Daily Republican., 1886-10-16
rHE KArIFICArIoN MEErIre.

0Oseuo obthorinG Tnet was
But Hiimly Attended, Benjamin 4.
Biggs Announces Himself as being in
Favor OF Constitutional Reform and
Opposed to Life Tenure of Once.
The Democratic ratification meeting
at the Open House last evening was
slimly attended, the house not being
half filed. The stage was set with .
woods scene and decorated with DOR.
traits Of President Cleveland, Secre tary
Bsyard and Senator Saulsbury, while
the private boxes were hung with
American flags. Music was furni ished
by the First Regiment Band, and at 8
O'Clock Benjamin T. Biggs, the cAndi
date for Governor; John B. Pennington,
the candidate for Congress; Senator
Gray and . numb ber Of other prominent
Democrsts marched on the stage and
took seats.
They were received with faint ap-
plause, and after the band had played
an air City Auditor Ball stepped to the
front, and after calling the N Getting to
order announced that William Bright
had been selected rs president, and read
the names Of 1852 vice presidents and l3
secretaries, not the half Of whom were
present. There was no vote taken on
the question whether or not they should
be the officers of the meeting, and %
soon as Mr. Ball finished reading the
long list Of names he said, "It affords
me pleasure TO introduce to you the
president OF this meeting, Mr.. William
Bright"
This caused another spasmodic At
tempt ut applause, during which Mr..
Bright came forward, and after bowling
took his scat Then came an awkard
pause, and City Auditor Bail stepped
over to Mr.. Bright and whispered some
thing in his ear, when he rose and sal J.,
Fellow citizens, have the honor OF
introducing to you the Hon. George
Gray"
Mr.. Gray said that as this was rati-
fioation meeting, he was admonished
that short speeches only were In order.
This meeting was called for the pur.
pose of taking the first step in the cam
psign which will culminate on the first
Tuesday In November. and he felt that
they had assembled together with the
victory already y won in advance, rs their
old time enemies had already laid down
their arms and quit the field.
He thought 1t high compliment to
the Democratic party that the Repub-
licans had already given them the
Held, and although there might be
many reasons given for this course,
there are some that will not bear the
scr otiny OF thinking men. Among
theee Is the claim that they were pre-.
vented voting, which Ia untrue, as the
way and manner Of voting is. and al.
way 8 has been, as open to the Republi-
cans rs 1t Is to the Democrats; the way
| IL the same for both and consists In
men paying their taxes, which is the
only way in which an hon set vote can
be cast In Delaware. He then pro-
ceeded to euloaize the Democratic
party and predicted an easy victory
this coming election.
In speaking Of the standard bearers
Of the Democratic party, he paid q high
tribute to Messrs. Blggs and Penningttn n
the candidates for Governor and mem
Der of Congress. and said that he was
confident that after their election they
would serve the people faithfully and
we'll. He concluded by exhorting his
hearers to be sure and cast their votes
Tor the entire ticket and thus secure the
election of all, from the Governor down
to the Assessors. He condemned sump.
tuary legislation, as advocated by the
Temperance e party, and said that while
he was heartily In favor OF temperance
he was opposed to making men abstain
ers by law.
Benjamin T. Biggs was then intro
duoed and said that two years had
elapsed since he stood before o Will
min 4ton audience as o speaker, and
although there had been many changes
since then he felt that the fres Of De
Nh f.., hrt
| He felt that the greatest compliment
the Democrats had ever received had
| been paid them by the Republicans
For the past twenty-five years they had
| fought them at every election, but al
the God of battles had Away been on
the Democratic side THEY had always
won the victory.
The Republicans no doubt loved their
country and state as well as the Demo
Gratis, hut they had discovered the ma.
Oh nation OF their leaders. and now
they were coming into the Democratic
party, ani he hoped they. would stay
| there, and sin no more. He said that
/ he Was not o Civil Service reiormer, az
| he did not believe In working hard for
| twenty five years, and then letting the
Republicans eat their bread and but
ter.
When Mr.. Cleveland was elected
every Republican office-holder in the
land expected to be removed, aud II ht
had the power he would have seen thai
they were not disappointed he had
heard of person who made an axe &c
sharp that when man was beheade0
with 1t he was not aware of the fac
until his head was off, and that wal
the kind of an axe he would have used
on the Republican Office. no ders.
He weuld not have turned them al
out In twenty-four hours, but though
that by this time there would not hav'
been a Republican In Office. He wa
Ioeriain that there were Democrats full,
Icompetent 10 I'LL all these offices, an(
he was In favcr OF giving them to thes'
linen.
He said that he was 10 favor of Oon
stitutional reform and opposed to III
tenures in office. He thought that al
the county off GERS should be elected
by the people, and he was also In favo
Ic representation according to popula
lion. In conclusion he predicted al
Overwhelming victory for the Demo
crats. in November and said that he wa
cure many Republicans would vote tb,
! ticket and say. "well done, good Ant
faithful servants, we will assist in pes
Ipetuating your power.
Il Some people say, why the Democrat
are fighting among themselves, blu
this IL not 30. There may have beel
isome controversy and some hard word
used previous TO the nominations, bu
\ all that is passed now, and the party l
/, more firmly united than ever.
IL Let dogs delight to bark and bite,
Fer God hath made them 50;
But Democrats are always right,
And God will keep them so.
He then proceeded to tell what tn
IDamacrata had dome for th;a GtatA An,