The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-14
IN HONOR OF ST.JACKSON
Brilliant Banquet at Phil
adelphia.
Mr.. Cleveland Makes Mas
terly Speech.
He nfG0IIGGaS the P~pinoin1oz -
He Discusses the Principles Of
True Democracy
And Makes a Marked impress
sion on the Audience.
The Banqueters Loudly Cheer the
Ex-President.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. S.-The Academy
of Music was bright tonight with many
lights and merry with the sound and
scene of banqueting, upon the occasion of
the annual dinner of the Young Mems
democratic association of this city.
The speaking was begun late by Samuel
c. Thompson, president ofthe association.
He presided and ut the close of his address
of welcome he gave the toast: "To the
Memory OF Jackson" 1t was drank
standing and in silence. The sentiment
was: The Principles of True Democracy
They Are Enduring, Because They Are
Right, and ~Invincible, Because They Are
Just" 1t had been assigned to ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland, who was presented by the
president of the banquet with these
words:
It is proper that we should have with us the
great leader-ex-President C~leveland-who led
the party ~triumphantly to success; who, from
defeat. evolved q great victory; who. in admin
i%stratlOn, knew no motive save that which was
based upon right; who. in guiding the ship of
state, had but one compass, and that the peo-
pies interests; who, with great courage,
threw down the gauntlet of tariff reform and,
like his grand prototype, Jackson, practically
declared: by the eternal, its principle was
right and should prevail"
Mr.. Cleveland arose amid much cheer
ing, and IN response spoke as follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT GENTLEMEN-AsI rise
to respond to the sentiment which has been
assigned to me / cannot avoid the impression
made upon my mind by the announcements of
the words True Democracy" l believe them
20 mean q sober conviction or conclusion
fouahrnn nofffrool fonfo0 whfob fc~,,vFoto4
into 2 political belief or creed, inspires a patri-
otto performance OF the duties of citizenship.
/ am satThed that the principles of the belief or
creed are such that underlie our
free Institutions and that they may
be urged upon our fellOw-cOuntrymen,
because in their purity and integrity they ac-
cord with the attachment of our people for
their government and their country. A creed
based upon such principles Is by no means dis
credited because illusions and perversions tenn.
porarily prevent their popular acceptance any
more than it can be irretrievably shipw rocked
by mistakes made in its name or by its prostitu-
ton TO iRnOble purposes. When Illusions are
dlspelled, when miscOncep options are rectified.
and when those who guide are cOnsecrated to
truth and duty, the ark Of the peoples safety
will still be discerned in the keeping OF those
who hold fast to the principles of true democ-
racy.
These principles are not uncertain nor doubt
ful. The illustriOus founder of our party has
lAAAIAg u1uuAuCEu NuCAAs lucy uhFt utEU re-
asserted and followed by e long line of great
political leaders and they are quite familiar.
They comprise: Equal and exact justice to all
men; peace, and honest friendship
with all natiOns-entangling alliance with none;
the suppOrt OF the state governments in all
their rights; the preservation OF the general
government in its whole constitutional vigor; a
jealous care OF the right of election by the
people; absolute acqulescence in the decisions
OF the majority; the supremacy of the civil
over the military anthnFrfN. aOonnpnu in the
public expenses; the honest payment of our
debts and sacred preservation of the public
faith; the encouragement of agriculture, and
as its handmsid, and freedom of re-
helOn, freedom Of the press and freedom of
the person.
The great president and intrepid democratic
leader whom we especially honor tonight, who
never relaxed his strict adherence to the demo-
cratic faith, nor faltered in his defense of the
rights of the people against all comers, found
his inspiration and guidance in these princi-
pies. On entering upon the presidency he de-
clared his loyalty to them; in his long and USE
fui lncumbency of that great Office he glori-
Ously illustrated their value and suficiency,
and his obedience TO the doctrines of true dem.
Ocracy ct all times during his public career per-
mItted him, on his retirement, to find s~atisiac-
ton IN the declaration: A the moment when
/ surrender my last public trust. / leave this
great people prosperous and happy and in the
full enjoyment OF liberty and peace, and hon.
ored and respected by every nation Of the
world" Parties have come and parties have
gone.
But there has never been a time from Je fer
sons day to the present hour. when our party
did not exist, active and aggressive, and pre-
pared for heroic conflict. Not all who have
followed the banner have been able by a long
train Of close reasoning to demonstrate, as an
abstraction, why democratic principles are
best suited to their wants aud the country's
good; but they have known and felt that as
their government was established for the peo-
pie, the principles and the men nearest to the
people and standing for them, could be the
safest trusted. Jackson has been in their eyes
the incarnation OF the things which .Jeaerson
declared. If they did not understand all that
Jefferson wrote. they saw and knew
what Jackson did. Those who insisted
upon voting for Jackson after his death felt
sure that whether their candidate was alive or
dead they were voting the ticket Of true DEM
ocracy. The devoted political adberent Of
Jackson. who after his death became involved
In a dispute as 10 whether his hero had gone to
heaven or not, was prompted by democratic in
stInct when he disposed Of the question by de-
clarlug, Il tell you, sir, that IL Andrew jackson
has made up his mind to 90 to heaven you may
depend upon it he's there" The single demo-
cratic voter IN more than one town, who year
after year depo tied his single democratic ballot
undismayed by the number of his misguided
opponents, thus discharged his political duty
with the Utmost pride and satisfaction TO bis
JacksOniau democracy.
Democratic steaifastness and enthusiasm and
the Subtraction arising from our party history
and traditions, certainly ought not to be dis
Outraged. But il is hardly safe for US because
We profess the true faith, and can boast OF dis
tinguished political ancestry, TO rely upon these
things as guarantees of our present usefulness
as a party organization. or TO retard their glori-
featiOn as surely making the way easy 20 the
accomplishment OF our political mission.
The democratic party, by an intelligent stu y
Of present conditions, must be prepared to
meet all the wants of the people as they arise,
and to furnish a remedy for every threatening
evil. We may well be proud Of our party
membership; but we cannot escape the duty
which such membership imposes upon us, to
urge constantly upon our fellOw-citizens of this
day and generation, the suficiency OF the prin-
ciples of true democracy for the protection of
their rights aud the promotion o! their welfare
and happiness, in all their present diverse con-
ditlOns and surroundings.
There should Of course be no suggestion that
q departure from the time honored principles
of our party 10 necessary to the attainment Of
these objects. On the contrary We should con-
stantly congratulate ourselves that our party
creed is broad enough to meet any emergency
that can arise in the life Of q free nation.
Thus when we see the functions of govern.
ment used to enrich . favored few at the ex-