Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-09-22
SENATOR HILL TALKS
HE OPENS THE CLEVELAND CAM
PAlGN IN BROOKLYN.

His Opening Declaration That He Was q
Democrat Still Loudly Applauded, but
the Dramatic Climax to His Address
Seemed to Set His Audience Wild.
BROOKLYN, Sept 2O-There was great
0utpouring of Democrats in this city last
night. The Academy of Music could not
accommodate the crowd that rushed to Sc
cure good positions from which to take in
every action of Senator David B. Hill in the
delivery of an address that has been awaited
anxiously by all Democrats. There were
10000 in and around the building, and on
the stage sat 400 people, among whom was
every prominent Democrat of Brooklyn in
town and many of the leading lights in the
political arena of the large sister city
Mr.. Pearsall introduced as chairman of
the evening William j. Coombs, whose dis
tinction lays in the fact that he ran for con-
gress in a Republican district having 200
majority and got elected. Mr.. Coombs said
that the first speaker of the evening needed
no more introduction than the phrase, "He
is Democrat" Cries of "Hill, Hilll' here
greeted him, and he sat down while New
York's senator arose and stood with smil-
ing features as the audience showered ap-
plause upon him.
The senator's voice was low and calm as
he began, but gradually he warmed up,
and before minute had passed he had ut
tered phrase that carried wild applause
with it. This was when he said that be-
fore the Democratic national convention at
Chicago he was a Democrat and was
Democrat still. Senator Hill spoke in part
as follows:
Senator Hills Speech.
am reminded of the fact that IL was in this
odtce upon a memorable occasion in 1885 that
had the honor of expressing to the intrepid
Democracy Of Kings county the sentiment, II
am Democrat" and under the existing political
situation know Of no more appropriate place
or presence than here to declare that was q
Democrat before the Chicago convention, and
am q Democrat still.
Your cordial invitation to unite with you in
the opening of this campaign could not we'll be
neclined, and was accepted with pleasure, COM
ing as 1t did from a Democratic organization
embracing those who during all my political
life have been among my stanchest and truest
friends.
The national Democratic convention of 1892
has passed into history with its record its tri-
Iumphs and its disappointments. The wisdom
OF its action is not now to be questioned. Il
was the court of last resort established by party
usage as the final arbiter to determine the con.
hicting interests and claims of candidates,
states and sections, and its decision will be ac-
cepted with loyal acquiescence by every true
and patriotic Democrat who recognizes the
necessity Of party organization and discipline
and respects the obligations which he assumes
hn its mem mbership
From this time forward imperative duties
are imposed upon us. fractional appeals should
now cease, the spirit of resentment should be
abandoned state pride should be subordinated
TO the general good, real or fancied grievances
should be dismissed personal ambitions should
be sacrificed and individual disappointments
should be forgotten in this great emergency
which demands from us all the exhibition of
widespread and lofty party patriotism.
Permit me to repeat what had the honor Of
expressing to the Tammany society on July
Last, before the echoes Of our national conven-
tion had scarcely died away as follows: ''Our
course at the present time is plain. In the ap-
preaching struggle the Democracy of New
York should present a solid front to the com.
mon enemy. Loyalty TO cardinal Democratic
principles and to regularly nominated candi-
dates Is the supreme duty Of the hour" | re-
bterate those sentiments now
There is no place in honorable American poll
tics for the political guerrillas who do not at
itach themselves to either of the great political
armies, but who, while swearing allegiance to
neither, criticise them both and fight first upon
Stunning to offer suggestions of duty to this class
or people, but am speaking tonight as Dem
ocrat to Democrats who are anxious to sub
Berve the interests Of their country, and believe
that such interests can best be subserved by
the success Of the Democratic cause.
The Tariff.
Senator Hill then compared the two great
political parties, stating that the funda-
mental difference between them was that
the Democratic party believed in a strict
and the Republican party in a loose con-
struction of the federal constitution He
then went into a long argument on the
tariff question, quoting Judge Miller, of the
United States supreme court, and Judge
Cooley's work on constitutional law to
prove that the Democratic platform was
right in asserting that the federal govern
ment has no constitutional power to impose
md collect tariff duties except for the pur-
poses OF revenue only, and went on to say:
The Mckinley bill has not ruined the coun-
Try. nor has 1t benefited it, 1t has increased
the burdens of the taxpayers and aided many
of the monopolies of the land. There is no
satisfactory evidence that it has increased our
prosperity in any degree or advanced the
wages of single workingman.
Skillful statisticians capable of juggling
with figures may assume to have more infor-
different result, but can safely assert that it
Is the general understanding of the people that
Fhe Mckinley bill has not increased wages
either in New York or elsewhere. We are not
seeking power upon the calamity" issue, but
with all good citizens we rejoice In the pros
perity of the country and trust that it may
continue but we insist that the country has
been prosperous not because of the Mckinley
law, but in spite of it.
Senator Hill then said there was another
Issue in this campaign Of equal if not greater
Importance than the tariff-that of the Fed
eral elections bill, to the passage of which
the Republican party stood committed
The senator then entered into lengthy
argument, denouncing the measure and its
authors, and asserting that the Democratic
party stood at all times for free, honest
and fair elections everywhere. State issues
were then briefly touched upon, and Mr..
hill concluded his speech in these words:
Public Office Is n Public Trust"
Fellow citizens need not urge you to the
Performance Of your full share in this cam
paign. Kings county was never known to
falter in its duty. The interests involved de.
mand the greatest sacrifices and our highest
and best efforts. 1t is the welfare of the old