The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-10
In HONOR OF JEFFERSON
A RIGHT ROYAL FEAST WAS SPREAD.
Fourth Annual Banquet of the Springfield
(o.) jefferson Club-The Hon. Roger Q.
Mills of Texas Present-A Toast to
the Indiana Democracy.

SPRINGFIELD, o., April Especial. THE
Jefferson club last night held its fourth annual
banquet and celebrated the anniversary OF the
birth of Thomas Jefferson with great eclat and
splendor. The banquet was held in the La
gonda house and was characterized by quiet
and sumptuous elegance. Fully eight hundred
people were present The democrats had just
achieved great victory here by electing, with
handsome majority, mayor, the first one in
many years. The presence of the Hon. Roger
@. Mills of Texas, author OF the famous Mills
bill, made the affair of national importance
and brought distinguished men from all over
the state and newspaper men from a distance.
The banquet was begun at 10 o'clock by
few appropriate remarks by the Hon. w. S.
Thomas, president of the club. An elegant
and varied menu was served. The Hon. 5. 5.
Yoder of Lima responded to the toast, Thomas
Jefferson" and paid q glowing tribute TO the
great democrat. The toast, "How Can We
Honor the Memory of Jeferson| was re-
sponded 10 in an eloquent manner by the Hon.
J. 7. Brooks of Salem. The Hon. A. w. Thur
man of Columbus, son of the "Old Roman"
spoke briefly on self-government and did
it in a manner that was a credit to a
Culp Ol the Olu DlOCk. AHt 11Ous IeokSi ".
Mills, amid vociferous applause, arose in re-
sponse to the toast Tariff Reform" He
thought that tariff reform was bound, ulti-
mately, to win, and said it was the pre-eminent
issue to-day. He was of the opinion
that nothing would be done soon be-
cause both branches of congress are repub-
Hcan. The present senate bill, he said, aimed
at an increase rather than a reduction, and
that would be its end in case it ever passed.
e.. =. /. .ad
here by special request While here he met
Gen. Keller, the Hon. John II. Thomas and
others.
The toast. 'The Indiana Democracy" was
responded to by Mr.. s. L. Morss, editor of THE
INDIANAPOLIS SENTINEL He spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr. president, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
There is one thing particularly admire about
the democratic party. 1t never knows when 1t
is whipped. We have all heard how, IN the
winter of 1928, just after the overwhelming
defeat Of Greeley and Brown, when the grand
old party of the constitution had reached the
lowest stage in its fortunes, number OF Gls-
couraged democrats gathered in modest Ii
brary at Columbus TO consider what was best TO
be done. Their host was none other than Allen
q. Thurman, the greatest among the many
great men whom this splendid commonwealth
of Ohio has given to the nation and to history.
1t was TO this great mantle ''noblest
Roman OF them all"-that these disheartened
democrats turned for counsel and advice and
assistance in what they conceived TO be the SUI
preme crisis in the fortunes of their party and
his They feared, indeed, that the end had
come; that the party had received its death
blow; and they had sought Allen Cranberry
Thurman with a view to getting his co-opera-
ton in the formation of a new organization on
new lines, which should take the place of the
old party. Gentlemen" said the old Roman,
after listening with some degree of impatience
10 what they had to say-"Gentlemen, this
room isn't big enough to break up the demo-
cratic party in." The conference ended
abruptly; Senator Thurman's guests returned
to their homes wiser democrats and better
democrats than when they came, and the issue
of letters of administration upon the democratic
estate was indefinitely postponed This was
seventeen years ago, Mr.. Chairman, and we may
rejoice tonight that no room has even yet been
found big enough to break up the democratic
party in. No newspaper has been found, even
in Ohio, big enough to break up the democratic
party. The money power of the country has
not proved strong enough to break up the demo-
cratic party. 1t is to-day greater, stronger,
q better wiser party, more necessary TO the Sc
curity of our institutions and the protection OF
our people against the encroachments Of mo-
nopoly and privilege, and better entitled TO the
confidence of the country, than at any previous
moment in its long history.
1t is the iDdomitable spirit which inspired
Allen G. Thurman in those dark days OF lS72, that
has kept the democratic party alive during the
years that have intervened; which has enabled
it to rise above the reverses and disasters that
have Overtaken it from time TO time, and
which has made 1t, whether in opposition or IN
power the most effective instrumentality OF
good government that any country or any age
has known. Only two years after the incident
just related the democratic party obtained
control of the national house of representa-
tives, which it has retained, with brief In
terval, ever since. Only four years later
- o1o fo1 etc nl
j. Tilden of New York and Thomas A. Hen
bricks of Indiana president and vice-president
of the United States, and eight years thereafter
it elected another noble son of the Empire
state, Grover Cleveland, to the presidency and
to the second place In the government 1t elevated
Mr.. Hendricks. To-day, although by methods
as foul as the principles they were employed 10
promote are odious, the democratic party has
been deprived of the administration OF the gov
ernment, we have the proud satisfaction OF
knowing that the grandest campaign 1t ever
made resulted in the casting OF popular
vote for its distinguished standard-beaTers,
Grover Cleveland and Allen g. Thur
man, more than one hundred thou
sand greater than was given to their
competitors The party of monopoly has Sc
cured the presidency and the control of both
houses of congress; but the democratic party
is to-day, in larger sense than ever before,
the party of the people; the national party as
distinguished from the sectional party; the
party OF the MASSES as thC
party of the classes; the party of the millions
as distinguished from the party of the million
aires; the party of the workingmen as dis
tinguished from the party of the stock iobbers
and the plutocrats
Mr.. Chairman, but for the fact that the dem
ocratic party never did know when it was
whipped, it would be- If you will pardon the
expression, Gin the soup" to-day-or words to
that effect. But it is not there-not by large
majority-a hundred thousand at least. And
want TO say, as far as we Indiana democrats are
concerned, that while we may have been
whipped we don't feel as people are supposed
to feel who have been whipped. We are as
enthusiastic, as earnest as united, as aggressive
and as confident of the early and CON-
plete triumph OF our great cause as we
ever were. The enemy, to be sure, have
the ofices-and much good may they
do them. We are accustomed TO
getting along without them, and don't mind
their loss. We look back upon the recent cam
paign with the most profound satisfaction. 1t
was grand battle for principle; for a princi-
pie which is dear to the heart of every sim
cere disciple of Thomas Jefferson, and
which must prevail in the near future If re-
publican institutions are to endure. II is
principle which lies at the very basis OF free
eovernment-the principle that the taxing
power must only be used for public purposes.
In boldly asserting that principle we challenged
the organized greed, and selhshness, and ignOr-
ance, and prejudice, and superstition of the
United States, and the wonder is, not that we
were overcome. but that we were not over
whelmed. Over in Indiana we have inscribed
that principle upon our flag and are going to
keep it therein sunshine or in storm, in vic