The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-14
DEM0CRACY'S SWELL DINNER.
GORGEOUS ARRAY OF LIGHTS AND
FLOWERS in NEW YORK.


Tribute to Observation-Disclosures
and Flower Throwing Almost
Drowned His RemnrIxs-Croker Led
the Mnrch-Van WycI<'s Address ON
Commerce and the Work of the
Democratic Party.
New York April 1S.-The dinner of the
democratic Club in honor of the anniver-
sary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson was
held tonight at the Metropolitan opera
house.
Looking from the tiers to the floor of the
vast dining hall the tables seemed like
great beds of roses. The thirty-two ta-
bles were on either side of the two guests
tables. Each table was piled with roses
and ferns intertwined. So abundant were
the flowers that some of the guests were
hardly able to see each other over the
floral banks. Swans and vases of alabas-
ter held flowers; there were cornucopias or
horns of plenty filled with flowers and
fruit. and the scene was set off with rib
bons Of cardinal silk.
The floor of the auditorium was raised to
a level with that of the stage by a tenn
porary floor, making one rectangular room
of immense size. The tables were set in
rows, parallel with Thirty-ninth and For
tieth streets. The guests of honor were at
two tables set about under the proscenium
arch and at right angles to the other ta-
bes The stage was set with gorgeous
palace scenery of the court Of Louis XIV
-Four great electric chandeliers lighted up
The picture.
Conspicuously placed at the west end of
tke dining hall was the inscription:
Jefferson.
1743-1S99
Democratic Club.
This was composed of incandescent
lights. 1t surrounded picture of Thomas
jefferson. Tall silver candelabra, with
shades harmonizing with the floral effect,
were on all the tables.
Crank Had Made Threats.
The guests began to arrive at o'clock,
but the dinner did not begin for an hour
and half after that. Capt Price of the
Tenderloin and forty-two policeman were
in and around the building. A Gordon of
bicycle policemen surrounded the building.
A crank letter of a few days ago. in
which threat was made to blow up the
have made the policemen unusually
vigilant. A number of detective sergeants
in evening dress mingled with the guests
TO see that no unbidden person might en-
ter. There were number of firemen also
on guard to prevent any danger from fire.
Inside the building was an army of ush-
ers and attendants. These wore
drab uniforms, with silver buttons.
There were fully 300 more guests than
Jha fifteen b1lOIrod 1Alonnad hl1f all
found seats. This is said to be the largest
number ever accommodated at banquet
in the history of this city.
Croker Was in the Lead.
The band struck up "Hail to the Chief
at 730 o'clock, and Richard Croker, arm
in arm with John Stanchfeld, marched
down the aisle.
With them were Frederick C. Schraub,
Robert B. Roosevelt, Gen. Catlin and
Amos J. Cummings. The service of the
menu was excellent, but some confusion
was caused by some of the diners strip
ping the tables of flowers and ribbons and
throwing them to the women in the boxes.
MI Croker held a levee just before the
regular speech-making began.
Ihe confusion was very great. AS the
time drew near for making the speeches
the orators were almost discouraged at
the prospect of making themselves heard.
beimOnt on JenersOn.
Perry Belmont began to speak at 10
o'clock. The uproar was so great that he
could not be heard a hundred feet away.
6y degrees more quiet was obtained.
The following are extracts from MIR.
Belmonts speech:
1t is fitting that this Democratic Club
celebrate the birthday of him whose mon
ument is the'Declaration of Independence
me first Democratic President, the first
secretary of State, the constructor of the
lirst Democratic platform, the founder of
the Democratic party.
"A Democratic President, controlled by
the teachings of jefferson and traditions
Oi ms party. would to-day have a definite
poilcy perfectly understood by the nation
al large, but modern republicanism is
lhopportunsm-no one knows whittier it
Is gong. The opportunist often does what
Is most inopportune. The politician inf1u-
eheed by expedicncy often does what is
most lneXpedient. The present Republican
poIcy is thrift and drift.
II Is not easy for history to separate
'he President of the United States from
'ne credit or diseredit of the chief acts
u an administration. So il is with JEFF
1eson and the Louisiana purchase; with
MADISON and the war of 1872; with Polk
ana the war of 18lS; with Lincoln and
tie war of secession: with Grant and the
.H-4io ttGdlS. DO VIII II DS with NC
Nlnle@ and The war with Spain. Praise,
ot olame, for what was demanded at Paris
"hl be his If the President has the bene-
II. OF success, he should bear the burden
Of failure
The Democratic Platform.
Jeterson's first inaugural is our first
Demt ratio platform. The fundamental
prime pies therein set forth contain the es-
yulIals OF Democracy. They form, said
N'F author, the bright constellation
""leh has gone before us. and should be
~ me future, he added, "the creed of our
Vlhlcal faith, the text of civic instruc-
eou, the touchstone by which TO try the
~. wees Of those we trust"
IN the second inaugural, making appli-
'uoh OF what had been previously said
"v'e these significant utteranees;
know that the acquisition of Louisi-
""' HaS been disapproved by some from a
c"ud apprehension that the enlargement
- our territory would endaneer its union