Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-10-28
MAJOR BIGGS ONCE MORE
HE MIXES an sDDH EsS Al THE
OsUBMP OF MUSIC.


HE MIXES an sDDaEss A1 THs
A0sU UBMF OF MUSIC.
-
Democratic Gathering nj the Acad-
eny Of sHusic tm hhls Ctty.-A Spien.
did Audiences and GOOD Addresse
what tne speahers said.
The Democratic mass meeting ia tho
Academy Of Music last night week was
largely attended, every seat in this aud
itorium and both galleries being occupied,
which, with those on the stage, made an
asseniblage of 1000 people. Among
them were o number Of ladies. The stage
scenery was tastefully set, and portraits
of Thomas Jefferson and President Cleve-
land were oonspicuously displayed. Music
was furnished by the First Regiment
Band, and the FIRST selection was medley
of popular airs, which was so excellently
rendered that the audience rewarded 1t
with a round of enthusiastic applause.
The meeting was called to order by
Patrick Neary, who named the Hon.
Charles B. Lore for president, with
long list of yice-presidents and secre-
taries. Mr.. Lore was received with ap
plause when he was introduced; He
said:
Every fair expression of the popular
viii is but the yoicipg of the will Of the
people,. This is true Democracy, for
Democracy is the voice Of the people.
Aristocracy is merely the voice Of few
sell. constituted leaders, who arrogate to
themselves to say what the people shall
do. They essay TO make themselves the
masters and the people the servants, in
stead of admitting that the people are the
masters and they the servants. The peo-
pie may err at times, but as long as their
viii ia respected we are safe in their
hands. But when the rights and liberties
of the people are held in the hands OF q
few self-constituted leaders, then there is
great danger threatened our free iDstitu-
tions. Mr.. Lore closed by introducing
Hon. Benjamin 4. Biggs, the Democratic
candidate for governor, as emphaticJlly a
man of the people.
Major Biggs was received with an em.
phatic round of applause, and made an
address of about an hours duration. He
opened witha compliment to the ladies
present, quoting DR.. Clark's declaration
that "one woman is equal to seven men,"
and said that although not possessing the
right to vote they can make their influence
felt in political affair. He reviewed the
origin and traced the course of the Re-
publican party, from 1854, when rampant
Know Nottingham opposed the success of
the Democratic party. In 1856 the name
was changed to the American party and
in 1868 to the Peoples party, while in
1860 the same old opposition came up in
the shape of the Republican party. In
this connection paid high tribute to the
late Hon. William G. Whiteley, who, in
1855, as the Democratic candidate for
Congress successfully stemmed the
tide Of Know Nothingism that had swept
the State two years before.
Alluding to the present opposition of
the Temperance Reform party, Major
Biggs said that temperance is good
thing, but the Democrats of Delaware do
not propose to allow their old Republican
enemies to slip into power under the guise
of Temperance Reform. When it is pre-
sumed to say what man shall eat and
what he shall drink, and force the selec-
ton on him by law, it becomes an unwar-
rantable interference with individual pre-
ference.
Major Biggs reiterated what he said at
the Opera House meeting in relation to
constitutional reform. He said he was
in favor of representation according to
population, opposed to life-tenure in
| offices, in favor of the election of all
officers by the people, and opposed to
allowing corporations to compel their
employees TO become members of bene-
| ficial or other organizations against their
will. The men should be left free to act
as they will in this respect. If the people
are allowed to elect their officials we will
get better ones. He also declared HIM
| self in favor of rotation in Office, as life
is too short to keep one set of men always
in office.
Civil service reform, said the speaker
is an excellant thing on paper, and very
convenient when q Republican admins.
| tration is going out and o Democratic ad-
ministration coming in. II is not applied
to those already in office, but only TO ap'
| plicants. It is an abridgement of a mans
right to apply for an office. Here Major
Biggs read an extract from letter written
by President jefferson, in reply to pro
test against change in the office of col
lector of the port Of New Haven, to show
that the great exponent of Democracy
was not in favor of civil service reform.
Mr.. Biggs expressed himself in favor Of
tariff that will bear equally on all, aud
4
of the government, economically admin
istered. He was in favor of both gold
and silver as basis of currency, and iI
favor of the redemption of the trade dol
lars. In conclusion, he said he did MOI
expect to again appear here during the
campaign, and hoped to hear good re
port from the Democrats of Wilmington
on the I'd Of November. He was heartily
/ IaI La 4 a -
conclusion.
Loud calls were made for MIR. Lore, VIII,
responded briefly but vigorously, with I
recital of what the Democratic party hat
done in recent years for the benefit of tn,
laboring interests of the country. II,
cited the Oleomargarine bill, which pre-
vented the manufacturers of the stuf
from palming it off as butter and reapinI
enormous profits thereby, and compel inl
them to sell it in future for what ii actu
ally is; also, to the attempt of the Demo
cratic House of Representatives to stimu
late commerce and increase the American
merchant marine by the offer of fai
compensation to American vessels for tn,
transportation of the mails. His addres
was vigorously appla, ded.
Prof. 7. N. Williams was next calle,
l AZ pto A0pAASN AAhObb " blthCh
which had been made upon him for takipI
an active part in politics. He said thu
dearest subject to him was the publ
school system Of the State, but could SO
nothing incompatible in the performanc
of his duties as superintendent of FIRE
schools aud in performing his plain dut
as citizen by interesting himself in pc
litical affairs. He felt he had right i
do so, particularly In behalf of part
80 Identified with tho best interests Of th
| people rs the Democratic party, aud Q
which it can now he proudly said that
is "Bigg(s) with eloquence, full of Lon
! and Gray with age.p
, Loud applause greeted MIR. Williams
| stirring remarks, and his allusion to tn
prominent leaders of the party brougl
, out loud cries for Senator Gray, who occr
] pied one of the prosceuium boxes. Sent
i tor Gray responded briefly, eloquent
/ reciting some of the cardinal principle
' of the Democratic party, which he sal
4 will continue to bo the great guardian {
i the peoples rights for all tins to come
! He closed by urging all to work for a
overwhelming victory on election day.
The meeting then adjourned.