Evening journal., 1898-12-29
THE SLOGAN SOUNDED
Free Silver and Anti-Expan
sion Democratic Watchwords.
CAMPAIGN OF 1900 OPENED

CRATIC LEAGUES RlECEPTION
LAST NTGHT-THiAT ASSOClA-
TUON FIRST SET FORTH TINE
PIATFORM OF DELAWARE
DEMOCRATS-A PLEASANT AT
FAIR.
AT the second annual reception OF
the Democratic League OF Delaware,
held last night, the platform OF the
Democratic party in the campaign oi
1900 was forcib.y set forth in speeches
by Congressman Handy and John G.
Gray.
The meeting was an entirely social
affair, to which all good Democrats
were invited and was given in honoi
Of the second anniversary Of the OF
ganization Of the club.
President w. II. Alexander presided
ar the reception, which was held III
the large hall OF the league ait Fourth
and King streets, and seated upon the
platform were Hon. l.. Irving Handy
John G.. Gray, State Senator John Pyle,
John f. Salisbury, of Dover; George
b. Morton, George S. Alexander ana
Charles S. Hur.ock. In opening the
meeting, President Alexander made a
few remarks. stating that the league
was about to start upon the third yeal
of its career, and despite the fact that
il had met with a severe reverse, as
had also the Democratic PARTY few
months ago, the organization would
still be found fighting the battles OF
the party as laid down in the Chicago
platform.
He then introduced the speaker OF
the evening" L. Irving Handy, who, In
a ringing speech. outlined the policy
of the Democratic party in the cam
paign OF 1900 Mr.. Handy said, IL
part. as follows: Gentlemen and Eel
low Democrats: We assemble here
tonight to celebrate the second ami
versary OF the Democratic League OF
Delaware. We do not meet under the
| brightest circumstances that might be
/ for the Democrats OF Delaware, as
the defeat Of the party, a crushing
one, in last November was enough to
trv m9n's hearts but despite this de-
feat. the old party will rise again. We
will stand together until it rises
again, which it surely will, and be the
triumphant party representing, as II
always has done, the rights Of the
MASSES against the classes.
1T has been said that ] am going
out Of politics, and it is true, in as fan
as that / shall become again private
citizen, but, yet in another sense. it ID
not true, for as long as / live / will
always be found fighting the battles OI
the Democratic party. AS long as tnt
bees seek the clovek, the coon the per
simmon tree, or the boys the pretty
girls, just so long will you find me thu
advocate Of the principles Of true De
mocracy and the champion Of the PLAT
form adopted in Chicago in 1896.
call myself a Chicago platform Demo
crat, because the platform there adopt
ed was more sincere and more Demo
lcratic than any have before known.
The fght in 1900 will be along th'
same lines and under the leadership o.
William Jennings Bryan. Had il no
been for the war with Spain the iden
tical platform adopted in 1896 wou,'
have been re-adopted by the Demo
cratic party at its next national con
YentiOn without a dissenting voice, bu
questions have arisen in the war whicl
require attention. Some of these ques
tions are of more vital impOrtanc
than those set forth in the last plat
form Of erparty. The question of an
nexauOn by force is to be considered
In 1776 we revolted against the 1oreig
rlle of England, and since that tim
= have been recognized as a free coun
try. standing for all that represent
true liberty, a beacon light Of hop
for the entire world upon the questiO
Of freedom Many other cOuntrie
have followed our example, and ther
are to-day as many republics on thi
globe as mOnarchies, and even th
mOnarchies are modifying their fOrI
. Of government to conform with ours
e 1T does not follow that because W
want to annex Canada with its Ems
q disappearing and intelligent class {
] lpeOple, that we should annex land, tn
= population of which are vascillatin
= and dependent. Wherever the Stal
and Stripes float they will represent a
independent people, capable Of takin
care OF themselves. But wherever tl
flag goes. up it will not go down befol
any nation
The speaker then said the Democrat
could claim credit for the annexatio
e of Texas, Florida, California and oth'
portions of the United States, and tht
r all territory annexed since this coul
ie try was formed. with. the exception
s Alaska, has been annexed under Demi
Te cratic rule. To annex territory {
1e this continent. and to take under u
s. care of the government at WashingtC
people who speak the tongue of tn
country is Justified but this COUNT
does not want to annex people who {
N not epeak the English language.
~ The foreTathers of this COUNT
~ fought to escape from the tyrant En-
- land. and no one can find any justi
y cat.cn fer this country to become
~ tyrant over Cuba, Porto Rico or q
Y Philippines. Take Porto Rico for
~ stance. It is about twice the size
Delaware and contains five times
many perslcns as this state. II is a
surd for anyone for a minute to su
no pose that with a country so thick
d populated as that. that American pc
ri pie can go there and prosper.
ay The Philippines. Mr.. Handy sa
nd contained a population Of nearly j
ed 100000 people, the greater part
which were uneducated. and but h.
civilized. These islands would be