Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-07

80
letters. The first was from ex-Presluent
drawer Cleveland. IL was dated buH-
zard's Raw. and as soon as the date line was
read there was shout Of applause. Inc
letter was as follows:
GEovEg's LETTER.
BuzzARo's BAY, Mass, July l. 1891.
The Hon. Thomas =. G,lroy, Grand Sdc'e"':
Dear SRI am unable TO accept your
courteous invitation to be present at the
celebration BY the 1ammany Society OF 'ho
Il5th anniversary OF American 'nuo-
pcndence. :.;,.o :, Tia
celebration which your society cohteIh-
plates. and | hope the design Oh lts pro-
motors TO make the occasion ono OF eAi
centionnl significance and extenueu
effects" will be fully realized.
Our American holiday cannot be appro-
urlatelv celebrated without recalling ihe
immense cost and the transcendent value
of our national independence, ana aWaheH
ING and reserving in our hearts tlht spIis
of patriotism which is the foundation OF
our independence and the security OF our
life as a nation. H..
Every American citizen should, on that
dav consecrate himself anew TO an I'M
nualj6cd allegiance 10 his Government;
and should sobcrly realize that no social
or political relation i'll life can be wOrtElIf
maintained unless 1t embraces an unscihsh
love of country.
Your time honored association justly
claims proud history of dovotlon 10
uolitical party which has always lnslsted
npon the integrity Of our free institutions,
and which has ct all times professed 10
champion the rights of the people. am
therefore. certain that Tammany Society,
in its celebration Of Independence day,
will not fail to emphasize the truth mat
political organizations car only be yaiua-
bic, and party efforts can only promise
success, when they have for their purpose
and inspiration the broadcast and purest
patriotism. Yours very truly,
GRovEg CLEVELAND.
When the applause which followed the
reading OF this letter had ceased, a letter
| from Governor Hill was read. which was
as follows:
DAVID BIS LETTER.
STATE or New YoRK, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
ALBANY July 1891. !
Dear Sir.-An engagement In another
part of the state deprives me OF the plea
sure of accepting your KIND invitation 10
be present at the Tammany Soclety's cele-
| bration of the one-hundred- and fifteenth
anniversary of American independence IN
Tammanv Hall on July Attn.
The celebrations of this historic dov.
which are untirngly perpetuated by the
ancient Tammany Society. almost alone or
political organizations. not only to serve 10
revive patriotic feeling, but they have be-
come q worthy occasion for the wholesome
discussion of cOntempOraneous p0lltical
issues and tendencies which stirs popular
interest III public affairs ana influence the
| course IN public events.
The country has not forgotten the ser
vice rendered by Tammany Hall at Its
Fourth-of-July exercises year ago, when
| the very principles of American govern
ment were beng threatened with subyer-
sion bv the arbitrary and partisan majority
which had possession of both houses OF
Congress That was time for patriotic
men who believed i'll maintaining the SIM
phcty and integrity Of our political system
| 10 make themselves heard against the dan
| ger which was imminent. over IN" renas.
cent South. struggling by gigantic industrial
and commercial effort to free herself from
| the poverty, the desolation and distress
| lett bv the great civil conflict, absorbed
earnestly and hopefully in solving for her
self and for the nation the tremendous
social problems which confront her people,
| hung the dark shadow OF military
| despotism threatened by the force bill,
bringing discouragement to commercial
enterprise, rekindhng sectional anmosl-
ties. DENYING to States the rights which
| they have held for a century, and carrying
! no justification save the perpetuatlOn OF q
political party's power.
When in that moment of threatened
| danger and disaster the South appealed &c
her Democratic brethren IN the North foI
| sympathy and assistance, and the appeal
seemed to fall in some quarters on deal
ears and Inexpensive hearts, the Tam.
many Society, through the statesmen and
orators whom il attracted to its patriotic
celebration, sounded the keynote OF alarm
which reused the Democratic heari
throughout the land, gave encouragement
to those noble Democrats Who were faith
fully lighting the great battle at Washing
inpton and became one of the first expo.
aeuts Of that intense popular sentiment
which finally forced the doom Of that III.
iquitous legislation.
The patriotic services rendered upon
that anniversary day can be profitaby re
peated every Fourth of July. The force
bill is now dead, to be sure, and the great
revolution at the polls last autumn ha:
emphatically demonstrated the popular
sentiment against partisan us'irpatioin
against excessive tariffs in the interests o.
a privileged few. against extravaganza II
public expenditure, and against centraliza
ton in government But political evil:
like these, or Others more or less conspicu
Gus. are always present. and require The
constant watchfulness of the people. NJ
more suitable occasion for their discussion
can be found than the anniversary o
American independence.
No more suitable place can be suggested
than i'll the home Of that political organ
cation which exercises SO potent force IL
, State and national affairs. and is so great
factor in the education OF the masses to tn
duties of American citizenship. Politica
propagandism of this sort is practical poll
tics, and practical politics in that sense i
practical patriotism. l remain. your fel
| lowcltizen DAVID B. HILL.