Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-10-23


III Opera House on Monday evening greeted
N Senator Gray and his escort, the Young
Mems Democratic Club as the curtain
arose at o'clock.
For a few minutes the First Regiment
Band discoursed pleasing airs. The large
audience gazed around at its own large
proportions, ut the floral decorations of the
stage and then broke out into cheers as
President Campbell Of the Young Mems
Democratic Club stepped forward to the
-footlights. He expressed his regrets that
the Hon. William McAdoo Of New Jersey
would not be present.
'You will, however, Mr.. Campbell con-
tinued, "be addressed by our honored
townsman, Senator Gray whom ! now
. have the pleasure Of introducing to yolt.n
The senator's appearance was the signal
for perfect ovation. The applause
continued for several seconds The
speaker regretted the absence of MIR.
McAdoo lie was probably detained by q
storm in the northwest. But whoever he
is Senator Gray had no doubt that the New
Jersey congressman is industriously occu-
pied preaching Democratic gospel to ears
that are glad to listen. No doubt later in
the campaign you will hear something Of
his experience. So, if you will bear with
me for u little time tonight, we will try,
as they say in the churches, to improve
the occasion by talking about the issues to
be decided at this moment.
It is fitting and right that we should do
80 at time when q governor congress
man, and state and county officials are to
be elected, The question of local State
affairs is a business matter that concerns
us closely.
We.as Democrats are ready to meet any
issue or question in regard to our admins
tration Of State affairs. We welcome any
opportunity for throwing light on the
proud record of the Democratic party in
the State of Delaware
The senator referred to the Republican
critici n of what they called the lmeco-
nomicai management of the public affairs
of New Castle county by Democratic adj
ministrations. The contest Of the Demo-
Gratis for the last 80 years has been to keep
the treasury in the hands Of the party, of
+ economy and out Ol the grasp of the Re-
publican party which means wastefulness
and extravaganza,
II was the special good fortune of the
people of this State from 1861 tothe closing
years of the war when our ears almost
caught the sound of cannon south of the
pOtomac--it was fortunate then that the
charge, When sl,500,000 had to be raised
the Democratic party did not hesitate
much on economy then. The money was
all raised. But if our Republican friends
had had control at that time the State
would have been bankrupted. So, as the
pride to the historic record Of the Demo-
cratic party Of Delaware for its honesty,
patriotism and proper economy at that
moment when il incurred a debt for the
first time in its history.
We pledged ourselves in the sum of
Sl,llO,0OO for the purpose of giving
bounties to ill the quota OF Delaware, in
the regular armies. You perhaps are old
enough to remember the time when the
war was at its closest. When the draft had
stretched its iron hand and took son from
father and husband from wife to hurry
them to the bloody fields of the Potomac
and the Mississippi. Ii was then that men
who we're hetter-dii than their neighbors
could, ifthey happened to be drafted, put
substitute IN the ranks Of the army But
there We're thousands of our fcllow-ctizens
Throughout the State who felt the grip of
poverty and who knew when the sum
mons came to them that there was no sub
stitute for them, only n sorrowing good
bye to sorrowing mothers and wives.
Then Delaware, governed by its Dem
ocracy, inspired by iInnutable laws of
equality, passed a law by which they raised
Sl,000,000 so that the poor father and SON
would stand ON an equal platform with
the rich man and send a substitute to the
battle field. The Democracy saw no dis
tinction in Democratic state between the
life blood Of poor and rich man. Inn
mense applause, There was the origin of
our draft Applause. Are you ashamed
Of id So, with about Ss0a,00O for internal
Improvements we have total debt of
81 ,s97, 800, which constitutes the earlier
financial history Of our state.
Now for recent history. ] want our fault
finding friends candidly to tell us whether
there has been since that time naught but
a steady economy and continued reduc-
ton of the debt. | understand they admit
there is no point in our armor that is vul-
al Cor 1 -, ha ipta
there has been about 81 ,053, 600 of that debt
paid, and SO paid and taxation so managed
that | doubt any citizen throughout the
length and breadth Of the State has felt its
weight. The debt was reduced, according
To State Treasurer Herbert, to about
SS2i,7 $50 This, with assets of 81 ,075,l70,
affords a credit balance to the State of over
S250,000
| daresay you have heard Republican
citizens charge over and over again that
we do not spend money enough; that we
are not sufficiently enterprsing with the
public funds. They said Delaware had no
State insane asylums, deaf and dumb in
stitutes, no state penitentiaries So We are
charged with public parsimony, not waste
fitness nor dishonesty, Look at the state
auditors account of the expenditures for
orr legislative sessions. Why, some one
said to me the other day, tWhy its d--n
ridiculous nonsense to talk Of running a
state on a sum like that.
The largest expenditure on record was
that Of the last Republican branch of the
Legislature. | daresay il was one Of thos'
necessities accompaniment he fact Of having
n Republican House. They are fine fell
lows, these Republicans. They have
bigger notions, larger ideas of expenditure,
But don't allege any dishonesty There
is none that know Of.
We have had some experience Of Repuh-
lican administration in the county and in
the city. From 1870 to 1915 there was an
increase in the city debt from over Sl00,9W
to good deal over 81 100000 That i
what You may expect from Republican
city administration
Finally they were turned ont and Tho
citizens appealed to Democratic admins
tration into non-partsan boards among
men who had no temptation TO use eX
trayagantly the peoples money on the
score of politics or on any other score
The water board was the first experiment
In that direction. IL was put on business
basis and now instead Of mourning debt
every year it makes profit every year
believe there is no one who has stake II
the town, who owns property would take
the management of the water department
ont of the honest hands in which il has
been placed. In regard to county affairs
there have been no scandal IN tine Demo
cratic administration of fiscal matters, Nc
stealing, no wasteful expenditure of public
money Applause.
The administration that has come down
from early times may require some
changes. 1t is true that we incurred 9
debt of S500,0 600 prior to lSsS, But we nave
the finest county building almost IN tht
United states and an almshouse, and that
is one Of the charges made by the Republi'
can orators. But they don't say i here
They say it in Sussex that New Castle ha;
an ilmshollse as fine as the Continental