The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-25
ELooUENcE AND GOOD EATING.
NEW YORK'S DEMOCRATIC EDITORS
AT THE BANQUET BOARD.

Fhrker-Letters OF Regret Received
From President Cleveland and
Many Others-The President Al
ludes to "the Misleading Light OF
Temporary Popular MfsaPprehen-
sion"
New York, May 2i-Two hundred and
twenty-seven editors and their friends
were present at the banquet Of the Demo-
cratic Editorial Association of the state
of New York held at Delmonico's to-
night. American flags were draped
around the state coat of arms behind
President Stephen II. Parker Senator
David B. Hin occupied a seat Of honor on
the right of the president. The dinner
began at $50 o'clock and it was 10 o'clock
before the speaking commenced. Pre-
vious to the speaking, letters expressing
regret at inability to be present from
President Cleveland. Postmaster Wilson,
Secretary of War Lamont and many
others were read.
President Cleveland's letter was as fol-
lows:
Executive Mansion. Washington. May
20, lS95-To John A. Mason, Esq. Chair
man. Etc: Ny Dear Sir-I regret that my
official duties oblige me to decline the cour-
teous invitation have received to attend
the annual banquet of the Democratic Ed
itorial Association on the Path instant.
This reunion Of democratic editors, will, I
am sure. be an enjoyable occasion to all
who participate: but l shall be much dis
appointed If the fellowship and interchange
of sentiment it viii afford, do not stimulate
the zeal and effort of the fraternity there
assembled in behalf of the democratic
cause and democratic principles.
Our party Is so much a party of power,
and its proper action and usefulness are
so dependent upon a constant adherence to
its doctrines and traditions. that no ten
dency in our ranks to follow the mislead-
ing light of temporary popular misap-
prehension should go unchallenged. Our
victories have all been won when we have
closely followed the banner of democratic
principles.
We have always been punished by defeat
when losing sight of our banner, we have
yielded to the Establishments of undemo-
cratic expediency. There is a temptation
now vexing the people in different sections
of the country which assumes the disguise
" CtAAAOtAdtiI parry piiHtlpitSt lldSHlutn
as it present scheme which is claimed to
be remedy for agricultural depression
and such other hardships as affiict our fell
low citizens. Thus, because we are the
friends of the people and profess devotion
to their interests, the help of the members
of our party is invoked in support of plan
to revolutionize the monetary condition of
the country and embark upon an expert
ment which is discredited by all reason and
nyDprianNn which invites nd i.-
aster in every avenue of labor and enter
prise, and which must prove destructive to
our national prestige and character. When
campaign is actively on foot to force the
free, unlimited and Independent coinage of
silver by the government at ratio which
will add to our circulation unrestrained
millions of so-called dollars, intrins-
ically worth but half the amount
they purport to represent with no provis-
ion or resource to make good this def
cheney in value and when 1t is claimed that
such a proposition has any relation to
the principles of democracy, it is time for
all who may in the least degree influence
democratic thought to realize their re-
sponsibility.
Our party is the party of the people, not
because it is waited hither and thither by
every sudden wave of popular excitement
and misconception, but because, while it
tests every proposition by the doctrines
which underlie its organization. II insists
that all interests should be defended in
the administration of the government
without especial favor or discrimination.
Our party is the party of the people, be-
cause in its care for the welfare of all our
countrymen, its resists dangerous schemes
born of discomfort, advocated by appeals
to sectional or class prejudices, and rein
forced by the insidious aid of private sell
hshness and cupidity.
Above all, our party is the party of the
people when it recognizes the fact that
sound and absolutely safe money is the
life blood of our country's strength and
and when it teaches that none
of our fellow citizens rich or poor, great
or humble, can escape the consequences
of degeneration of our currency.
Democratic care and conservatism die
tate that If there exists inconvenience and
hardships, resulting from the congestion
or imperfect distribution of our circulating
a remedy should be applied which
will avoid the disaster that must follow
in the train of silver monometallism.
What l have written has not been
prompted by any fear that the democracy
Of the state of New York will ever be an
accomplice in such an injury to their
as would be entailed by the free,
unlimited and Independent coinage of sill
yer; nor do l believe they will be so heed
less of party interests as to support such
a movement. I have referred to this SUBJ
ject in the belief that nothing more i'm
portant can engage the attention of the
American people or the national democra-
cy and in the conviction that the voice of
the democrats of New York, through its
press should constantly be heard in every
state. Yours very truly.
Grover Cleveland.
The Hon. William L. Brown acted as
The following were the
toasts: Democracy" Hon. David b. Hill; |
Sound Money" Hon. James H. Eckels; |
Party Principles" Hon. Charles S. |
Fairchild "The Democracy of the State |
Of New York. Hon. Roswell p. Flower;
'The City of New York" Hon. Ashbel p. |
Fitch; "The Legislative Minority of 1S93."
Jacob A. Cantor; "The Press" Albert r. |
Hessinger.
When Mr. Brown introduced Senator |
Hill great applause followed. Mr.. Hill |
spoke in part as follows
Democracy in its broadest sense means |
he people-the body politic-the source of /
popular government In a stricter sense, /
{ means a constitutional representative /
form or government in /
which the supreme control is retained by |
he people, but is indirectly exercised |
through a system of representation and 1
delegate authority periodically renewed |
n a partisan sense ii means the princi- /