, 1891-01-09
TRUE DEMOCRACY"
Cleveland Responds to the
Toast at the Banquet of the
Young Mems Democratic Asso-
citation of Philadelphia.
Democratic Principles Lucidly
Explained.
Jackson Dav Celebrated.

"oo SCASbA1Nta AJhASuN W NhC OuEk
Mems Democratic Association with a ban
quet at the Academy of Music, at which
many prominent persons were present.
Ex-PresideDt Cleveland was the orator of
the evening, speaking to The Princi-
pies of True Democracy President
Thompson of the association, in introduce
lng MIR. Cleveland, spoke of him as the
man who with great courage. threw down
the gauntlet of tariff reform and. like his
great prototype. jackson. practically de-
clared by the eternal. that its principle
was right aud should prevail. Governor
Pattison. Congressman Breckenridge aud
Others also spoke. Mr.. Cleveland said;
Mr.. President and GentIemeBAAs L
rise TO respond to the sentiment which
has been assigned to me | cannot avoid
the impression made upon my mind BY
the announcement of the words, True
Democracy [ believe them to mean a
sober conviction or conclusion touching
political topics, which formulated into a
political beliet or creed, Inspires u patri
otto performance OF the duties of citizen
ship. 1 am satisfied that the principles
of this belief or creed are such as under
lie our Tree institutions aud that they may
be urged upon our fellow countrymeD.
because in their purity aud integrity they
aSo0rd with the attachment OF our people
for their government and their country.
A creed based upon such principles is by
no means discredited because illusions and
peryersions temporarily prevent their
popular acceptance any more than it can
be Irretrievably shipgrecked by mistakes
made in Its name or by its prostitution to
ignoble purposes When illusions are
dispelled, when misconceptions are recti-
fed and when those who guide are c Inse-
Grated to truth aud duty, the ark of the
peoples safety will still be discerned in
the keeping of those who hold fast to the
principles OF true Democracy.
These principles are not uncertain nor
doubtful The Illustrious founder OF our
party has plainly announced them. They
have been re-asserted and followed by a
long lIue Of great political leaders and
they are quite familiar. Tiiev comprise:
Equal and exact Justice to all men. peace,
mmer aud honest friendship with all
natloos-entaugling alliance with none;
the support OF the state government IN
all their rights; the preservation OF the
s-s;-l ~~ararnnnpt in its whole constitu-
tional vigor; a Jealous care OF the right OF
election by the people: absolute ~acquies-
cence in the decisions of the majority: the
supremacy of the civil over the military
authority; conomv IN the pubic expenses;
the honest payment of our debts and sa-
cred preservation of the public faith; the
encouragement Of agriculture. and COM
merce as its handmaid, and freedom of
religion, freedom OF the press aud free.
dom of the person.
Parties have como aud parties have
gone; bur there never has been a time
from Jeffetson's day to the present hour
when our party did not exist, active and
aggressive and prepared for heroic coufliet.
Not all who have followed the banner
have been able by a long train of close
reasoning to demonstrates, as an abstrac-
ton. why Democratic principles are best
suited for their wants and the country's
good; but they have known and felt that
as their government was established for
the people, the principles and the men
nearest TO the people and standing for
them, could be the safest trusted. jack
son has been IN their eyes the incarnation
of the things which Jefferson declared.
If they did not understand all that Jeffer-
son wrote, they saw aud knew what jack
son did.
The Democratic party. by an intelligent
study Ct the present conditions, must be
prepared to NE t all the wants OF the peo-
pile as they arise, and 10 furnish a remedy
for every threatening evil. We may we'll
be proud of our party membership; but
We cannot escape the duty which such
membership imposes upon us, to urge
constantly upon our lellow-citizens of this
day and generation, the sufficiency of the
principals of true Democracy for the pro
lection o. their rights and the promotion
of their welfare and happiness, IN all
their present diverse conditions and
surroundings.
There should OF course be no suggestion
that a departure from the time hOnored
principles of our party is necessary to the
attainment of these objects. % the con-
trarv we should constantly congratulate
ourselves that our parry creed is broad
enough to meet any emergency that can
arise in the life of a free nation.
Thus when We see the functions of
government used to enrich a favored few
at the Expense OF the many and see also
its inevitable result In the pinching
privation of the poor and profuse ex-
travagance of the rich; and when we see
in operation an unjust tariff which
banishos from many humble homes the
comforts oflife in order that in the palaces
of wealth, luxury may more abound. we
turn to our creed and find that it e%njoins
equal and exact Justice to all men.
Then If we are well grounded in our
political faith. we will not be deceived nor
will we permit others to be deceived, by
any plausible pretext or any smooth
sophistry excusing the situation. For our
answer to them all, we will point to the
words which condemn inequality and IN
justice, as We prepare for the encounter
with wrong. armed with the weapons of
the Democracy.
When we see our farmers in distress
and know that they are not paying the
penalty Of slothfulness and ~mismanage-
ment; when we see their long hours of
toll so poorly requited that the money
lender eats out their substance, while for
everything they peed they pay a tribute
to the favorites of governmental care, we
know that all this is far removed from the
encouragement of agriculture which
our creed commands. We will not violate
our political duty by forgetting how well
entitled our farmers are to our best efforts
Tor their restoration to the independence
of = former time and to the rewards Of
better days. ~
When we see the extravaganza of pub
lie expenditure fast reaching the point OF
reckless waste. and the undeserved DIS
tribution of public money debauching its
recipients. and by pernicious example
threatening the destruction of the love of
frugality among our people, we will
remember that economy in the public