Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-07-10
THE CLEVELAND RESOL UTION


said about the cleveland Resolution"
which we understand Judge Alton b.
Parker has presented to the Denver
1t is natural that Judge
Parker and those who think as he does
should wish to place eulogy of Mr..
Cleveland in the imperishable litera-
ture of the Democratic platform, as
well as take fling at the other wing
of the Democracy. 1t is not unnatural
on the other hand that a party which
Mr.. Cleveland wrecked should not be
overly Jealous in subscribing to the
proposed Parker monument. 1t is well
known that the praise of Mr.. Cleve-
lands career as president comes al
most entirely from, Republicans, and
the Democratic minority. James Rus
sell Lowell, who, when aided by the
most powerful telescope, never discov-
cred any sphere worthy of his attention
or praise in the political sky of the
Democratic party, save Grover Cleve-
land, said, "He was the most typ
cal American since Lincoln"
The New York Evening Mail, as I'M
swervingly Republican as the most
said: Ellis place in fame
will be that of a President with lofty
purpose, brave heart, patriotism
MOI nd
of tried and mounting
quality"
These are samples of the esteem in
which he was held by that party gen
orally, and voices the esteem enter
tanned by those of his own party who
have in mind sentiment, action and
principle, gone over to the Republican
party, following the Cleveland leader
ship. 1t is plain that Republicans do
not praise political actions unless they
are in unison with their tenets, and
they do not go out of their way to
praise honesty unless that honesty has
benefited them. Cleveland's ''hOneSty
and Americanism" were so truly Re
publican in a party sense, so exactly
what that party wanted, that when
they procured through him, that which
they wished, to their own strengthen
ing, and naturally to the destruction
of the opposing party, they could not
withhold adulation, and fulsome adu-
latiOn at that, of the man who had laid
in their lap the garnered treasure they
sought, but which their own cleaners
had either not found or were unwilling
to harvest, viz: the right of wealth, to
continue its lordship over the poor, the
dominion of Capital over Labor, and
the bankers coveted gold standard.
The corporation press has on the occa-
sion of his recent death revoiced its
praises, and the gold element of the
Democratic party forming glittering
tail to the Republican comet, has taken
up the refrain, and has gone with it to
Denver, to shout it into Democratic
ears, and fling it into Democratic faces.
They do this not for the purpose of
raising higher the pinnacle to which
Mr.. Cleveland's memory is to be lifted,
nor to really exalt his virtues, but to
stir up strife, if possible, in Democrat
ic ranks. So anxious, in our opinion,
is Judge Parker for Democratic defeat
this fall, that he will seize upon any
weapon with which he can strike the
party secret blow. In this he has
many supporters. These will be found
fulsome in their praises of Mr.. Cleve-
land. They will look upon everything
as reasonable which will go to take
out of this resolution any words that
will smoothe down the pill they intend
administering to Mr.. Bryan and his
loyal supporters. The object of their
resolution is therefore unworthy of
high and honorable men. They are
handling the remains of their patron
saint as they would handle bludgeon,
when his memory should be handled
by them, if they love it, with the deep
est reverence. We, personally, have
no objection to resolution laudatory
of Mr.. Cleveland. He was great man
in many respects, and whilst he left
no party, his memory can be addition
ally preserved by his friends in the
mode they have sought at Denver
whilst those who once followed him,
but dropped out when he, his cabinet
and few followers, marched into the
Republican camp, can sit by and adj
mire the zeal of those who have apoth-
eosized him, if they cannot shout their
entire approval of their would be great
work, or the motive prompting their
action. 4