New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-20

Nr. Cleveland continues 10 wake the echoes
With his oracular wisdom. To an Grant party
De still expands what he conceives TO be the
;ruc faitll-tO develop what he holds to be the
trLe teachings or jefferson and jackson His
latest deverancC- published an The Philadel-
phia saturday Evening POst"-shows no de-
partTe in spirit or substance from many pre-
vious utterancoS Tho c2-prcsident feels now.
as be has always felt that the party's only
safety iie> in tdc acceptance and practice OF
conservative democracy" What 'conserva-
tive Democracy" really is Mr. Cleveland leaves
largely 10 sUgml-c In general it seems to in
cludc those opposition p0licies-reduction OF the
tariff. cheesepariES IN expenditures and restric-
ton Of federal Uower-on which the Demo-
cratic party has won ia oCr day its lnfrequent
national victories. But II this programme OF
Regati0n is ;4u thar conservative Democrac y"
means. We fear that Mt Cleveland will have
some difficulty in imposing It on a party which
is suI instnctvely swayed by the ideals Of
Jefferson and ~ Jackson
The OK President does not seem 20 see that
conservative Democracy" is in itself a poIit-
seal contradiction. Without paradox il is impos-
Slble to link the names Of jefferson and Jack
son with any body Of conservative" doctrine.
Jefferson was a rodical-one OF the EXTREMIST
radicals OF his day. Jackson was equally the
embodiment OF radicalism-Of progress toward
n newer and more democratic political order
There was no faint OF conservatism IN their
teachings though policies they advocated may
have been converted under changed conditions.
70 conservative uses.
Jefferson set 1p his doctrine OF States rights
in order to fortify his demand for a weak cen
frai government. A century ago strong cen
trail government was held 70 be the greatest
peril to individual freedom. States rights were
q barrier raised by the radical Democratic lead
ers to protect the individual against the gov
eminent Since JefIerson's time the strength
OF the individual has grown stupendously.
Through the fiction OF corporation he may con-
troll power beyond the imagination OF the
frumers OF the Constitution. Constrainin-. as
" does the nations capacity 20 deal with in
diri3uRls OF with corporations, the strict con
structiOn theory has now become an instrument
OF conservatism. JacksOn's advocacy OF hard
money" was similarly phase OF his attempt
90 limit federal power by killing the United
States bank. Yet in OR day that policy could
be turned 10 conservative uses in the fight
against rreenbackism and silver imitation.
But In so FAR as Democratic theories have be
come conservative" they have ceased in the
main, 10 reflect the purposes OF their orig
iuatOrs. The Inheritance OF jefferson and Jack
son Is a radical Inheritance To the historian
who traces the progress OF parties in this coun-
try there can be no doubt that the Democratic
party is. and VIII remain, the party OF radical
ism. Tempted by expediency or the hope Of
spoils, r. may try TO hide its spots. Il may &C
cept temporary conservative leadership But
IN every serious crisis OF public feeling il will
cast aside Its conservative cloak ana show itself
the same agency OF radicalism II was in 1900
under jefferson. in 1880 under jackson and in
1896 under Bryan.
In recent review Of cur party history by Will
lam CARROT Brown that discriminating critic
5uEtly says:
SO Far as Organism was definite programme
y was contrary 10 many Democratic precedents.
1''f so far a. y was a popular movement 30