The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-23
The DAvISES' DAY
Washington's Memory Cele-
brated-- Dangers to the
Republic Attacked.
TRUSTS VERSUS SOCIALISM
Speech of Mr. ]. Lindsey Cor
don ~ Politics and
Sociability.

Washington's Birthday last evening in st.
Peters new hall on York street Long
before the time for the opening exercises
the lower part of the hall was crowded,
and by eight O'Clock the spacious balcon-
les were filled to their utmost capacity.
The ushers did very good work and at
tended to the wants of all the visitors.
Last nights event was the first of it's kind
ever held in the new hall, and people
were speaking of the clear view of the
stage from all parts of the hall, and how
plainly the different speakers could be
heard.
Upon the stage which was set as a
forest scene, were seated Mr.. Thomas
J. higgins, President of the association,
who directed the exercises, Leader Rob
ert Davis, ex-Assem blyman Carl Ruemp-
Ter, County Superintendent c. P. Smith,
Boulevard Superintendent Michael j.
Coyle, Freeholders McNally and Kenny,
Street and Water Commissioners Heintze.
Smith and Nolan, Directors of the Board
of Education Broderick, Quinn and Null
vaney, ex-Police Commissioner John T.
Feeney, ex-Commissioner Charles SOM
ers, ex-Assistant Prosecutor Joseph NJ
Noonan, Counselors Alexander Young, Eu-
gene Leake, NJ. F. Kelleher, Assistant
Clerk of the Board of Finance; Peter We
din. John c. Sweeney, Martin Daab, DR..
Hendrickson, James Baker and Maurice
Stack.
Prior to the address of the evening
there was an overture by the orchestra,
followed by violin solo by Master An
drew Byrne. Billy Barlow sang comic
songs, and Mr.. Phil. Heck rendered sew
eral tenor solos. In response to encores
he sang with great fevor ''The Wild Irish
Rose" and 'sSing a Song for Ireland.
arousing great enthusiasm. Harry Thomp-
son, Mayor of the Bowery,' in his
humorisms was the star of the evening
His unique sayings and grotesque imi-
tations were thoroughly appreciated.
The orator of the evening was Hon.
J. Lindsey Gordon, Assistant District
Attorney Of Manhattan. He received Il
most cordial greeting.
MT. Gordon said:-"I do not come, as
has been announced, to deliver any special
panegyric on George Washington. He has
been sung by poets and extolled by
orators in every land. The memory of
his character and deeds are so enshrined
in the hearts of the people that it is un-
necessary to dwell upon them. His name
will be forever emblazoned high on the
roll of honor; brilliant among those
whose deeds prove they lived for noble
ends. 1t is enough to know that in every
land and in every CLINE the name of
Americas sainted hero is held in rever-
ence and veneration.
"But it is my desire to speak, of the
great changes that now seem to threaten
the people of the land which the sword
of washington made free; to speak to the
sons of this republic in warning against
the evils striving to beset them.
sAThe results of our advancement and
national progress have been the birth and
growth of two great evils which threaten
the stability and life of this great Re-
public-the incessant organization OF
wealth and the untenable doctrine of So
cialism. both of which cause unrest and
make unsteady the power of the people.
Put money in thy purse seems to be the
only law recognized by that class of
milionaires who are continually seeking,
by combination, to extend their grasping
propensities to the unlimited extent.
'All men, both rich and poor, whether
in the palace or hovel, desire to acquire
wealth, and even from the so-called
Sanctuary of the Most High, which the
poor are not allowed to desecrate by their
presence, we see the same grasping hand
put forth to gather in the riches. This
is affecting our national life and power
and a disaffection springs from this con-
dition which is calculated to have a dire
full result.
Socialism, the other and opposite evil,
is one of equal danger to this country.
If the doctrine of this creed was carried
out and all property in this country
equally divided, as it demands, every
thing would, in the course of natural
events, soon return to its present condi-
tion, so that the scheme presents moth
ing but disquietude and disturbance in
both business and social affairs. There
must be rich men and there must be
poor men. All cannot be rich and have
everything desirable. In no land on this
earth have the whole people ever had all
they desired and they never will. There
fore, we should endeavor to exercise the
principles of true humanity, so. that all
may realize the enjoyment of the liber-
ties and. privileges of the land the sword
of Washington made possible and the pen
of Jefferson confirmed. Trusts are hold
ing back from the poor SO far as they
can the privileges of sea, sky and air,
not allowing them, so far as able to
prevent, any of the blessings of human
ity, but working exclusively for the in
crease of the boards of the millionaires,
they being wholly absorbed with the con-
sideration of one question, When to buy
and when to SELL
"Our single hope for the protection and
perpetuation of our Republic, for the lib
erty for which Washington drew his
sword, lies in the virtue and intelligence
of the common people of America, who
will. unheedful of all disrupting infiu-
ences. restore the country to sound
basis.
Each man has the right and must
work out his own salvation. Then men
who will not sell their birthrights and are
ready to march to front to protect the
honor Of our flag, are the ones upon
whom we depend to save the country, the
history of which has been made more
glorious by the recent achievements OF its
noble sons which have never been