The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-25

/ NfIlnN IItSIQtNl altIltl IT, at N'Af
Senator David B. Hill occupied the seat
Of honor on the right Of the president
The dinner began at 6.3O +. N. aud 20 was
10 o'clock before the speaking commenced.
! Previous TO the speaking. letters exc
pressing regret at the inability 10 nc
present from President Cleveland, POST
inaster-Genoral Wilson. Secretary of War
Lamont, and many others were read.
Mn. ctlvELAND's LrrrrE.
President Clevclands letter was as fol-
lows:
Executive Mansion.
Washington. May ~, l>3,
John A. Mason. Esq.. Chairman. etc.,
My dear Sir.-I regret that my official
duties oblige me TO decline the courteous
| invitation / have received TO attend the
annual banquet of the Democratic Edi-
toral Association on the 2ith instant
! This reunion OF Democratic editors viii.
| / am sure. be an enjoyable occasion 10
! an who participate, but / shall Dee much
| disappointed If inc fellowship and inter-
| change of sentiment s. Will afford does
not stimulate the zeal of the fraternity
| there assembled IN the behalf of Demo-
cratic cause and Democratic principles.
| our party Is 80 mucn a party of power
| and its proTer action and usefuluDso
! are 80 dependent upon "a constant a1her-
/ cnco to its doctrines and traditions. that
/ no tendency i'm our ranks 20 follow the
misleading light of a temporary popular
misapprohcnsiOn should 20 uncballenged.
| our victories have an been won when we
have closely followed the banner of
| Democratic principle. We have always
been punished by defeat when. losing
| sight Of our banner We have yielded 10
! the Establishment Of undemocratic c2pe-
diercy
THE SILVER TEMPTATION.
There is temptation now veXirg the
| people in different sections Of the coun-
! try which assumes the disguise of Demo
cratic party principle inasmuch as 30 pre-
seuts a scheme which is claimed 10 Doe
remedy for agricultural depression. and
such other hardshps as aillict our fellow
| citizens. Thus, because We are friends
of the people and profess devotion t0
.heir interests the help of the members
Of our party is invokd in support of
! Plan 10 revOlufiOnlZc the monetary cOnli-
| tiou of the country, and embark upon am
! experiment which is discrclltod by an
! reason and experience, which invites tr0u-
| bile and disaster in every avenue of la-
I h0r and enterprise. and which must prove
destructive 20 our national prestige and
character. When a campaign is actively
on foot TO force the free, unlimited, and
| independent coinage OF silver by the
| Government at the ratio which VIII add
| to our circulation unrestricted millions OF
so-callcl dollars. intrinsically worth but
half the amount they purport 90 repre-
| sent. without provision or resource 10
make good this deficiency i'm value. and
| when TO is claimed that such "a proposition
has any relation to the principles of Dee
mocracy. 20 SIS time for AN who may in
the least degree influence Democratic
thought TO realize their responsibility.
"Our party o. tie party Of The people,
not because it is waited hithcr ANA
thither by every sudden wave of popular
| excitement and misconceptiou. but Dee
I cause while lt tests every proposition Dog
the doctrines which underlie its organi-
zation. 10 insists that am interests should
Doe defended by the administration of The
/ Government without especial favor or
| discrimination.
"Our party is the party Of the people
! because. in its care for the welfare of
/ all our couutrymen. 10 resists danger
Gus schemes. born of discomfort adyo-
Gated by appeals 90 sectional or class
! prejudice. and reinforced hy the iusili-
ous aid OF private seldshness and cupiii-
u.
SAFE MONEY OrN LIFE BLOOD.
above AN. our party SIS the party of
the people when 10 recognizes the fact
that sound and absolutely safe money is
/ tine iife-blOOd of our country's strength
! and prosperity. and when 30 teaches
| that none of our fellow-citlzcus. rich or
poor great or humble. can escape the
consequences of degeneration of our
/ currency.
Democratic care and conservatism dice
I tate that 81 there exists Inconvenience
and hardshirs resulting from the cone
gcsiion or imperfect distribution OF our
/ circulating medium. remedy should H.
applied which viii avoid t.e disaster
! which must follow in ihc train oi silver
monometailism.
"What ] have written has NOT been
! prompted by any fear that the lDmocra-
cy of the State of New York viii ever
he an accompice in such au injury t0
! their country as would hc ontailcd hy
/ the free and unlimited. and independent
/ coinage of silver; nor 90 ] believe they
/ Will bee SO needless Of party interests ass
! 10 support such movement. / have
referred To this subject ia the belief
that nothing more important can engage
the attention of the American people. or
| the nations Democracy, and m thp con-
viction 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 W. l.. Brown acted as toast
master. The following We're rhe toasts.
]
Sound Money" Hon. James H. Eckcls;
Party Principles" Hon. Charles $. Fair
child '"rhe Democracy of the State of
! New York" Hon. Roswell T. Flower.
"The city of New York" Hon. Ashbel
| T. Fitch; "The Legislative Minority of
1850" Hon. Jacob a. Cantor. "rhe Press,
| Albert r. Kessinger.
srNAroR HuL's spEFoH.
When tMr Brown introduced senator
/ fIiii applause followed. Nh. iih spoke
/ IN part as follows
1T seems amost inappropriate thal
| should be asked 10 elIci1atc the pm
| pies OF Democracy In the presente ui !
/ company of journalists whose lie "oiA
] has been devoted 10 their eNplSlll"i-
/ Whatever 1 know sconcerhins m. a-n-
/ jCCt / freely acknowledge thdt f-tNc
/ lClnod at YOUR feet The lessons Mni
l YOU have taught for so many years ma .
/ constituted the bulwark OF my iallil ana
| ilumlned my whole political ldtiiN1A. -
/ IL impOsShle 10 CVcrestmatc the iiAlucI'-
| OF the press In shaping the poiilts On "A
| free government Ike turs III II, lhne~1'
| the prominent. the conspicuous ihe coz
| trolling feature in Atue rlcah poiltt5 to-
| day. larga,v overshad )wirg all other 10
| strlmcntalities Ii has 20 some extent
! superseded the political orator, oecauic 10
| ,.teaks constantly. while he talks only
| orcasionallv. Ii overmatcnes our pu1i-c
| sch0ois because they take long vacd-
tions IL outrivals the pulpit. because II
! ,rrashes week days as well as sundays.