People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1895 — The Democratic Party's Failure. [ARTICLE]

The Democratic Party's Failure.

The final and utter collapse of the democratic party in the presence of the' grandest opportunities that ever came to any political party in the history of this nation is simply marvelous. No party ever made greater promises, ever had greater opportunities, or made a more signal failure. Under the leadership of Grover Cleveland, who was worshiped as a party idol —raised to a pedestal higher than his party, the party has gone down in ignominy and reproach, so far and so low that even its strongest partisans scarcely have the courage to defend it. Cleveland’s second administration has been characterized with stupendous incapacity in every department of government. The Fifty-third congress—which he had on his hands, and the policy of which he molded with his own sweet will, has already gone down in history as the most venal and corrupt that has ever assembled in our history. His cabinet selections were either nobodies or men plastic in his hands, the members of which might have been fourthclass department clerks for all the influence they seem to have with the executive. The picture is not one for partisan exultation. It is too serious for that. There is a point at which partisanism ends and patriotism begins. While partisan zeal may prompt a strong opposition there is naught but humiliation in the hearts of all true patriots when they see a party sink so low and prove itself so hopelessly incapable as the democratic party has shown itself to be in the two years of the present administration. All this, after thirty-three years of promises! All this with an overwhelming tnajority in congress backed by an executor of the party’s choice! All this after the most withering rebuke ever administered to any party was given to the republicans in 1892! What can the rank and file in the democratic party pxpect in the future by remaining in it?