The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-18
# RdIyIng Note is True Party
Will Gather for Battle
As Of Old
REPUBLICANS DISREGARD
NATIONAL TRADITIONS
Democratic Fighting Forces VIII Re-
spond Listlessly and Faiteringiy
II Summoned to Third Defeat
In Strange Cause.

Philadelphia, February 17.-In an article
written for this weeks Saturday Even
ing Post, former President Cleveland
urges his frank 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 for
democratic success in the coming pres
idential election.
Though attachment to the party In
which / am enlisted and an Intense de-
sire for its ascendancy, make such a be-
lief exceedingly welcome, they certainly
do not create 1t. 1t is built upon an un-
shaken and abiding trust in the patrio-
tism and intelligence of my fellow ccui-
trymen"
Must Be True Democracy.
Mr.. Cleveland's paper opens with re-
iteration of the declaration that he made
three years ago, our fighting forces will
respond listlessly and falteringly IL sum-
moned to a third defeat in a strange
cause but If the rallying note Is Of true
democracy they will gather for battle
with old-time democratic enthusiasm and
courage
Referring to his faith in his democra-
tic associates, he continues:
This trust will not permit me to over
look the meaning of the daily increasing
unrest among our people. growing out
of the startling and hlppant abandon
ment by the party In power to opr nat
ional traditcss ana fnaA,ms. is airegad
OF or national moral restraints. its i'm
considerate tendency to set aside nat
ional good faith its willingness to break
away from safe and accustomed moorings,
and its contemptuous neglect Of our nat
ional missions
Explain Popular Distrust.
Surely these conditions, together with
the broken pledges and forgotten prom
ises of reform that vex the sight ON
every side, not only absolutely explain
the popular distrust and fear prevailing
everywhere in the land, but suggest that
in such a stress of political weather those
of our fellow citizens who thoughtfully
and constantly love our free institutions,
Will ont be unmindful of such safety as
may be offered them by a patriotic and
conservative democracy"
HE says:
This is no time for cunning hnesse nor
for the use OF words that conceal inten-
uons, or carry double meaning. The
democratic party has message to send
TO its followers, and to the masses OF
the American people. Let the message be
expressed In language easily understood.
unconfused by evasion and untouched bv
the taint Of jugglery. Obsolete issues and
questions no longer challenging popular
interest should be manfully abandoned"
Urges Many Reforms.
Mr.. Cleveland urges tariff reform;
pleads for economy In the expenditure
OF public money and charges the OPP
sition with having made promises and
broken them. He arraigns the admins
trations Philippine policy and refers 10
the isthmian canal In these words:
THE democratic party has been con-
sistent and unremitting in It's advocacy
of an inter oceanic canal and mas with
the liveiiest fashion looked forward to
the day when such highway of commerce.
built under the auspices of our governs
ment. would be contributed by America
to the worlds progress and civilization.
1t is nevertheless not within the mandates
Of the democratic creed tnat. even in con-
summatng so noble enterprise as this,
the territorial rights Of any other nation
should be disregarled, or that our own
national good faith should be subjected to
real suspicion
Mr.. Cleveland concludes as follows:
Must Represent Best Traditions.
AT such time as this the democratic
party cannot with honor undertake the
battle of the people. except under leader
that not only represents its best tradi-
tions and purposes, but fully realizes
what Is meant by the tremendous issues
of the conflict: and his selection should
not depend upon so small a consideration
as the locality whence he comes.
THE democrats opportunity Is already
in sight; but only in campaign waged
in reliance on the peoples love of coun-
try and devotion and national moralit,A
under leadership that personifes their
sentiments. would be found democracy's
hope