Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-11-18
Friday, November 10, 1904.
THE LOGICAL RESULT.

The Democracy, that is the "Safe
and Sane Democracy" has hardly yet
recovered from the dazed condition in
which it was left after the battle OF
the Sth, if indeed the affair can be dig
nified with the name of battle. The
solar plexus it received will possibly
be recovered from in after life, but
that light weight champion will never
again appear in the ring.
How pitiable it was. how puisne,
how infantile. Of course opinion will
differ in a measure as to how it all
happened, but public sentiment is fast
turning. toward the real source. The
cause must be traced back to it's origin
and that origin is Grover Cleveland.
The treachery that brought about
the downfall began with him, the des-
truction of the Democratic party was
wrought out and consummated by
him when he entered upon his second
term as president, which he did with
the largest popular majority any can
didate had received in years, and with
a majority over Gen. Harrison of 1872
in the Electoral College, and also
with both houses OF Congress at his
back. This had never been the Dem
ocratic condition before since 1861.
What was the result2 At the end of
the four years following that election
the party was without organization.
Cleveland was discredited, and since
that term has been absolutely unable
to hold or control respectable follow
ing. Those who have praised him as
the greatest statesman of modern
times, and who. advocate his policies
and his actions, are usually either
now openly in the ranks of the Repub-
cans or almost certainly will be there
in a short while. When Mr.. Cleveland
refused to pay the obligations of this
government in the coin of this govern
ment-but with millions of silver in
the National vaults for the payment
of debts, went to work and borrowed
gold to pay them, thus piling up
bonded debt in time of peace with the
treasury bursting with the money of
the government, from that day his
name became bywOrd and a jest with
Democrats, and his usefulness depart
ed. But he not only went among the
flesh pots himself in his disregard for
his obligations as president, but he
carried with him all of bis cabinet and
a number Of other people who were
duped by his sophlstry or proflting by
his methods.
Carrying such weight as be then car
ried among monied people. who wheth-
er Republicans or Democrats. stood
with corporate power, he succeeded in
defeating the Democratic nominee, and
thus installed the policies which have
ever since obtained. firing, however,
of his work and seeing the monstrous
ends to which it was drifting, he. with
some DESERVING followers, began an
effort to overthrow their idol and tear
down their charnel house and the re-
suit Of that effort was the nomination
of Judge Parker. Judge Parker was
far too decent man to have fallen
into such company, but their siren
song allured him, and the result is
history.
Those who talked about Bryan dis
organizing and disrupt1ng the party
have now not believer save in them.
selves. Bryan would have far e1celled
Parker in the popular as we'll as the
electoral vote had he made a third
race, and the truth of the situation is
that if the Democratic party ever re-
covers from Clevelandism it must do
so largely on the platform and princi-
pies which Mr.. Bryan enunciates.
Today and during the last eight years
he is the only man who has developed
any leadership, and in the United
States is the only man who has a
personal following. To him must real
Democrats turn, and those who cannot
must turn to Mr.. Cleveland and the
Rep ublican party, where they naturally
belong.