Evening journal., 1890-10-21
SENATOR GRAY'S SPEECH.
STATE ISSUES CAREFULLY AND
FULLY DISCUSSED.

Inc UCmQCTdtiC uectluk III Ahp CRchA
House last night was q very large one
the attendance being placed at $500
che stage was beautifully decorated with
ferns and towering plants To the
right. facing the audience was the life
size portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the
efather OF Democracy" while to the left
was the portrait of Grover Cleveland the
last Presidential expounder OF Demo-
cratic principles
The meeting was held under the
auspices Of the Young Mems Democratic
Club, and large number OF the mem
bers of that organization occupied places
upon the stage The First Regiment
Band discoursed beautiful music and the
greatest enthusiasm prevailed through
out the meeting.
shortly after s o'clock President Camp
bell Of the Young Mems Democrats
Club who presided over the meeting,
stepped to the front of the stage and
made the statement that Hon.
William McA6oo Of New Jersey,
who was to have been the prin-
cipal speaker OF the evening, was pre-
vented from coming, and ended his re-
marks by introducing Senator George
Gray. who spoke for over two hours on
state and national issues. He said;
Senator Gray's speech.
Mn. CHAIRMAN AND FELLOW CITIZENS,
FELLOW DEMOCRATS or THIN YOUNG
MEMS DEMOCRATIC CLuB:-I am hardly
young enough to feign any embarrass
ment at the absence OF my distinguished
friend from New Jersey, but he lie,
understand, out in Minnesota preaching
the gospel OF Democracy So we viii
try and improve the occasion and talk
about the issues that are before us.
am sure that am sorry for myself shat
the honored gentleman from New Jersey
cannot be with US, but my principal sor-
row is for you
State and County Issues.
It is right and proper in an election
where 8 governor, Legislature and Con-
gresham are to be elected that we should
be ready to meet any question that may
be asked Of these Who have administered
the laws of this state during the list
quarter of a century In fact, we well
come any inquiries that may be
asked us concerning the proud record
the Democratic party has made In this
state But it Is strange to hear the Re-
publican party talk Of making an Issue
In Delaware on the ground of the ex-
affairs by the Democratic party. Why,
my friends. for the past thirty years 10
has been the mission of the Democratic
party 10 conduct the affairs of this state
with economy and keep them out of the
hands Of the Republican party, which
would have plunged it into debt by its
extravaganza.
The Republican party would have
har hrts4ts faa nfa a. huu
had control Of 1t during the war.
We made debt then FOR the FIRST time
IN our history We raised the sum OF
about 81, leo 600 to furnish our quota
for the defence of our country. How
fearful we're tie homes here then when
1t was found that men who had money
could place substitutes In the field who
would 70 for a consideration, while those
who felt the nip Of poverty and who
could not furnish a substitute, he'd to 20
themselves II vas then the Democracy
issued state bonds to furnish money
whereby the poor father or husband
might send substitute, At the expense
of the state Ii was Ia order that there
might be no distinction tLat the law was
passed The Democratic party held that
the blood OF one man was as good rs the
blood Of the other Tina, was the origin
of the debt. Are you ashamed Of III No,
I know you are not
Now for the administration since I
want You to answer me, II we should not
congratulate ourselves If, since that
time, there has never been break In
our finances, but the Democratic party
has gone on steadily decreasing the debt
During this time we have decreased II
81 OBS. 600, and dare say none OF you
have ever felt the burden OF taxation for
this reduction
The debt Of this state is 1924, $50 and
the assets are 81 075 40, having an ex-
cess of $3.50, 720 to the credit Of the
state How is this for extravaganza
The affairs Of this state have not only
been economically but parsimoniously ad-
ministered The Republican Legislature
cost more than any previous Demo
cratic Legislature, and Il always
costs more to run Republican Legisla
tUre than Democratic one But there
was no dishonesty that know OF. II wss
Simply the results Of having men Of that
type in power.
The City Of Wilmington,
And now 20 take the City OF Whining
ton The debt OF the city ran up under
Republican rule from $500, 600 to some
thing over one million dollars. The
affairs Of the city have since then under
Democratic rule been placed upon bus
mess basis They have placed the Water
Department under board Of commission
ers aud instead Of bringing the city into
debt 1t now pays its own way ard makes
something besides. So IL is with every
department while under Demoera' ic con-
troll.
Reform Wanted.
The Democratic party wants reforms
1t has demanded it IN the state conven-
tion and ia the county meetings, and a
Democrats Legislature will give them.
Not that there is dishonesty In the
present administration of effairs, but
there are some changes made necessary
by changed conditions. 1t is true that
we have run up debt in the county, but
we have something 70 show for 1t. We
have a Court house and we have fine
almshouse / do not think we have
acted extravagsntly, for the exigencies
of the occasion demand them. AS far as
She almshouse goes, / tell you csndidly
that If the Mckinley bill goes into oper
alton there will need be some aecommo
dation there for us, or somewhere else.
But will say to yen that If you take
the affairs of New Castle county and
compare them with any Republican
county in the United States you will see
that New Castle county compares favor
ably With it in every particular.
Suppose the Republican party in It
control lsewhere-whether state o
nationRl-could show such an unasssi