Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-10-06


tive chair to nominate high public Of
ficers. and to approve or to disapprove
important legislation whom the people
of the state had no voice in selecting.
It is a question whether council Of
constitutional lawyers could with any
degree of unanimity agree what the
status is of the present incumbent of
that high office. We have thus in effect
an open defiance of the constitution,
which declares that the person exer-
cising the powers, duties and emolu-
ments of the office of governor shall be
incapable of holding that office for
three years next after his term of ser
vice shall have expired. The main pur-
pose of the trainers of the constitution
was that the honesty of representative
government might be maintained. and
that governor could not pervert the
powers of his high office in an effort to
be reelected. And yet the very thing
the fathers of the constitution wished
to avoid Governor Griggs in resign
ing his office, and Foster M Voorhees,
in his new candidacy, have thrust upon
the state. We charge this as a willful
perversion of the letter and the spirit
of the constitution. We confidently de-
clare that no Democrat under such
circumstances would have resigned his
place as governor to accept what he
might fancy to be higher political pre-
ferment. 1t is but still further evil
dence that obligations of state seem to
lie lightly on the shoulders of Republic
can politicians when their own personal
fortunes are in the way.
fWa are a thp o1oSa of a f0rpion r
the first in our history against foe
whose territory was not contiguous to
our own. The eagles on our standard
glitter with a new lustre. The coun-
try's arms are respondent with glory.
1t was a war of the whole people. All
party differences were merged in the
presence of imperative duty. At the
seashore we are all Americans. We
confronted Spain with absolute una
nimity She drew no strength to herself
by looking at a divided America. The
nation rose to the height of its lofty
duty with spontaneity that surprised
the world. 1t was a luxury to enlist.
They were highly favored indeed who
were selected to wear the blue. The
young manhood of the country leaped
forward to uphold the flag. Miner and
millionaire marched side by side The
people of the north sprang cheering to
their feet at the strains of Dixie and
the Star Spangled Banner brought
tears to the eyes of the veterans of
Jackson and Lee. At last the United
States were an undivided unit. Before
such superb patriotism the banner of
Spain was lowered in the dust, and
that proud monarchy forced to re-
linquish her last foothold of territory
upon this continent.
VICTORY OVER SPAIN.
1--WE achieved a victory remarkable
in it's consequences. New questions
of statecraft will confront the nation,
but with that abiding confidence in the
character of the country we know
these questions will sooner or later be
solved with wise forethought that
will measure the requirements of the
future. We deprecate the introduction
of party politics in the discussion of
this war, and yet signs are not wanting
that an effort is making to crown the
Republican party with the laurels of
the nations victories. We welcome any
such discussion if it is so desired. If
they claim the glory from the burning
shame of our stricken soldiers they
shall not be allowed to finch. We gave
early voice of sympathy with Cuba.
The Democratic party by it's resolution
in the house of representatives helped
to push forward in the path of honor
a most reluctant executive. Our party
has done it's duty. 1t has done it's
duty in the council hall and in the field.
1t has voted for ali supplies requested
by the government, and if our soldiers
in the field have Jared ill no stain lies
at our door. 1t did it's duty with George
Dewey as his guns broke the stiffness
of the peaceful Sunday morning on the
bosom of Manila bay. 1t shotted the
guns with Schley at Santiago, and it
scaled the heights with Wheeler at San
Juan.
Upon the heads of these heroic sol
diers the nation desired to shower her
choicest gifts. She poured forth her
treasures with a lavish hand. The in
struments fashioned by the executive
to deliver these bountiful resources
were untitled for the task. The dis
honor lies at the door of the war de-
partment, nay, it may soon lie across
the threshold of the president of the
United States. The awful stories of
camp and field are burned into the
heart. The soldiers staggering home
under this load of affection, haggard,
wan and stricken with disease, are
wards of the nation and will now at
last be comforted. The republic in
anguish of heart exclaims to the presi-
dent in tones more bitter than that of
the aged Augustus: 'Varus, Varus. give
me back my legions.
I'VE demand that no guilty man es-
cape. A rigid investigation must take
place. We shall hold the Republican
party to the strictest responsibilities
responsibility not to be evaded by Of
fetal Indifference or by the frozen sheer
of cabinet minister.
ENCOURAGING WORDS.
Fellow Democrats, two years ago the
party in this state sank fainthearted be-
meath phenomenal majority. There may
be difference of opinion concerning the
platform on which we stood, but there
can be no difference concerning the spir-
tied contest waged by William J. Bryan
for the high Office of president of the
United States. Last year the rising tide
of Democracy in this state engulfed
our opponents. This year the Fremont
tory signs evince similar triumph We
want the vote of every Democrat in the
state. There can be no success but in
absolute union. Count that man no
longer a friend who seeks to SOW the
seeds of fratricidal strife. Let us wage
a battle in this campaign in which
every conservative citizen can give us
his unqualified support. We welcome all
beneath our flag. The dawn is at hand.
Already the purple streaks of brill
liant Democratic day colors the east
with glory. With our standards fully
high advanced, the standards of re-
juvenated and reunited Democracy, LEI
us go forth again and conquer"
Justify CHEERED.
When Mr.. Gourley had finished
speaking he was cheered vociferously
the applause lasting several minutes.
All through his speech was well re-
ceived.
William K. Devereux was then
named as temporary secretary, and the
following were chosen as assistant sec
retaries: S. A. tanning, Cumberland;
John H. Madison, Somerset; James d.
Carpenter, Gloucester; H. L. Stout,
Hunterdon; John J. Farrell, Essex;
Charles A. Ransom, Hudson; James f.
Burke, Camden; James Kerney, Mer-
Ger.
The committees were then selected,
and a recess was taken until 2:30
o'clock to give the committees an OPP
DOrtunifv to do their work