The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1890-07-10
rAMMANY CELEBRATES.
The Fourth Of July Celebrated ut Tammsny
Hall-The Election Bill Denounced-Let-
ter From Ex-President Cleveland.


Hall-The Election Bill Denounced-Let-
ter From Ex-President Cleveland.
NEW YORK, July 5.-Tbe outer walls
Of Tammany Hall we're profusely hung
yesterday with American flags and its
interior was draped with the stars and
stripes, filled with big and little chiefs
and hosts OF braves and resonant with
patriotic music.
Grand Sachem Tappen opened the
proceedings by arising with his silk hat
on his head, as a token of his rank, and
bidding welcome to the braves who had
assembled to join in the celebration of
independence day. Then the Tammany
Glee Club sang Hail to Our Beautiful
Land" and as an encore, Columbia,
Our Country"
The time-honored ceremony of read
ing the Declaration Of Independence
was intrusted to George T. Mcclellan,
son of the late General George b. Nc
Clellan. On being introduced enthusi-
astic applause greeted his name, and
applause also rewarded the efficient
manner in which he performed his task.
After further music by the band and
the singing of ''The Sword of Bunker
Hill" by the Glee Club, the grand
sachem introduced Hon. William ID.
Bynum, of Indiana. He was received
with applause and cheers. He said it
was an appropriate time to glance over
the past and to endeavor to discern
whittier the country was going. The
founders of a nation did not believe in
nation with big IN" They did not
believe that a majority, however large,
had the right to deprive a minority,
however small, of its natural rights. 1t
had a right to govern, but to govern
only with due regard to the preserva-
tion of the rights of the minority. The
danger to the institutions did not lie in
revolt from the minority, but in the
tyranny of the majority. The Repub-
lican majority had undertaken to over
ride the rights of the States and the
| people and to rob the constituencies of
the right of self-government. In this
they were led by Speaker Reed.
Mr.. Bynum reviewed Speaker Reed
| and continued by saying that never in
| the life of the Nation had such deadly
thrust at it's liberties been made before
as in the passage of the Federal Elec-
| tions law. This was not intended for
the South alone. 1t was intended for
New York and Indiana. 1t was
intended to enable that original
package of political villainy, John !.
Davenport, to terrorize over
Democratic voters and drive them
from the polls. Not satisfied with un-
seating honestly-elected members of the
House of Representatives they have de-
vised this scheme to enable them to
count out Democrats before they could
| attempt to take their seats. With voice,
with pen, with sword, the people should
rise in their might and prevent the en-
actment of such law.
Mr.. Bynum was succeeded by Hon.
Charles F. Crisp, of Georgia. He said
his friend from Indiana had almost ex
haustively discussed the bill designed
to deprive the people of their liberties:
II the Government stood for any one
thing it was for the right of self-govern-
ment, the right of home rule, and this
election bill was to deprive the
people of such right. Republican
judges were to appoint and re-
move returning boards at their pleas
ure. The only way to reach a Federal
Judge doing wrong was by impeachment
by the House of Representatives Was
q house holding its seats by certificates
received from such judges likely to i'm
peach them?
Letters were read from a number of
distinguished persons, among them one
from ex-President Cleveland, dated at
Marion, Mass, in which he said:
The celebration contemplated by your an
cient and time honored organization will, ii
seems to me, fall short in the impressions
due to the occasion if il does N: persistent
~ present and emphasize the idea that the
Declaration of Independence was the pro
test of honest and sturdy men against the
wrongs and expressions of misgovernment
The reasons and justification for their re-
volt are exhibited in their recital of long
list OF grievous instances in maladministra
tion. They complained that their inter
ests had been neglected and their rights as
lawful subjects so violated upder British
rule that they were absolved from further
fealty. Our fathers in establi hing
new government upon the will
Of the people and consecrated to their
Just care and protection could not prescribe
limitations which would deny to political
parties its conduct and administration. The
opportunities and the temptations thus nee
tSSarlly presented 10 part nave
brought us to a time when party control
is far to arrogant and bitter and
when in public place the true inter
ests of the country are too lightly con-
sidered. In this predlcament those who
love their country may well remember with
comfort and satisfaction on Independence
day that the disposition of the American
people to revolt against maladm 'nistration
still remains to them and is the badge of
their freedom and independence, as well as
their security for continued prosperity aud
happiness.
They will not revolt against their plan OF
government-for its protection and preser-
vajon supply every inspra ion of true
Amercanism. But because they are free
and independent American citizens they will
as long as their love and veneration to their
Government shall last. revolt against
the domination of any political pa rty. which
intrusted with power. sordidly seeks only
its continuance. and which. faithlessly vio-
lating its plain and simple duty to the peo-
pie, insults them with professions of disin-
terested solicitude, while 1t eats out their
substance.
And yet, with all this we should not in
blind security deny the existence OF danger
and therefore generous they are strong and
therefore confident. and they are honest AMI
therefore unsuspectng. Our peril lies In the
ease with which they may be deluded and
their interests. No occasion is more oppor-
tune than the celebration of the Hath ami
rsary of American Independence to warn
the American people of the present neces-
sity on their part OF vigilant watchfulness
of their rights and Jealous exaction of
duty. Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND