Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-18
MR.. CLEVELAND.

Saturday Evening Post, of Philadelphia,
former President Cleveland urges his
crank and file associates" of the demo-
cratic party to unite and take advantage
of the opportunities of next November.
IL am one of those" he writes, "who
believe that there is an opportunity for
democratic success in the coming
Presidential election. Though attach
ment to the party in which | am enlist
ed. and an intense desire for its ascend
ency. make such belief exceedingly vel
come, they certainly do not create it.
II is built upon an mistaken and abiding
trust in the patriotism and intelligence
of my fellow countrymen."
Mr. Cleyeland's paper opens with a
reiteration of the declaration that he
made three years ago:
"Our fighting forces will respond list
lessly and falteringly if summoned to a
third defeat in strange cause ; but il
they hear the rallying call of true demoC
racy they will gather for battle with
oldtime democratic enth usiasm and
courage"
Referring to his faith in his Democrat,
associates, he continues
"This trust will not permit me to
overlook the meaning OF the daily in
creasing unrest among our people grow
ing out Of the startling and hlppant
abandonment by the party in power OF
our national traditions and maxims, it,
disregard Of our national moral restraints,
it's nconsiderate tendency to set aside ma
tional good faith, its Willingness to break
away from safe and accustomed moOrings,
and its contemptuous neglect Of our ma
tional mission.
"Surely these conditions, together with
the broken pledges and forgotten prom
ises of reform that vex the sight on every
side, not only abundantly explain the
popular distrusl and fear prevailing
everywhere in the land, but suggest that
in such stress of political weather those
Of our fellow-citizsns who thoughtfully
and constantly love our free institutions
will not be unmindful of such safety and
quiet as may be offered them by a pa
triotic and conservative democracy"
Mr.. Cleveland thinks these conditions
Justify the assertion Of democracy's OPP
portunity. He says:
at should be remembered, however,
that opportunity may be only distantly
related to actual accomplishment, and
that it does not of itself, unaded 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 meaning. The
democratic party has message tc send
to its followers and to the masses of the
American people. Let that message be-
expressed in language easily understood,
unconfused by evasion, and untouched
by the faint of jugglery. Obsolete issues
aud questions no longer challenging pop
ular interest should be manlully aban-
dOned."
Mr. Cleveland urges tariff reform,
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 Philippine policy, and refers
to the isthmian canal in these words
"The democratic party has been con-
sistent and unremitting in its advocacy
OF an interoceanic canal, and has with
the liveliest satisfaction looked forward
to the day when snch highway of com
morce, built under the auspices of our
government, would be contributed by
America to the worlds progress and
civilization. 1t is, nevertheless, not
within the mandates of the democratic
creed that, even in concentrating so noble
an enterprise as this, the territorial
rights of any other nation should be dis
regarded, or that our own national good
faith should be subjected to reasonable
suspicion"
Mr.. Cleveland concludes as follows:
at such time as this the democrat
ic party cannot, with honor, undertake
the battle of the people except under a
leader that not only represents its best
traditions and purposes, but fully real
ICES what is meant by the tremendous
issues of the conflict; and this selection
should not depend upon 50 small a CON
sideration as the locality whence he
comes.
"eThe democracy's opportunity is al
ready in sight. but only in a campaign
waged in reliance upon the peoples love
of country and devotion to national moral
ity, under leadership that personifes
these sentiments, will be found the dem
ocracy's hope"