The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-04-13

Democratic Club of Philadelphia,
since published in the proceedings
Of their banquet. Mr.. Wilson was
the speaker Of the Ohio Club, of Gin
cinnati, on January 8, and was there
fore unable to attend the Philadela-
phia celebration:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WATHINGToN. D. c., Jan. Z, 1884,
Messrs. John Cddwalader, Presi-
dent, W. r. Wright and others,
Committee.
GENTLEMEN:-I regret that / shall
not be able to attend the dinner of
the Young Mems Democratic Club
of Philadelphia, on January Sth,
and respond to the toast assigned
me.
Recent events full Of disappoint-
ment to our party, and, as we sim
cereIy believe, not without detriment
to our country, give to your celebra-
ton of the day more than usual sig
nificance. 1t is not the great victo-
~ of Andrew Jackson the Soldier,
but the greater victory of Andrew
Jackson the Statesman, that we com
memorate on this anniversary. In
the perpetual struggle which has
been going on since the foundation
of our government, between the spir-
its Of Democracy fighting for equal
rights and equal citizenship, and the
spirit of privilege fighting to control
the government for it's own aggran
dizement, General jackson fought a
desperate battle and gained glori-
Gus victory. In the past few weeks,
another leader, equally faithful to
the people, and equally courageous
in their championship, has, in this
same traditional struggle, fought
against greater odds and suffered
temporary defeat. AS the strength
of the Bank in the struggle of 1882
will always stand as Jackson's justi
fication for effecting its overthrow,
before it grew too strong for the peo-
pie, so the greater strength shown
by the close combination Of private
interests that control and draw
wealth from our system of taxation,
will not be the justification of Grover
Cleveland for assaulting them in the
name of a plundered people, but will
win imperishable honor to a Presi-
dent whose fidelity to his trust was
greater than his personal ambi-
ton.
The fight for lower taxes is fight
for higher manhood fight against
the ignoble rule of class or money
ed power in this country. The nee
essary methods and the characters
tic weapons of such a power were
fully disclosed in the recent cam
paign. The instincts of the people
are against it. 1t can overcome
those instincts and win victory at
the polls, only by appeals to ignor-
anee and prejudice, and by the sys-
tematic corruption of the elective
franchise No one will deny that
the use of money by the Republican
party to purchase votes in the late
election was open, lavish, and wide
spread, and in view of the meagre
majority secured in the great pivotal
State, where those corruption funds
were chiefly expended, we are fully
justified in claiming that the cleo
ton was not the deliberate verdict
of the people in favor of the present
system of class taxation, and that
we have every encouragement to con
tinue the fight with more energy
and fuller confidence than ever be-
fore
Let it not escape our attention that
the issues of this contest between
the parties are more momentous than
the reduction of surplus taxes. The
policies and ideas of the Republican
party foster Il selfish and degraded
patriotism, because they teach the
citizen to use his right of suffrage
not to secure good government for
all--which is the sole condition on
which free institutions are worth
maintaining-but to secure some
personal and pecuniary benefit for
himself. 1t is to-day not only using
the tariff, but perverting our pension
system to rally to its support all who
desire to vote themselves dividends
out of the public treasury. Such
ideas inevitably produce corrupted
franchise, for if some men are to
make money out of the operations of
the government, shall not others de-
mand pay in advance for voting
them into control of the govern
ment?
The ideas and the policies of the
Democratic party on the other hand
foster patriotism that is nnselfish,
and thus directly tend to the preser-
walton of the ballot. They offer moth
ing to the citizen in requital for his
vote except wise and frugal govern
ment, in whose bless ings all shall
share equally, and none by law be
given an undue advantage over 9th
ers. This is great and inspiring
cause for which to strive, and one so
sure@Sf ultimate victory that we need
not disquiet ourselves over any pres
ent defeat.
Rather let us rejoice that our par
ty is to-day SO fully and zealously
united in defense Of its great tradi-
tional policies, and let us pay de-
served tribue to President Cleveland
to whom this is so largely due.
1t was said of Augustus that he
found Rome brick and left it marble
it may truly be said of the Presi-
dent that he found his party, after
it's long Punishment from power, a
combination ofloosely tied forces of
opposition to the Republican party,
and that by his leadership he has
made and leaves it a great organism,
instinct with life, and rallied on
great principles which it under
stands, believes in and is eager to
champion.
Most truly Yours,
VIM. L. WILTON.