The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-23
CLEVELAND TO DEMOCRATS.
SAYS THE PEOPLE ARE READY
FOR a CHANGE.

Unrest Exists Because OF Abandon
ment Of National Traditions For
mer President Says Party viii Mo-
Respond to Call to Third Defeat ir
Strange Cause.
In An article 10 the Saturday Evening
Post former President Cleveland nrge'
his rank and file associates OF the Dem
ocratic party To unite aud take advan
tage OF the opportunities OF next Noyem
Der.
"I am one of those" he writes, who
believe that there is an opportunity for
/ Democratic success in the coming Presi
| Dental election Though attachment to
the party in which | am enlisted, and Al
intense desire for its ascendency. maker
such belief exceedingly welcome, they Ger
tainly do not create IL. Ii il built upon
an unshaken and abiding trust in the
patriotism and intelligence Of my fellow
countrymen
Mr. Cleveland paper opens with re-
iteration OF the declaration that he made
three years ago:
Our fighting forces will respond list-
lessly and falteringly II summoned TO a
third defeat in a strange cause; but II
they hear the rsllying call of true De
mocracy they will gather for battle with
old-time Democratic enthusiasm and
courage
Referring TO the faith he has in his
Democrat associates he cOntinues.
This trust will not permit me 10 over
look the meaning of the daily increasing
unrest among our people growing out oi
the startling and tlipDant abandonment
by the party in power OF our national
traditions and maxims, its disregard OF
our national moral restraints, its iucon-
siderate tendency 10 set aside national
good faith. it's Willingness u break
away from eaie and accumstomed moor
ings, and its contemptuous neglect Of our
national mission.
surely these conditions, together with
the broken pledges, ana forgotten prom
ses Of reform that vex the sight OH every
eide, not only abundantly explain the
popular distrust and fear prevailing
every where in the land, hut suggest that
10 such stress of political weather those
Of our fellow citizens who thoUghtiully
and constantly love our free institutions
will not be unmindful of such safety and
quiet a. may be offered them by "a pstri-
otic and conservative democracy
Mr.. Cleveland thinks these conditions
Justify the assertion Of Democracy's op-
portunity. lie says:
"It should be remembered, however,
that opportunity may be only oistaotly
related TO actual accomplishment. and
that it does not Of itself, unaide1 and
alone, " warrant the expectation OF reach.
ing successful results.
This is no time for cunning fnesse,
nor for the use OF words that conceal in
tentions or carry double meeni' Z. The
Democratic party has a message To send
TO its followers and to the masses OF the
American people. Let that message be
expressed in language easily Understood,
unconinsed by evasion, and untouched
by the taint Of jugglery. Obsolete issues
and questions no longer challenging pop
ular interest should be manfully aban'
dOned.
Mr.. Cleveland urges tariff reform pleads
for economy in the expenditures Oi pub
| lie money, charges the Opposition win
having made promises and broken them,
and arraigns the administration Philip
pine policy.
Mr.. Cleveland concludes as follow:
! a"At such time a. this the Democratic
party cannot, with honor, undertake the
battle of the people except under leader
that not only represents its bert tradi'
tions and purposes, but fully realizes
what il meant by the tremendous issues
of the conflict; and his selection should
not depend upon so small a considsra
ton as the locality whence he comes.
"The Democracy's opportunity ia al
ready in sight, but only 10 campaign
waged in reliance upon the peoples love
Of country and devotion to HatiOne
morality, under leadership that per OH
ties these sentiments, will he aud tho
Oemocracy's hope.