Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-05-25

PRESIDENT STEPHEN H. PARKER ex Governor Flower, ex Secretary Fair child and others. President Cleveland sent a letter regretting his absence but expressing his views on certain political issues of the day.
 Previous to the speaking Editor John A. Mason read a number of letters from prominent people expressing regret for in- ability to be present. Letters were receiv- ed from President Cleveland, Postmaster General William L. Wilson, Secretary of War Daniel Lamont and many others
 President Clsveland's letter was aa fol- lows:
 Presidsnt Clsvsland's Letter.
 YAsHrSaroN. May 6 John A. Mason, Esq, Chairman. etc:
 MY DEAN STR-I regret that my official du ties oblise me to decline the courteous invita- tion have received to attend the annual ban. Quet of the Democratic Editorial association on tho 24th inst
 This reunion of Democratic editors will, am sure. be an enjoyable occasion to all who participate. but shall bS much disappointed if the fellowship and interchange of sentiment 1t will afford do not stimulate the zeal and effort of the fraternity there assembled in be- half of the Democratic cause and Democratic principles
 Our party is so much party of principle and its proper action and usefulness so de- pendent upon n constant adherence to its doc trines and traditions that no tendency in our ranks to follow the misleading light of tenn porary popular miEapprGhSnsiOn should 60 uu- challenged. Our victories have all bssn won when We have closely followed bhs banner of Democratic principle. We have slwayS beeR punished by defeat when. losing sight sf eur banner, We have yielded to the blnndishments of undemOcratic expediSncy.
 There Is a temptation now vOxing ths people in different sections of the country which sumes the disguise of Democratic party prin- ciple, inasluuch aS it presents Q scheme which is claimed to be q remedy for agricultural de- preSsioE and such other haTdShipS as afhict our fellow citizens. Thus because we are the friends of the people and profess devotion to their interests, the help of the members of our party k invoked in support of plan to roVolutloniZc the monetary condition of the country, and embark upon an experiment which is discrcdittd by ali reason and expsri- ence, which invites trouble and disaster in Sv cry avenue of labor and enterprise, and which must prove destructive to our national pres tigp and character.
 When campaign is actively on foot to force the free. unlimited and independent coinage of silver by the government at a ratio which will add to our circulation unrestrainsd mil lions of so called dollars, intrinsically worth but half the amount they purPort to repre- sent, with no provision or resource to make good this deficiency in value, and when it is claimed that such q proposition has any rela- ton to tho principles of Democracy, it is time lbI all W ll' lalHH m the least lnuuChcO Democratic thought to realize their responsi. billty.
 Democratic care and conservation dictate that if there exist inconvenience and hard ship, resulting from the congestion imper- feet distribution of our circulating medium, . remedy sl uld be applied which will avoid | tho cissa;~r that must follow in the train of | silver r.uuOmctalliSm.
 What have written has not been prompted | by any fear that tho Democracy of the state of N,Nrk yKIl he a7a ,aDlfr V,nl, | an injury to their country 2S would he en- | tailed by the free, unlimited and independent | coinage of silver, nor do believe they will ever hs so h"edl"Hs ot party interests as to | support such q movement
 have referred to this subject in the belief that nothing more important can engage the ! attention of the American people or She na- | tional Democracy, and in the conviction that | tho voice of the Democracy of New York, through its press. should constantly be heard | in every state. Yours vsry truly. GROVER CLEVELAND. Senator HiIrs Speech. Senator Hlll in response to the toast "Democracy. said among other things: | 1t seems almost inappropriate that | should be asked to elucidato the prtnci- plos of Democracy in the presence of 0 | company of journalists whose life work has been devoted to their exposition. Whatever know concerning my subject | freely acknowledge that have learned 1t at your feet The lessons which you have taught for so many years have constituted the bulwark of my faith and illuminated my whole political pathway. When the | clouds haVS lowered. as well as when the skies were bright, in adVGrsity as well as in victory. tho Democratic pTess has vim | dicated Jur creed with GteadfastneSs and | courage sometimes with little or no Gp- | courageInent without the expectation of reward except the consciousness of duty | performed and the qualification of aiding in the triumph of right principles. Tt Is impossible to oveTestimats the in. huence of the press in shaping the policies Uf free government like ours, It is in- deed the prorsinent. the conspicuous. the controlling feature in American politics today, largely overshadowinR all other in- strumsntaltties It has to some extent su- perseded the political orator because 1t | speaks constantly, while he talks only oo- | casionally It overmatches our public | schools because they take long vacations. It outrivnls the pulujt hachuSa tt> nraachAa week days as we'll as Sundays. observing | no holidays and taking no European trips. | It diminisbes the influence of our courts because it anticipates their decisions l usually accurately. It towers above con gresses and legislatures because it is not hampored by u1lilial responsibility, and with its freedom guaranteed under our | constitution it can freely recommend crit | icise and condemn with absolute fear lessness and independence with no veto power to intimidato revise its actions | except tho force of an enlightened public | opinion, which is always supreme The True Democracy.
 ''I realize that there sxists in soms quarters a disposition to modify the old | fashioned principles of Democracy-a de- sire to enlarge the functions of govern ment by the assumption of doubtful or unusual powers heretofore wholly CT paP- tially uneIercissd. leading plainly iR she direction Ot paternalism. pointing the path ts Q stronger cen tralissd government and paving the way for c laYgsr standing army and an enormous and powerful navy maintained at Q tremendous expense bO the people; Q diSpoSitisR ts sanotiOn the | pernicious practice of governmental bouR- ties and subsidies to private individuals and interests, to which our opponents ss> peoially seem fully committed; Q growing tendency to look to the general govern
 ment for a remedy for all ills to which the
 body politio Is unfortunately subject; an
 inclination to usurp the revenues which 1 properly belong to ths states by the impo- | sition of federal Income taxes laid directly,