The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-09-17


01ovBH CLryNkND'4 INGeAoB
10 THB AlfDMCAN PBOPLE
Tho New York Times Of August 80
published = posthumous article. writ
ton by Grover Cleveland just before
his death, on the political situation in
America. This article was to have
been followed by two others, but these
his last Illness and death prevented
him from writing. Internal evidence
indicates that he had not opportunity
to revise this first article, and to such
lack of revision, and to his failing
health, must be attributed certain in
felicities of expression by which 1t is
characterized These do not, however,
deprive it of its peculiar Significance.
Mr.. Cleveland was a representative
man, as well as recognized political
leader. 1t is therefore safe to assume
that this article rightly interprets the
Views of q large number Of so-called
Cleveland Democrats, and will have
great influence upon all that class OF
citizens, and their name is legion, who
were inclined to follow his leadership
while he was living. The article is
characterized by his usual indepen-
dence and his habit OF saying what he
meant and meaning what he said. He
urges similar independence on others.
"The population OF some of the New
England states Is SO inherently Repub-
lican that the fallacy would be palp-
able indeed that would not earn their
support, just SO 1t had the approval of
the leaders of the Republican party.
On the other hand, the South has long
taken a stubborn, foolish pride in its
enlistment under the Democracy, and
has stood like rock in Its partisan
ship" at times to It's great and mani
fest disadvantage. Realities, not SYM
bOls, principles, not words, counted
with Mr.. Cleveland, and while he
makes no attack upon MT. Bryan, he
makes it clear that he regards Bryan
ism as destructive of the democracy In
which he believes, and that the best
way to advance that democracy is to
defeat Bryanism. True Democratic
principles, he anticipates, will assert
themselves in the future, perhaps I'M
der different panoply, and perhaps
with a reincorporation OF the decayed
fragments of an organization that
failed to serve it's purpose" Regard
ing the issue before the American peo-
pie as essentially one between Social
ism and semi Socialism and Its Oppo-
nents, he explicitly indorses the cam
didature of Mr.. Taft His personal
tribute to Mr.. Taft is worth quoting
in full:
There is fear on my part of being
misunderstood in what am about to
say, but surely the fair-minded man
must realize when he considers my at
titude towards my own party, all now
matter of immutable record, that 1T
is prompted by sense OF simple fair
ness. Personally and officially have
had the opportunity ct knowing many
things concerning Mr.. Taft that were
not matter of general knowledge, and
with keen interest I have watched
his large share in the conduct of our
National affairs in very recent years.
His excellence as federal judge In
Cincinnati is something not to be UNI
derestimated or Overemphasized, for
should he come to the presidential
chair the qualities which made him
"a Judge of high ability which l know
him to have been, will be the most
needful to him as president OF the
United States. His high ideals of hon
esty and of relative justice, his great
capacity for severe labor, and his
humorous wisdom in the face of the
serious problem are attributes equally
valuable and commendatory to people
seeking him in whom they may repose
the trust OF their collective interests
while they turn their increased atten-
ton to their pressing individual de-
mands.
Mr.. Cleveland does not, however, adj
vocate the election OF Mr.. Taft as the
lesser of two evils He signifies a
cautious, but unqualified approval OF
the more essential principles and poll
cies OF the Republican party as inter-
preted by Mr.. Taft. The four most
prominent questions before the coun-
try are our colonial policy, our So
called military policy, the tariff, and
the trusts Mr.. Cleveland affirms that,
whether Americans like it or not,
America has become extended a7si
must pursue a policy which will unity
its various heterogeneous elements:
Dwelling on the unwisdom of pre-
maturely acquiring colonies is fatuous,
the National duty is neither to keep
those colonies for their exploitation
nor to cast them of to avoid the bur-
den of their responsibilities. The
QueSJlOns involved are no MOlc maj
ters to be narrowed through the mill
OF politics than is the policy OF the
Panama canal something to be
stamped either as Republican or DEM
ocratic. These questions are fruitful
of trouble and perturbation, and the
primary requisite OF the man or men
who must deal with them is an abund-
ant knowledge of the people of the out
lying domain. That Mr.. Taft is pos
sessed OF this knowledge as Is no other
man in the country is hardly to be
denied" zEl.
The peril that might be involved In
Mr.. Bryan's election Mr.. Cleveland not
obscruresly indicates in the sentence,
1.-THE misery and misfortune which an
ignorant or obstinate administrator,
no matter how high the ethical stand