Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-03
Henry Watterson Scores At
tempt to Drag in Cleveland.
AGAINST THE RESOLUTIONS
Denounces Proposed Plan Of Tribute
at Denver.
CALLS JUDGE TOOL OF CLIQUE
Says Scheme Is "Not Only Disgrace
full, But Its Motive Grotesquely
and Transparency Obvious"

LOUISVILLE. July 3.-1n a commentary
yesterday upon the New York statement
that Judge Alton B. Parker had been Sc
lected to present resolutions at the Dem
yer convention upon former President
Cleveland's death. Col Henry Watterson
said:
THE attempt to drag the body Of
Grover Cleveland from its newly made
grave into the tumult of a national con-
vention will deceive no one. An invasion
of the grief of the noble lady who weeps
amid the silence and the solitude Of the
granite hills. blow at party concord, 1t
is the act of shameless hypocrites-
Nor was ever a professional ghoul in
spired by a more mercenary spirit, be-
cause the sole aim and end Of the Muir
phy-Conners crowd. aided by Judge Park
er. is the perpetuation Of the ascendancy
of the Belmont-Ryan combination. to
which democracy owes its last fgnominious
and we'll deserved defeat. 1t was Bel
mont Ryan money that financed Judge
Parker's campaign for the nomination in
1904. 1t was Belmont-Ryan money that
nominated him. and II was the Belmont
Ryan tag that made an antitrust govern
ment under such a brand absurd and i'm
possible
1T seemed fitting that. having made
sacrifices for predatory wealth, Judge
Parker should have his recompense in a
rich law practice in the city of New York.
He has had It, and with 1t and its en-
richment he should rest we'll content. That
he should emerge from this highly paid
obscurity to make trouble through sheer
malevolence were pitiable indeed: but that
the trust magnates and traction thieves,
appealing to Jefferson and Tilden, the
body Of Cleveland stretched upon the dis
secting table is disgraceful
1t Is not only disgraceful, but Its mo-
tive is grotesquely and transparently OBJ
vious. The wing of the democratic party
in the state OF New York to which Judge
Parker and the group with which he Is
now acting belong was the David Bennett
Hill wing. They were the inveterate, the
implacable enemies of Grover Cleveland.
They hated him and he hated them.
although, amid the gloom of defeat,
kind OF truce was reached. there was
never a real amnesty or oblivion on either
SIDE so that the scheme to recall the
shade of Cleveland and to set this up as
deathshead in the comedy of mock
funeral would be too dastardly and too
CHASTITY for belief If it were not the last
politicians, seeking to rule or ruin at any
cost.
Would Let Cleveland Rest.
standing about the open grave of Mr..
Cleveland. those of US who knew him but
did not always approve him or agree with
him were not only willing that bygones
should be bygones. but that the good
alone should live after him. He Is dead.
He sleeps with those that went before
from jefferson to Tilden. and history can
be trusted to do him no injustice. Resur- |
rected at Princeton and proclaimed at
Denver, his name spells firebrand, and
only frebrand. and firebrand is the sole
initiative and purpose OF the body |
snatchers who propose to use 1t to conJure
dissenson while they try to corrupt dele |
gates.
In Mr.. Bryan and reunited party
democrats saw hope Of victory. On none
other was there the smallest hope of
union. That they reason truly has been
shown by the fact that, with the Ryan
Belmont barrel on tap. and its agents
state. refusing to be tempered with or
tainted. has declared for the Nebraskan.
Seeing this. Judge Parker Is put forward
to deliver the final stroke of the brave.
and under the pretense of honoring the
memory of Cleveland, to plunge a blade, |
reeking with poison. artfu,ly prepared.
into the heart of democracy. That he
should lend himself to such Villainy Will
and the detestation OF the thoughtful
democrats.
Talks Common Sense and Decency.
There is no more reason why a demo-
cratic national convention should 60 out
of its way to signalize one former demo-
cratic President than another. why it
should rush upon Cleveland with frenzy
of words and with a hysterical Shrek or
should rush upon Buchanan: each, Buch-
anan and Cleveland. having had the mis-
fortune to divide the party. The spectacle
in the case Of Mr. Buchanan would lack
common sense. In the case OF Mr.. Cleve-
land it lacks both common sense and COM
mon decency.
"As well dig up the will of Mr. Tilden.
which Judge Parker decided against the
instructions and wishes of the Sage of
Greystone. and make 1t the subject of
eulogy for the sake of controversy. AS
we'll invoke the spirits of the warning
democrats of 1860. and seek to force the |
Douglas men to pay tribute to the Brock
inridge men,
Under any condition and from any
quarter the proposal to revitalize old quar-
rels by preamble and resolution on the
threshold Of a national movement would |
be thrown out as insane. Coming from
Corners and Murphy, from Belmont and
Ryan, from Parker and Sheehan. 1t will
be thrown out as Infamous. They must
defeat U.S. but they cannot debauch U.s."