The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-02-25
CLEVELAND ON "UNITEp" DEMOCRACY
Ex-President Believes Next November
Presents an Excellent OppOrtu-
nifty fer the Party.

nifty fer the Party.
In an article for the Saturday Even
ing Post, former President Cleveland
urges his crank and file associates" Of
the democratic party to unite and take
advantage Of the opportunities Of next
November.
II am one Of those, he writes, ''who
believe that there Is an opportunity TO
democratic success in the coming pres
idential campaign.
Though attachment TO the party in
which am enlisted and an intense de-
sire for its ascendancy makes such 3
belief exceedingly welcome, they GER.
tainly do not create it. II is built upon
an mistaken and abiding trust in the
patriotism and intelligence of my fellow
countrymen."
Mr.. Cleveland's paper opens with 0
reiteration Of the declaration that he
made three years ago: "Our fighting
forces will respond listlessly and fall
teringly il summoned to third defeat
in 3 strange cause; but IL the raIlying
note is that OF true democracy they, will
gather for battle with old-time demo-
cratic enthusiasm and courage"
Referring to his faith in his demo-
cratic associates, he continues:
"This trust will not permit me to
overlook the meaning Of the daily in
creasing unrest among onr people,
growing out Of the startling and flip
pant abandonment by the party in pow
er Of our national traditions and max
inns, disregard Of our national moral
restraints, its inconsiderste tendency
to set aside national good faith, it's will
ingness to break away from safe and ac-
customed moorings, and its contemptu-
GUS neglect of our national mission.
Surely these conditions, together with
the broken pledges and forgotten
promises of reform that vex the sight
on every side, not only abundantly ex-
plain the popular distrust and fear pre-
vailing everywhere in the land, but
suggest that in stress OF political
weather those Of our fellow citizens who
thoughtfully and constantly love our
free institutions will not be unmindful
of such safety and quiet as may be Of
fered them by patriotic and conserva-
tive democracy"
He says: "This is no time for cum
ming finesse, nor for the use Of words
that conceal intentions, or carry dou-
Bile meaning. The democratic party
has q message TO send to its followers
and to the masses of the American peo.
pie. Let that message be expressed in
language easily understood, unconfus'
ed by evasion and untouched by the
taint of iugglery. 0bsolets issues and
questions should be manfully aban'
doned."
Mr.. Cleveland urges tariff reforms,
pleads for economy in the expenditure
OF public money and charges the oppo
sition with having made promises and
broken them. He arraigns the admin
istration's policy and refers to the 18th
milan canal in these words:
"The democratic party has been con
sistent and unremitting in its advocacy
OF an inter ocesnic canal, and has will
the liveliest satisfaction locked forwaft
to the day when such highway of com
merce, built under the auspices Of on
government, would be contributed b!
America to the worlds progress AM
civilization. It is nevertheless no
within the mandates Of the demociati
. creed that even in concentrating o
! noble an enterprise as this, the terrific
rial rights Of any other nation shout
: be disregarded, or that our own nation
1 al good faith should be subjected I
reasonable suspicion.
Mr.. Cleveland concludes 90 follows
"At such time as this the democra'
q ic party can not with honor undertaE
: the battle of the people except under
o leader that not oHly represents its be-
Q traditions and purposes, but fully rea
g ICES what is meant by the tremendor
IS issues of the conflict, and his select;o
Is should not depend upon so small col
sideration as the locality whence |
IN comes.
l. "The democracy's opportunity is q
g ready in sight; but only in q csmpais
IL waged in reliance ON the peoples To-
of country and devotion and nation
. morality, under leadership that perso
' ifies their sentiments would be four
dam ocrocvfm homo