Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-23
NEW LEADER FOR DEMOCRATS
is WANTED, SAYS HOKE SMITH
Speech to Society Western New York Geora
that Mr. Bryan Must Recognize the Sound
ness of This view-He Pays High Tribute to Cleveland.

| BUFFALO, n. Y, March Ex-Governor
Hoke Smith, of Georgia, was the princi-
pal speaker at the banquet given in this
city last night by the Democratic club
of western New York in celebration of
the anniversary of the birth of Grover
Cleveland.
Governor Smith paid a high tribute to
Mr.. Cleveland, describing him as rug
ged honest and capable"
He said the Democratic party should re-
/ turn to the paths in which it Travelled
/ when it was led by such men as Cleve-
land, Tilden and Seymour. He called
| forth considerable applause when he said
/ that a new man should lead in the next
contest. and that Democrats with whom
he had consulted were almost unani-
! nous in that sentiment He believed that
Mr. Bryan recognized the soundess of that
view.
/ Governor Smith saidE
Il deem it an honor to speak to New
York Democrats in the city of Buffalo on
the anniversary of the birth Grover
| Cleveland.
| Since the administration of President
Washington our party has, in every cleo
| tion, been one of the two great political
organizations contending for control.
| Until fifty years ago it was usually sue
/ cessful
Tonight as we consider the principles
! and future of the Democracy, we may
well turn our thoughts to the only repre-
sentative of the party, who in fifty years
/ has been elected and inaugurated.
AT the time OF the first nomination
| of Mr.. Cleveland his official record was
| short. He had gone from the office If
| sheriff to that of mayor, from the may
orally to the governorship.
HE was a plain Democratic citizen
with strong mind, cautious and we'll ball
/ anced. His great characteristic was fl
! deity to his conception Of duty, but this
characteristic was so marked that from
| IL followed tireless industry and unyield-
ing courage. He detested graft in any
form, whether it consisted of directly
/ plundering the treasury or of using office
| for personal or pecuniary gain however
indirect.
Rugged, Honest, Capable"
He believed and practiced the doc
trine that public office should be used
/ for real public service. He earnestly
sought to prevent special privileges and
TO bring about equality of opportunity
for every citizen.
MIR. Cleveland was rugged, honest and
capable, an old-fashioned Democrat with
| out frills He advocated principles be-
cause he believed them to be right. He
was no opportunist. To his convictions
he was always steadfast. Like the stur-
| DIV oak of the forest, other trees might
| be more beautiful but none so sure to
| stand the storm.
Mr.. Cleveland boldly advocated con-
| structive measures. He sought to present
them IN a such a way that they would
! be understood by the voters. He did not
] fail to express a sound Democratic doc
| trine in the interest of good government
! and the masses of the people because 1t
was at the time unpopular. He believed
| In popular government and he trusted his
| fellow citizens to eventually see the
right.
'.The two great problems under consid-
Grafton during both of his administra-
| lions were sound money and tariff re-
form.
"In/his first administration, long before
the country at large had realized the dan
ger of flooding our currency with depreci-
sted coin. he called attention to the. dis
parity in value between the amount of sill
Yer nut into a dollar as compared with the
amount of gold put into dollar He
| warned congress that the continued. In
crease of circulating medium based upon
! deprecated silver would demoralize bus
mess and bring on panic.
Republican Blunders
Mr.. Cleveland closed his first admin
istration with the treasury full of money,
| with the credit of our country standing
high abroad and with general prosperity
at home.
During the Harrison administration
which followed, instead of taking Mr..
Cleveland's advice upon the question Of
| silver. the Republicans increased great
" the circulating medium based upon sill
yer by passing what was called the Sher-
! man purchasing act. This legislation In
tensified the unsound condition of our fl
| nances and Mr. Cleveland returned to the
white house a second time in find the
treasury empty and gold rapidly leaving
the country. His second administration
inherited the panic brought on by Repub-
lican plumbers.
MIR. Cleveland began his fight for
tariff reform by the splendid message
sent to congress during his first admin
istration.
He recognized fully the fact that q
system of taxation not made for the
purpose of raising revenue, but largely
intended to aid special interests to COL
lect from the great body of buyers of
our country exorbitant prices for what
they purchased, was morally as well as
economically wrong.
ITO take away from the citizens of the
United States the privilege of buying the
products of their own country AT the
prices at which the same products were
| SOLD TO the ClllZens VI lOASlSh SONANAASS'
is so inexcusable that it scarcely de-
serves discussion. 1t is the very essence
of special privilege to the few and extra
burdens to the many.
Mr.. Cleveland continued his fight for
tariff reform during his second admin
istration and had he received that loyal
support from all Democrats which he
deserved, a measure would have been
passed satisfactory to the country.
Fundamental Democratic Principles
--"The doctrines of sound money and
tariff for revenue were democratic in
principle and by tradition.
Mr.. Cleveland perhaps should have
used more diplomacy with party leaders,
hut we may we'll congratulate ourselves
that few Democrats today fail in COM
plete loyalty to the doctrines both OIL
sound money and tariff reform.
This is no time for vacillation. we
flying his bursting heart: After ALL was