Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-16
IN noxoR or JerFnaSoy.


A Dinner in New York on Monday at
which MIR. Cleveland Made an Admir-
able Address.
New YoRK, April l3.-'l'homas .. Bell
and j. NJ. Levy, two governors of the
Democratic Club, gave a subscription din
ner at the club house tonight, iii honor Of
Jeffersons birthday. j. II. v. Arnold
Cleveland and Governor Albeit of New
Jersey. Many prominent local Democrats
were present. Ex-President Cleveland was
the first speaker.
MIR. eLEyELANDs SPEECH.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen. desire first
of all, to express my thanks 10 the pro-
motors Of this occasion for the pleasure
which place in this goodly company
affords us, and to congratulate the Demo-
cratic CLUB upon the indication of pros
perity and enterprise supplied by its
ownership of this beautiful and coinmo-
dious house. The maintenance Of such a
centre for the cultivation and dssemina-
ton of Democratic principles, together
with the activity and earnestness of mem
bers of the club, furnish the most crafty
ing evidence that those who abide here
fully realize the value and importance Of
linremittinE political endeavoT and thor
ough organization in behalf of true Dem
ocracy.
1t seems to me that the atmosphere
which pervades this place is ill-suited to
selfish and ignoble designs and ! feel at
this moment that am surrounded by in
iluences which invite patriotic partisan
ship and disinterested devotion to party
principles. This sensation is most agree
able-for ! am glad to be called partisan
if my craftsmanship is patriotic. If a parti-
san is correctly defined as zone who is vio-
lently and passionately devoted to a party
or interest" | must plead guilty to the
charge of being a Democratic partisan, so
long as the Democracy is true to its creed
and traditions, and so long as conditions
exist which to my understanding make adj
herenee to its doctrines Synonymous with
patriotism.
It is Il glorious thing to belong to a party
which has history beginning with the
irst years OF our government and full of
achievements interviewer with all that has
made our country great and kept our
people free 1t is an inspiring thing to
know that by virtue of our party member
ship we are associated with those who
resist the attempt of arrogant political
power to interfere with the independence
and integrity of popular suffrage, who are
determined to relieve our countrymen
from unjust and unnecessary burdens,
who are intent upon checking extrava-
gance in public expenditures, and who test
party purposes by their usefulness in pro-
noting the interest and welfare of all the
people of the land.
These considerations furnish to those
who love their country the highest and
best incentives to constant and faithful
effort in the cause of true Democracy.
We are reminded on this occasion that
we not only have a proud history and
glorious traditions, but that our party had
an lllulstrious founder, whose services and
teachings have done as much to Justify
and make successful our government by
If .,qI la am Tnr hfa Ia,
American who ever lived. A claim to
such political ancestry is, of itself, sutfi-
cient to lend honor and pride to member
ship in party which preserves in their
vigor and purity the principles of that
Democracy which was established by
Thomas Jefferson. These principles were
not invented for the purpose Of gaining
popular assent for day, nor only because
they were useful 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 thefabric of our government rested.
IN the spirit Of prophecy there We're form
uated and declared, not only as suited to
the experiments of 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 country's growth and development.
The political revolution which accom-
panied the birth Of our party was not ac-
complished while the principles Of Democ-
racy were kept laid away in napkin, nor
was the linanimity of their first accept
ance secured by the senseless and noisy
shouting of partisan bigotry and the re
tllsal to receive converts to the faith. No
man believed more implicitly in the poll
teal instruction 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
q 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 most thorough
and systematic presentation TO our fellow
citizens of the reasons which support the
avowed and accepted purposes of our
party. Those who now sheer at efforts in
that direction are our cnemies-whether
they confront MS AS confessed opponents
or whether they are traitors skulking
within our camp.
1t seems to me that this is peculiarly a
time when the Democratic party should be
mindful of its relations to the country; of
its responsibilities as the guardian of
sacred principles and of its duty to a cor
liding people. In the rejoicing which sue
cess 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 ourselves to be
diverted from the perils which are still in
our way. Blindness TO danger and neglect
Of party organization and discipline are
invitations 10 defeat We cannot win per
manent and substantial success by putting
aside principle and grasping after temper
AIRY eXpedients. We shall court disaster if
we relax industry in commencing to the
intelligence of our countrymen the creed
which we profess, and we tempt humiliat-
ing failure and disgrace when we encour-
age or tolerate those who, claiming fellow
ship with us, needlessly, and often from
the worst of motives, seek to stir UP strife
and SOW discord in the counsels of our
party,
As we celebrate tonight 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 countrymcn. Let the
reflections prompted by the surroundings
of this occasion confirm us in the assur-
ance that we shall periodically discharge
our political duty and well maintain our
party loyalty, if in all we do as Democrats, 4
we bravely and consistently hold fast to
the truths which illumine the path laid
out by our great guide and leader.
Governor Albeit also spoke.
a TFrE,NF q 2r,c .,pF, . ~,