The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-09
WHY PARTY
 IS. DIVIDED Democrats Must Back to Princjs ss.
 >s- E1JusTIcE sEN STEAKS Letter is$ Read From Grover
 Cleveland. AtJsckson Day Dinner of National pemeerasie, Club, speaker Plead. For Return of old-Time
 Policies.

For Return of Oid-Tfme Policies.
 New York. Jan. S--Speaking on the 1 topic: Why is the Democratic Party Divided" Morgan ]. O Brien. ex-Justice of the Appellate Division of the News York Supreme Court, who was the guest of the National Democratic Club l tonight, declared that if4t the causes that have divided ths Democratic Far 1 ty were summarized, It woald be found that they have been due to cur, failure to stand firmly for Democratic principles. to preference shown .hy some for popular drifting sentiment as contrasted with sound doctrines, and to a preference for men rather than a rev. erenee for party traditions" The dinner. which; was primarily in celebration of Jackson Day, 1t was also announced by John Fox, president of the club. was. the first of a series at which national and local Democratic Issues would be discussed. The discus sions, it was further said, would In effect be educational, to help Democrats to decide wisely the future course of the party. .N< +%
 Ex-President Grover Cleveland, who was unable to be present, sent hts com piimerits in a letter in which he ex- pressed the conviction that the situa- tion confronting the people had di- reoted their attention more to their re- lief from conditions that alarmed and startled them than to the empty satis- faction of partisan supremacy Lauds Gfeveiand and Parker. Ex-Justice OsBrien. after referring in highly complimentary terms to MT. Cleveland, and, by inference, to ex- Justice Alton B. Parker, as an 'ideal candidate" said;
 "The aims and principles of the party have been so frequently stated in plat forms and public addresses, and so well .summarized In .Jefferson's first inaugural address, that 1t Is unneces- sary to repeat them at length; but in, passing it is proper to, note that when ever the party stood firmly and united ly for these principles, we have never met with a defeat, and. 1t has only been when the party has been divided; be- cause of the hope that success would result from following some shifting popular senttmanfs or sNIne naw and | impracticable reform, that we have met with overwhelming and deserved de- feat. To ascertain the cause of this, we need but to look carefully into the campaigns that have been waged and contrast the men and the measures that were successful with the condi- tions that existed at the time of de- feat"
 Saving that he had been informed that one of those invited had declined an invitation to the dinner because the speakers views on certain public questions were opposed to those of MT. Bryan. Justice o'Brien said that It was just such intolerance that had been the greatest stumbling block to the success of the Democratic Party. He added:
 T extend to MT. Harry W. Walker the compliments of the season and ask him to read. learn, mark and in wardiy digest the statement made by Samuel J. Tilden in letter written to Daniel Manning In 1884, that neither the Democratic party nor the Republi- can Party can ever be dependent on one man for it's successful progress in the path of noble destiny"
 Letter from NHr. Cleveland.
 The letter from Cleveland follows:
 T very much regret that I am mex orably obliged to decline the courte- ous invitation I have received to at- tend the Jackson Day dinner to be given by the National Democratic Club on the sth instant -,
 T am intensely interested in every effort to revive genuine and effective Democratic sentiment, and to restore the Democratic courage, consistency and confidence, whose necessity to our party's success and usefulness has been so often demonstrated in the past,
 Tt Is but natural that those who have followed all their lives the Dem- ocratic standard should longing1y de- sire their party's success; but this suc- cess cannot be gained by either shout ing our party name, or attempting ufi. Democratic experiments.
 T am profoundly impressed by the conviction that the situation now con. Nagr 1n.. .H n. rected their attention more to their relief from conditions thSt alarm and startle them than to the empty satis- faction of partisan supremacy
 Our country needs conservatism, re- cuperation from nervous prostration, reinstatement of constitutional observ- ance, buoyant but none the less safe and prudent Americanism, scrupulous care of every person and every interest entitled to care and a square deal that means exacs and honest equality before the law and under constitutional guar anty ~
 "These things are still among the possessions of true Democracy and Democratic patriotism. sincerity and wisdom demand that our party in this l time of need, should unitedIy offer | them to our countrymen.
 My regret that must be absent l from a Jackson Day dinner, where the | atmosphere must be so thoroughly | Democratic, Is intensified by my close l friendship and admiration Nor the guest | whom your club will especially honor | on that occasion. It would be an un- ] usual and memorable qualification if I l could add my tribute of praise to one | who by nature. by convictlon, by clean | party service and by clear understand | ing of party doctrine has so well earn | ed Democratic confidence and devotion | as Morgan J. O'Brien.
 "Yours very sincerely,
 Grover Cleveland"