The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-13
An Addr z % Democracy of the Country
Re- !, s. he Grounds of Grievance
sos INST that Gentleman.
Mr.. Grady Furiously Assails the DEM
ocratic Candidate for President,
And Declares He Will Vote for Butler-An
Endorsement, the lnsincerity of
Which Is Remarkably Plain.
TAMMANY HALL.
The Great Meeting Last Night-The Address
to the Democracy of the Country.

to the Democracy of the Country.
New York, Sept 12.-One hour before the
doors to Tammany Hall opened this evening a
great crowd assembled, waiting to go into the
meeting of the Tammany general committee
where it was to lie decided whether or not the
organization would indorse Cleveland and Hen
bricks. When entrance was obtained, the com
mittee took seats on the main floor Very few
prominent members were absent When John
Kelly took his seat directly in front of the plat
form the enormous crowd cheered time and
again. When quiet had been restored Mr.. Kelly
said that owing to the illness of Sidney p.
Nichols, the chairman, and the necessary alb
sence of the vice president, it was his duty to
call on Senator Foster, of the Twenty fourth
district, to preside. After reading the minutes
of the previous meeting, General.B F. Spinola.
chairman of the subcommittee appointed by
the committee on organization to draft an ad-
dress to to the people, made his report, The
address was read It is as follows;
ITO the Democratic Party of the United States:
"The Democratic Republican organization
known as Tammany Hail. is the oldest political
body in the United States. Its existence under
another name, antedated the establishment of
our present form of governments Its members
took an active part in the election of Washing
ton Jefferson. Jackson and their Democratic
nccessors-candidate of the party nominated
in congressional caucuses and national conven-
tions. It has seen the birth, continuance, and
sudden or gradual death of all parties to which
the ingenuity of the politician or the necessity
of the occasion has given rise. from the adoption
of the federal Constitution down to the present
day. During all these years it has never sew
cred in its allegiance to the party, nor faltered
in its support of candidates nominated and prin-
cd fho
Democratic conventions and in but one instance
in all its history did it oppose the action of the
party on its nominee in the State, and that only
after due notice was gwen, and in
response to natures first law, when the
existence of our organization was
threatened, and the personal and political rights
of our constituents assailed AS to the truth of
this statement we invite the severest scrutiny of
impartial history The principles of Democracy
announced by jefferson have been uniformly
followed, and in their defense Tanmany has not
hesitated to critcise and condemn its public of
hcials when. in its Judgment, they violating
those principles and their professions of Demo
cratic faith made before their elevation to place
and power. At times measures of great interest
to the people have originated with us, and have
been carried to successful adoption by the Demo-
cratic party in the State and Nation 1t was by
our constant iteration and discussion that public
attention was called to the corrupt course of the
Republican party in squandering the domain,
by which 1876 600 900 acres of public lands were
given to railroad and other corporations. The
tariff agitation by us resulted in drawing atten
ton to the necessity of such reduction of
duties as would provide means sufficient for the
requirements of the government and at the
same time afford the incidental protection nee
essary to American labor. We have advocated
| at all times, reduction of taxation, municipal.
State and federal, in order that the burdens of
the people should be lessened Home rule and
local self-government have always been cardinal
principles of Democracy in Tammany Hall. We
have rrysft fhta S+ofa
application of these important principles of gov
ernment, because in our Judgment, the truest
democracy is where the least possible power
consistent with proper execution of law is taken
from the people and lodged with their repre-
sentatives. We have at all times opposed cen
tralization of power as dangerous to our repub-
lican Institutions and have not hesitated to con-
denim the unnecessary, unjust and undemocPatic
interference of the State Legislature and execu-
tive in our municipal affairs Our opposition to
the abridgemeut of the power of the alder
men of city would have been Just as
determined had the Common Council been as
strongly Republican as it was Democratic, and
no alleged representatives of a public meeting,
presided over by a Republican advocating the
passage of this or other .undemocratic measures
under the deluding cry of reform, could blind us
to the true intent and object of such legislation
CLEvELAND's vEToEs.
I'VE championej the cause of anti-monopoly
in 1881 and in the ensuing campaign of 1882 that
resulted in the triumphant election of the pres
ent Governor of the State, 1t is true that dis
sensions among our adversaries, the Republic
ans, had much to do with the great majority
which he received, but the intense feeling Ia the
breast of thousands OF working men against the
Republican party for Its corruption and monopo-
listic legislation caused thousands of these voters
to ally themselves with the Democratic party,
thereby protesting against such legislation 1t
is no exaggeration to say that it seemed to them
that the drift of existing laws was tending to
debase rather than elevate labor; that
was being used to foster the interests of the
employer and capitalist at the expense
of the toiling millions That these opinions
were founded on substantial and uncontrovert-
able grounds, and were not the emanatlons of
minds of dreaming demagogues, who sought to
dupe their ignorant but confding followers the
candid observer must admit. In neighboring
Republican State the right of the people to
peacefully assemble was invaded, and the militia
of the Commonwealth was used tyrannically to en-
force the unreasonable demands of capital The
press of the country generally approved labor
strikes but no harsh criticism appeared against
capitalists and corporations who closed their fac
tories against workingmen or operatives on the
plea of 'overproduction, so that the returns of
capital might not be diminished In this condi- /
tion Of affairs theeyes of the wage-earners were
turned to the Democratic party, and they viii
ingly cast their lot with it. They expected to
receive reward for their confidence and labor in
such legislation as would ameliorate their condi-
ton. The people of the city demanded
to have the elevated railroad corporations
confined to Legitimate returns for the capital
invested in valuable franchise which was CON
ferred on them by the city and State. After
prolonged struggle with all the influences that
capital can employ, labor secured victory in
the Legislature, only to be thwarted by veto in
the executive chamber
They sought the adoption Of the law which
would at once prevent the prison authorities
of the State from contracting criminal labor so
as to bring it in competition with honest labor
The measure passed the Assembly. but was do