The times., 1899-02-23

in both civil and military life The sons
of New York and Virginia were proud to
place their names upon that great docu-
ment which proclaimed to the world that
the colonies were free and independent |
visiting in Philadelphia when a
boy and going into old Independence Hall.
where they kept that great Magma Charta
of American liberty. AT the time l had
not yet formed political opinions or. deter
mined with what party l should become
identified. | knew that the Declaration
had been drafted and framed by Thomas
jefferson. and rejecting upon the fact that
he was also the founder and father of the
Democratic party. before leaving that hall
/ had resolved to follow his teachings and
since attaining my majority have never
faltered or wavered in my allegiance to
Democratic principles and Democratic
candidates.
No more appropriate day could be Sc
lected by the Virginia Democratic AssO-
citation for this meeting than the birthday
anniversary of the Father of His Country.
Virginia justly claims him as her son, but
much of his military and civil life was
passed in New York, 1t was there that he
engaged in memorable campaigns and took
the oath of Office as President of the United
States. There, too, he bade farewell to the
officers and men who had served him so
faithfully through seven years of war. One
OF his bravest generals was George Clinton.
the first Governor of New York State.
Clinton served longer in this position than
any other Governor of our State, and was
IN many respects remarkable man.
AT every Democratic gathering the
name of one eminent Virginian will always
be held in reverence.
THE principles for which Jefferson con-
tended in the earlier days of the Repub-
lie triumphed. He founded a great party.
and those principles which he formulated
for the guidance of his followers will be
honored and respected as long as the Re-
public stands. His political faith was like
an open book. He vigorously maintained
the preservation of our Federal Constitu-
tion to the true sense in which it was
adopted by the State and construed by
its friends.
He advocated an absolute freedom of
the press, and was against every violation
of the Constitution. He had no faitering
principles. He always contended that 1t
ought to be the very first object of our
policy to have nothing to do with Euro
pean interests and politics.
He said: Our vast commerce is so
valuable that other countries will be glad
to purchase it, when the only price we
ask is to do us justice. ! believe we have
in our. own hands the means of peaceabie
coercion; and the moment they see our
Government SO united so they can make
use of it, they will for their own interest
be disposed at all times and under all
conditions to do us Justice
I'm responding to the toast which was
assigned to me. | have spoken of the fOun-
der of our party, because the Democracy
of the Empire State honor and revere the
life and character of the illustrious Vir-
city ana town in our State, the anniversary
of his birth will be appropriately observed.
The Democratic party was not born
to die. 1t has outlived many party organ
izations. and is destined in the near future
to win victories which will add lustre
TO its glorious achievements in the past.
1T may be that the standard bearer in
that contest is with us tonight. Whoever
he may be, the Democracy of New York,
along the lines | have suggested, are pre-
pared to give him their cordial and en-
thusiastc support. Let us march together
to Democratic music and win a triumph
which will insure TO the people an honest,
economical. and wise administration which
will recall the days of jefferson and Jack
SON"
DIR. Taylor Read Two Poems.
DR.. H. S. Taylor. City Attorney of Chica-
go, then .recited an original poem entitled
'Washington's Name"
Mr.. Lentz called on the doctor then for
a poem he had heard at Chicago entitled
The Greed of the Flag.
In response to this request DR.. Taylor
said the poem was based on two texts
one, President McKinleys sentence, who
will haul down the fiag?" The other a
British text Trade follows the flag"
This poem created great enthusiasm.
Mr.. DeArmend Speaks.
Representative DeArmond of Missouri re-
sponded to the toast. The Democratic
Party; 1t Cannot Die While the Republic
Lives"
Mr.. DeArmond began by congratulating
the association on a successful banquet
In the campaign OF sc, he had believed
that the honored and eloquent son OF Vir-
ginia, Senator Daniel, should be placed
second on the ticket Three cheers were
here given for Bryan and Daniel. Mr. De-
Almond continued by saying he had some
times believed that if such had been the
case victory would have perched complete
and perfectly on Democracy's banner.
Nineteen hundred now loomed up in the
future-and the toast answered that ques-
ton: The Democratic party cannot die
while the Republic lives" The perpeuity
of the Republic, OF freedom, on the earth
depended on that party.
Harmony and Hickory" should be the
continued motto.
1t was a conservative party for that
which was good, but ought to be radical
in suppressing wrong.
1t should adjust itself to the problems
of craftsmanship as they arise He be-
lieyed that the experience of four years
of Republican rule would have the effect
to crown the Democratic party with sue
cess in 1890.
He believed the same declaration of prin
ciples should be repeated at the next cam
paign, and amid wild cheering, he said lie
expected the standard bearer of 1896 to be
the standard bearer OF 1900.
He believed the northern boundary and
the southern gulf, and the sh, re lines of
the Atlantic and Pacific embraced enough
territory, and predicted that the reaching
out thousands of miles for territory would
bring ruin.
The vast extravaganza of the Republican
party and the growing burden on taxpay-
ers had made the time right for Il new
campaign for the income tax
The power of trusts was deplored The
trusts feared nothing of the Republican
party, and it was the work of the Demo-
cratic party to crush the trusts.
Government should be governed by cor