time vigor and
strength. This is too apparent for de-
NAL. No action of Democracy's repre-
| sentatives assembled IN the late con-
vention can be construed in any other
way than as an acknowledgment of the
| establishment Of the gold standard and
] 4 willing pledge to its maintenance. This
condition should of itself be sufficient
/ 10 so fill our measure Of satisfaction
as to cause us TO forget any fears. or
/ trepidatiCn that may have VeXed US dur
/ ing the days just past.
The Gold Standard.
! I do not overlook the fact that two
/ rtv,F, DTa frF nf
/ people stand recorded in favor Of the
/ gold standard, and that its pcrpetuity
! has been secured by Federal enactment;
! but / insist that in refusing 10 iuIulge
/ any further free-silver or douola-stand-
/ ard vagaries the convention did not. on
| account of existing conditions, rIertly
make a virtue of necessity. bUt that it
/ voiced instead an actual and wholesome
! change in sentiment among the rank and
/ hle OF Democracy. Herein IS round
] abundanty sufficient cause Tor graft
/ tude and cOngrS .ulaaOn on the part Of
all those who love true Democracy.
/ want to go further than this and to
! express reverent belief that certain
I convention occurrences apparently un-
| toward have worked together for De-
! mOcracy's good, and that happy out
] come has been reached through lead
| ing wiser and more certain that the W.T.
/ Of man could have devised. Senat tor
! Tillman and / have occasionally differ
ed. but I hope he will take no cffensa If
1 applaud and give hearty concurrence
to his expression of the belief that
| Providence has taken kindly hold on
| our affairs
Would Have Committed Party.
OF course It would have been a mat
ter Of great satisfaction to those Of us
who have always been unyielding and
insistent gold-standard Democrats II We
| could have had a declaration in the
platform committing our party IN dis
| IincI terms 70 the acceptance and con-
slant defense and maintenance Of the
gold standard-nOJ because Of IN unCX-
pected increase in gold production, but
on grounds of economic wisdom and ma
tiOnal honor.
As protestations of affection never
fatigue. so those who supremely love a
safe standard for our peoples money
| cannot hear too often that the gold
standard is immutably fixed. Neverthe-
less as an original proposition, such a
platform assurance was not necessary
| either on sentimental grounds or 10
tain. They were as unchanged bly, set
tied as they could be with or without
platform declaration.
Grave Omission.
II must be confessed, however. that
forbidding portents We're seen In the
| Democratic sky when a platform de-
] Iiverance intended 10 pass as a recogni-
ton and approval Of the gold standard