Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1902 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

Cleveland Suggests Platform. Grover Cleveland and David B. Hill met on tlfe same platform in New York, and both talked Democratic unity and how best to restore the party to something like Its former prestige. The occasion was the opening of the Tilden Club’s new home. It was Cleveland’s first public appearance as a political speaker In five,, years and his meeting with Hill, his ancient enemy, on friendly terms gave the affair double significance. Ex-President Cleveland, who was introduced by President Dowling of the club, received a rousing reception when he rose to speak. He said: “I have been urged to participate in this occasion by those who have assured me that this handsome structure is to l»e dedicated to the rehabilitation and consolidation of the Democratic party under the inspiration of a name which, during the days of Democratic strength and achievement, was honored in every Democratic household. Such an assurance made to one who followed with hearty devotion the leadership of Samuel J. Tilden when living and who has since found In his career and fame the highest incentive to Democratic steadfastness could hardly fail to overcome the temptations of my contented retirement from political activity. “Perhaps there are those who would define my position as one of banishment instead of retirement. Against this I shall not enter a protest. It is sufficient for me in either case that 1 have followed in matters of difference within our party the teachings and counsel of the great Democrat in whose name party peace and harmony are tonight invoked. No confession of party sin should, therefore, be expected of me. I have none to make; nor do I crave political absolution. 1 am here to take counsel with others professing the same party faith concerning the Democratic situation. “I suppose we are all convinced that this situation might be improved; and some of us may think it is perilously undermined. Whatever the measure of its impairment may be, our condition as an organization cannot be improved by calling each other harsh names nor by inaugurating a system of arbitrary proscription and banishment.” After urging a return to the Democratic faith of the fathers, Mr. Cleveland said: “I believe the times point to another Democratic opportunity as near at hand, but I believe we shall reap the fruits of it only by following the line of conduct I have indicated. In .my event I have a comforting and abiding faith in the indestructibility of the party which lias so many times shown its right to live and its power for good, and I am sure the reserve of patriotic Democratic wisdom will at some time declare Itself in the rescue of our conn try and our party. “My days of political activity are past and 1 shall not hereafter assume to participate in party councils. I am absolutely content with retirement; but I still have one burning, anxious political aspiration. I want to see before I die the restoration to perfect health and supremacy of that Democracy whose mission it Is to bless the people, a Democracy true to itself, untempted by clamor, unmoved by the gusts of popular passion and uncorrnpted by ■offers of strange alliance —the Democracy of patriotism, the Democracy of safety, the Democracy of Tilden and the Democracy that deserves and wins success.” Hill Scores Roosevelt. Mr. Hill had also a noisy greeting. He devoted his speech largely to a severe arraignment of the administration’s policy in Cuba and the Philippine. He praised Hoar and scored Roosevelt. On the subject of Democratic unity he said: “There is substantial accord among the Democrats of the country upon all the timely issues which are now engrossing public attention. “We are all united In favor of the preservation of constitutional liberty wherever our flag floats. We are opposed as the permanent policy of this government to the maintenance of dependent colonies to be governed outside of the pale of the constitution. “Wo are all agreed that the civil should always be superior to the mill tary power. “We nil e<mcur In the principle that public taxation should be imposed for public purposes only. “We all favor freedom of commerce nnd therefore favor genuine reciprocity with foreign nations, but are all opposed to sham Republican reciprocity, which Is only another name for Repubflcan hypocrisy." One Difllculty of Democracy. A new departure of Washington society Is chronicled. It Is told that when the daughter of President Roosevelt entered the room In which n dinner party was being given nil the ladles present rose and remained standing until she was seated. The sentiment was expressed that tills should b« the custom hereafter. The trouble with this sort of thing In a democratic republic la the difficulty of fixing a limit. If the young lady is entitled to this allow of deference by (Virtue of bar father being President,

certainly the same sort of regard must be paid Teddy, Jr., and it will be a difficult thing to instill into the minds of his companions on the foot-ball field, for instance, that they must make way for the President's son when he comes charging down the gridiron with the foot-ball under his arm. The President is not a king, and no more sacredness/attaches to him and his than to any other citizen, and all. the efforts of those in love with the etiquette of courts cannot change the principle that the man elected to occupy the White House and perform a particular function In our government Is not a ruler, but a public servant.— Chicago American. Who Brought Anarchy Here? “Mobs of anarchists in control of Paterson, N. J., says a telegraph dispatch in the columns ’of a morning paper. “Silk mills partly wrecked with stones and bullets and employes terrorized and driven out,” the cheerful dispatch continues. “Threats to apply the torch,” it reads and so on and so forth. Awful, isn't it? Who brought these anarchists here? Who imported them into this country to breed disorder and murder—murder of even the gentle McKinley? There Is but one answer: The great corporations—the trusts. Efforts of American workmen to secure fair wages from corporations disturbed the latter greatly. “We will get men that will not strike,” they said. They got them. They brought over from Europe the men that are terrorizing Paterson now. They brought over tlie rattle from which the slayer of a President was lx»rn. And the trusts —the corporations—are to blame for the introduction of anarchists into this country—they and they alone.—lndianapolis Sun. Wage* and Cost of Living. In his report to the British foreign office Sir Percy Sanderson, British consul general in New York, presents some roseate figures as to the conditions of labor in America. He says that in the three years preceding 1901 wages in New York for instance rose from $2.78 to $2.91 in sixteen loading trades. But it is not to lie forgotten that against this increase of 10 per cent the cost of living rose 20 per cent. It makes little difference how much a man’s wages increases if increased cost of necessaries is to follow close at his heels. These things should not be forgotten in reviewing the lot of labor.— Boston Globe. Prodigality of Americans. The bllllon-dollar Congresss revolutionized the country in 18!*) and a two-blllion-dollar Congres may do the same thing in 1902. While there is no nation ‘n the world richer than the United States, it is also a fact that there is none that throws money around with such profuseness and wastefulness. The example is having its effect on the State and municipal governments aud on the great body of the people aud so willful waste is likely to bring about woeful want.—Pittsburg Post.

Not a Timely Slogan. Mr. Hanna's slogan for the coming campaign is: “Keep on letting well enough alone.” This will be an Interesting campaign cry for the people who are unable to obtain meat as food because of the exactions of the trusts. It will also be an interesting cry for the consumers generally whose income han undergone no material increase, but whose living expenses have doubled because of the control which the trusts have over the necessities of life. —Omaha World-Herald. Illinois on the Kight Track. The Democrats of Illinois who met In State convention Tuesday would not tolerate even a blinking and sidewise allusion to the silver itMue in their platform. They fell back upon fundamental principles as laid down In the declaration of independence aud the federal constitution, without any 1G to 1 interpolations. This Is as wise as it is satisfactory. State after State is finding the way back to the safe old Democratic roost.—Philadelphia Record. Just What He !■ Paid For. It may be true, as the President said, that "The average graduate of West Point during tills hundred years lias given a greater amount of service to tlie country through ills life than has tlie average graduate of any other Institution in this broad land." But on tlie other hand, isn't that what the government lias educated him, paid him and expected him to do?—Boston Transcript. Senatorial Inconsistency. It has been declared on the floor of tlie Senate by some of the nntl-recl-proclty Senators that It Is next door to sacrilege to criticise President McKinley’s decisions on one subject. Yet where thd large profits of a special clique are threatened with n little diminution the snmo men flatly repudiate President McKinley's declarations and ills official pledges.—Pittsburg Dispatch.