The Jersey City news., 1890-11-03
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR


The following is an extract from a
speech delivered by Governor Hin at New
Haven, Conn.,, on Saturday evening, No
yember l.
"The duty of the hour Is the vindica.
tion of Democratic principles. This is no
time for deals or bargains with the
common enemy. when the very existence
Of our party is at stake The Republicans
have everything to gain and nothing to
lose by combinations with any Demo
cratic faction. A united front of ali the
friends Of trus and genuine Democracy
against the opposition is earnestly de-
manded everywhere, whether in State,
county or municipal elections. Put no
Democrat on guard whose Democracy is
not above suspicion Those who encour-
age factional contests should go to the
rear in times of public peril like these.
when the Integrity of the Republic is as
sailed. Our opponents are seek
ing TO maintain the control of the
country by means which will not bear in
vestigation by the light of day. corrup-
ton, colonization. intimidation and false
enumeration are the tactics employed to
crush out the hopes of the honest Democ-
racy who are fighting the combined sell
fishness of the country in gallant but
unequal struggle. Our duty at this
crisis is so plain that he who runs
may read. We should stand mp
for the Grand Old Party of Jack
son and Tilden, which has contrib
uted so much to the glory and greatness
ofthis Nation. and strengthen il every
where.
Il repudiate the mode of doctrine
sought SO diligently to be inculcated in
some quarters by well-meaning but un-
wise and misguided friends, that it makes
no difference to the success of Demo
cratic principles in the State and
nation what may be the outcome Of
local or municipal elections or the
political complexion of the candidates
elected. This is a very serious mistake. A
great party cannot be built up in day.
1t is creature of slow growth. Its
foundations and branches must be se-
curely laid in the town. county and city
before they can bring forth fruit in the
commonwealth and In the country at
large. l believe in an honest but vigor-
Gus partisanship; and l cannot approve
the suggestion that our municipal gov
ernments should be conducted without
regard to political conditions. You can
not maintain healthy and vigorou po-
litical organization upon auy such false
theory.
Those who so soindustriously urge such
course do not believe it themselves. They
must be actuated by selfish motives or else
are grossly ignorant of the important
elements of political success. Every local
Mayor. Sheriff, District.
Attorney or County Clerk = exercises
more or less political influence upon the
political fortunes of his party in the To-
cality in which he resides and where he
performs his official functions Demo-
cratic cities and counties should have
Democratic officials, and none other.
Their influence will tend to the spread
and perpetuation of our principles. and
it is folly to shut our eyes to the fun
portance Of this question.
II am not now referring to official pa
tronage, merely to official influence.
When once it is understood, either in
Connecticut or New York, that it is inn
material what the political complexion
of your county or municipal govern
ments may be. there is instantly
a loss of local party pride
and political decadence soon fol-
lows. You cannot rally great political
party in a short period before each an
nual election. Eternal vigilance all the
year rou nd is the price of continued sue
cess. l believe that Democratic city
can best be governed by Democratic ad-
ministration. in sympathy with the prin-
ciples which our party enuncIates. Local
officials Of Democratic cities and counties
should sincerely believe in home rule, in
tariff reform, in free elections. and in the
largest liberty to the individual citizsn
consistent with the public welfare. much
political good or evil can be
accomplished by local officials, and
the newly discovered doctrine that there
should be non-partisan admin
istration Of local or municipal affairs
should not be accepted unless we are pre-
pared practically to disband local poliu-
cal organizations and rely upon the fair
ness and courtesy of our opponents to
secure political victories
"The times are ripe for an advance of
the Democratic column along the whole
line. We must not listen TO false teach
ers or mere sentimentalists who fail to
comprehend the necessary elements to be
invoked to insure practical success"
DEMOCRATS OF HUDSON COUNTY, |
VOTE THE