The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-14
DEMOCRATS AT A FEAST.
EX-PREsIDENT CLEVELAND THE
PRINCIPAL SPEAKER.

The Banquet Given by the New York
Democratic Club to Celebrate
Thomas Jefferson's Birthday The
Ex-President Pictures the Glorious
History Of the Party and the Work
Before 1t.
NEW YORK, April 13.-Thomas o. Bell
and ]. NJ Levy. the two governors Of the
democratic club, gave a subscription dinner
tonight in honor of Jefferson's birthday.
III. V. Arnold presided. He was fianked
by ex- President Cleveland and Gov. Albeit
Of New Jersey. Many prominent local
democrats were present. Ex-President
Cleveland was the first speaker. Ex-
President Cleveland said:
CLEvELAND'S SPEECH.
MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN-I desire first
of all to express my thanks to the promoters of
this occasion for the pleasure which this gOodly
company affords me. and to congratulate the
Democratic Club upon the indication Of pros
perity shown by its ownership Of this beautiful
center for the cultivation and dis
semination of democratic principles, to-
gether with the activity and earnestness
Of the members of the club, furnish most graft
fying evidence that those who abide here fully
realize the value and Importance of unremitting
political endeavor and thorough organization in
behalf of true democracy. IL seems that the
atmosphere which pervades this place is i'll
suited to selfish and ignoble designs; and feel
at this moment that 1 am surrounded
by influences which invite patriotic
partisanship and disnterested devotion
10 party principles. This sensation is most
agreeable, for am glad to be called partisan
ii my partisanship is patriotic. II partisan
is correctly defined as zone who is violently and
passionately devoted to party or interest"
must plead guilty to the charge of being dem
ocratic partisan, so long as the democracy is
true to its creed and traditions, and so long as
conditions exist which, to my understanding,
make adherence to its doctrines synonymous
with patriotism.
INSPIRING THOUGHTS.
1t is a glorious thing to belong to a party
which has history beginning with the first years
Of our government, and full of achievements in
terwoven with all that has made our country
great. Il is an inspiring thing to know that by
virtue of our party membership we are
associated with those who resist
the attempt of arrogant political power
TO interfere with the independence and
integrity of the popular suffrage, who are de-
termined to relieve our countrymen from unjust
and unnecessary burdens, who are intent upon
checking extravaganza in public expenditures
and who test party purposes by their usefulness
in promoting the interests and welfare of all
the people Of the land These considerations
furnish to those who love their country the
highest and best incentive to constant
and faithful effort in the cause of true democ-
Tacy. We are reminded on this occasion that
we not only have proud history and glorious
traditions, but that our party had an illustrious
founder, whose services and teachings have
done as much to Justify and make successful
our government by the people and for the
people as any American who ever lived.
CLAIM TO BE PROUD OF.
claim to such political ancestry is of itself
sufficient to lend honor and pride to member
and purity the principles of that democracy
which was established by Thomas Jefferson.
These principles were not invented for the pur-
pose of gaining the popular assent for day.
in the early time of the republic. They
were not announced for the purpose
Of serving personal ambitions, nor merely for
the purpose Of catching the suffrages OF the
people. They were laid as deep and as broad
as the truths upon which the fabric of our gov
ernment rested. In spirit OF prophecy they
were formulated and declared not only. to the
experiments of the new government, but as
sufficient in every struggle and every
emergency which should beset popular rule in
all times to come and in all stages of our coun-
try's growth and development.
THE REVOLUTION AT THE BIRTH.
The political revolution which accompanied
the birth of our party was not accomplished
while the principles OF de nocracy were kept
laid away in O napkin, nor was unanimity OF
their first appliance secured by senseless and
noisy spouting of partisan bigotry and refusal
80 receive converts to che faith No man be-
lieved more implicitly in the political instruc-
tion of the people than the great founder of our
party; and the first triumph of democratic
principles under his leadership, was distinctly
the result of a campaign of education. So, too,
in the light of our last great victory, no man
who desires democratic success will deny the
supreme importance of the most thorough and
systematic presentation to our felIow-citizens
of the reasons which support the avowed and
accepted purposes of our party. Those who now
sneer at the efforts in that direction are our
enemies-whether they confront us as con-
fessed opponents or whether they are traitors
skulking within our camp. 1t seems to me that
this is peculiarly time when the Democratic
party should be mindful of its relations to the
country. of its responsibilities as guardian of
sacred principles and of its duty to contding
people.
MISSION OF THs PARTY.
In the rejoicing which success permits let us
remember that the mission of our party is
continued warfare. We cannot accomplish
what we promise to the people If we allow our
selves to be diverted from the perils which are
still in our way. Blindness to danger and
neglect OF party organization and d1Scipli inc
are invitations to defeat We cannot
win permanent and substantial success by
putting aside principle and grasping after tenn.
porary expedients We shall court disaster if
we relax industry in commencing to the intellt-
gepce OF our countrymen the creed which we
profess; and we tempt humiliation and dis
grace when we encourage or tolerate those
who claiming fellowship with US, needlessly,
una often from the worst Of motives, seek to
SUR up strife and SOW discord in the councils of
our party. >. AS we celebrate to,
night the birthday of the father OF
democracy, let us reinforce our democratic zeal
and enthusiasm and renew our faith and trust
IN the aroused intelligence Of our countrymen.
Let The reflections prompted by the surround
IuRs OF this occasion confirm us in the assurance
mat we shall patriotically discharge our polit.
leal duty and maintain our party loyalty, if in
all we do as democrats we. bravely and consist
entity hold fast to the truths which illumine the
pskh Iald out by our great guide and leader.