The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-30
ANNIVERSARY.
Democratic League Celebrated It's Ami.
yersary Last Evenining With Speech
making, Husic and rllrtAs

The first anniversary of the Democrati
League of Delaware was celebrated a
| Turn Hall last evening in q manner whicl
did credit to the club members. Their
was speech-making, music and lunch
all being enjoyed by about 800 representa-
tive Democrats of the city.
The exercises began at $50 o'clock. o.
the stage, which WAS adorned by photo
graphs of George Washington, Thomu
Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and William
'ennirgs Bryan. sat George C., Morton
president Of The league, who presided Con
gresham i, Irving Handy, John G. Gay
Senator Pyle Repre- sentalives Mccoy anC
Whitney, Howell :. England, Howard
Jordan, Alfred Hulock. james A. Hur
! lock, clerk of the senate Simon p Dober
| ty, William S. Alexander, Thomas f.
Magarity Edward w. Dunlap, B. Lundy
Kent John 2. Donoboe and William
Bromwell.
After an orchestra discoursed march
Chairman Morton briefly reviewed the
history OF the organization, stating that
the club was formed with ten members
1t now numbers 245 and is continually
growing. Mr., Morton said the members
were tho followers OF tho true Democracy
which they would ever follow. Tho re-
marks were greeted with applause.
Congressman Handy was then intro
duced and delivered ono of his character
istic speeches. He told of leaving his bed
to bs with his friends, sacrifice he would
not mako for any other organization.
Taking retrospective view Of the situa'
tion Mr., Handy said year ago the people
of tho country said Democracy had gone
insane. They said the Chicago platform
only would pass in night, but the pos
terity of the Democratic League OF Della.
ware stands as a token that the Democracy
of the Chicago platform abides In Della.
ware at least, and is stronger than ever.
In my opinion the Democracy of that con-
vention Is moro vigorous in every part of
the country.
Mr.. Handy declared that tho Mckinley
forces were growing weaker and dissen.
tions and dissatisfaction existed In tho
party.
The administration Is failure. 1t has
disappointed the hopes Of the people be-
cause pledges made have not been kept.
Particularly WAS this 80 regarding the
Civil Service reform aud the Cuban uues-
tion. 1t was also said that II Mr.. Mckinley
was elected the country would enter upon
an old time era of prosperity. Business
activity was to return. People antioipat
ed the statements to be facts. Although
the Newspaper press may ring the news Of
restrained prosperity the facts remain
that there is no prosperity. There has
been relief Mr.. Handy said but only
literal and that from the pressure OF IL
presidential year"
The people havo had draughts from two
cups. tho Democracy of Cleveland and the
Republicanism of Mckinley But both
were the same The Cleveland panic and
the Mckinley boom are identical.
Congressman Handy declared that the
country was being redeemed" and cited
as illustrations the elections in kortucky.
Nebraska and Ohio-calling attention to
the way in which the Republican vote had
been cut down in Ohio He said that from
private information ho has from that state
Senator Hanna Is In great and serious
danger Of being defeated for bis seat in the
Senate
Mr.. Handy predicted the denomination
of William j. Bryan in 1900, and gave as
his reasons for this declaration converse.
tlons he had with Governor Hogg of
Texas, John B. Henderson of Illinois, aud
George Fred, Williams of Massachusetts,
who had told him that their states would
send solid Bryan delegations to the next
National Democratic convention. Mr..
Handy claimed these three states formed
practical chain stretching from one end
Of tho country 10 tho other and showing
that Democrats alsong the entire line wore
in favor Of their leader OF 1896
'The pross is unkindy hostile to us"
he said, "but right will win aud win we
taxes are heavier and money scarcer The
Rtal5PelsX tRj apoh nj bimettalRistl t ilRtl
will the country enjoy the old time pros
perity.
Referring to the Democrats who had
hnltaH thu rha spautrar Sail hnv n
welcome to return at any time.
After the orchestra again played John
G. Gray WAS introduced. He began by
congratulating the club on its growth.
He declared shat its organization wasnot
only the inspiration of spirit Of tho most
fervent loyalty to the tenets of Denloc racy
by stand taken for the sake OF a concrea-
tion In the principles as declared at Chi
cago ns those freighted with tho welfare OF
the nation.
THAT while the sixty five hundred thous-
and votes given Bryan were million
more votes than resulted in the Cleveland
land slide of 'o2 they represented tho
greatest vote ever before given nominee
for the Presidency and whether they were
out voted or out counted they were never
theless tho votes Of too great mass of
American free mon; too great to DO call
ed repudiaturs, fanatics or debt s0alers;
they were nothing less than patriotic ciu.
zsus, fighting for the relief Of their country
from the grip Of the trust, the money pow
orea and thn privileged class. Bryan's de-
feat put Mckinley and his policy on trial.
"l1e was beralded as tho advance agent
of prosperity. but he is surely so far ahead
OF the promises Of his party that We de
spair ever enjoying prosperity under bis
broken plelge to bimetalisil, and under
tho established conditions of mora taxes
under Dingley and scarce money under
Gnge. The evidences Of the su.caled pros
perity with US are the announcement Of
thirteen sheriff sales for tho first SIX days
in January, 9S, and land sale, in Sussex
ut 70 cents per acre. The blighting effect
on all industries shows no relief from Mc-
Kiney and the county will turn WITH
rush to Democracy in 1900
The club members then repaired to the
basement where general good tinlo WAS
had.