Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-30
rHs PRISoIPLns OF Dsmoon.ov

gathering OF the distinguished Dom osrats
OF the country thronged the Fifth Avenue
Hotel this evening The occasion was
the reception and dinner rendered bv ina
Young Meme Democratic Club of tbia
city TO ex-President Grover Cleveland.
The reception began at 6 80, and for half
an hour there was Rteady procession OF
the ex-Presidents admirera through the
parlor Of the hotel.
In the main dining. room coyera wera
laid for $3.50 persons, and the room waa
beautifully decorated with flower, faas
and bunting.
At the guests' table OK PEesiden. Cleye-
land sat upon the right Of John II. V.
Arnold, president Of the club, and Gov,
Hill upon his left.
MR.. oLEvELANp's sPEEoH.
At the close Of the dinner Mr.. Arnold
! proposed the health Of .Our Guest, and
the company rising drank to Mr.. uleye-
land standing. The ex Presidents reply
was az follows:
Many incidents OF my short residence
In this good city have served to fiji nv
cup Of gratitude and to arouse my appte-
citation OF the kindness and consideration
of those with whom / have made nv
home. The hospitality for which tho
citizens Of New York have long been dis
tlnguished has outdone itself In my wei.
come. The members Of my profession
have, upon my return to its activities. re-
ceived me with fraternal greetings, and
personal friends have not permitted me
to feel like stranger IN strange CITY.
And yot l can truly say that none OF
these things will be more vividlyor Crate
fully remembered than the opportunity
afforded me by this occasion TO greet the
political friends l see about me. While
believe that no one Is more susceptible
than I Of every personal kindness, and
while am sure that no one values more
his personal friendships, II certainly
should cause no surprise when l say that
these things are not more cherished than
my attachment and loyalty to true Dem.
ooratio faith and my obligations to the
cardinal principles of its party orgsnizA-
ton.
have been honored by my party far
beyond my deserts. Indeed, no man
can deserve It's highest honors. After
sir years of public service l return to
you, my party friends. Six years have
stood as your representative in the state
and nation, and now l take my place
again In the ranks, more convinced than
the cause Of tho psople-thelr safeguard
and their hope.
HE Has KEPr TIE PARTY FAITH.
come to you with no excuses nor
apologies and with no confession of dis
loyalty. 1t is not given to man TO meet
oil the various and conflicting views Of
party duty and policy which prevail in an
organization where individual opinion IL
30 freely tolerated as in the Democratic
paFtyl Because these views are various
and conflicting some OF them must be
wrong. And yet when they are honestly
held and advocated, they should provoke
no bitterness nor condemnation but
when they are dishonesty proclaimed, as
o mere cover aud pretext for personal re-
sentiment and disappointment, they
should be met by the exposure and con-
temp. whloh they deserve. II with sin
oere design and intent one charged with
party representation has kept tie party
faith, that must answer his party oblig0-
tion.
WHAT DEMOCRATIC PRNcIpIEs MEAN.
No man can lay down the trust which
he has held ia behalf OF generous and
confiding people and feel that ct all times
he has met In the best possible way the
requirements OF his trust but he is not
derelict in duty il he has oonsoisntiously
devoted his efforts and his Judgment to
the peoples service.
have deliberately placed in close con-
nection loyalty to Democratic principles
and devotion to the interests OF the
people--for In my view they belong to-
gether and ahould mean the same thing.
But in this day OF partisan feeling and
attachment it IL we'll for US to pause and
recall the truth that the only justification
for the existence Of any party il the claim
that in principle and performance its OBJ
jeet and purposes are the promotion of
the public good and the advancement Of
the welfare and prosperity of our entire
country. There never was party plat
form or declaration OF principles which
old not profess these things, and make
them the foundations OF party creed; and
any body Of men who should openly pro-
claim that they were associated together
for the express purpose of gaining su.
prsmacy in the government, with the sole
intent of distributing offices and the
spoils OF victory among their associates,
would DO treated with ridieule and scorn.
Thus are We brought face TO face with
the proposition that parties should no
more than individuals be untruthful and
dishonest.
or course, in the supremacy of party
there arc advantages 10 it's members
and this ia not amiss. But when high
party aims and professions are lost sight
OF or abandoned, and the benefit OF oihoe-
holding and personal pelf are all that re-
main to inspire party activity, not only
Is the confidence of those relied on for
patriotic support forfeited, but the ele-
ments of cohesion and of effective aud
lasting political strength ara gene. The
honest differences Of opinion that must
always exist upon questions OF principle
and public policy should furnish abun-
dant occasion for the existence of parties,
and point cat their field OF usefulness.
The study and discussion OF these ques-
lions cannot fail to result 10 more vaIu-
able citi2enAhip and more intelligent and
better equipped partisans.
WHY THE PAETY SURVIVES EVERY CRISIS
When we seek for the cause Of the per
=, petuity Of thu Democratic party and IT'S
survival through every crisis and elier-
cenoy and in the face of all opposition,
we find II In the fact that lis cornerstone
4 laid in devotion to the rights OF tho
people and sympathy with all things
which tend to the advancement OF theiF
welfare and happiness. Though heresy
may sometimes have crept into It's organ
izations, and though party conduct may
eli times have been influenced by the
RhIftiness which is tho habitual device OF
its opponents, there has always renamed,
deeply imhedded in its nature and char
acter. that spirit Of true Americanlsm
and that love OF popular rights which has
made it indestruotible in disaster ard de-
feat, and has constituted it a boon to the