The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-08-15
CAMPAIGN OPENS.
Davis Association Raises a
Bryan-SteVenson Ban
ner Amid Great
Enthusiasm.
REPUBLICAN POLICY RIDDLED
Messrs. Sweeney, Hamill and
O'Brien Vigorously Assail
the Administration
Mr.. Hendricks's
Hit.

A campaign banner replendent with the
portraits of Bryan and Stevenson was
raised last night by the members OF the
Robert Davis Association amid great en-
thusiasm. There were speeches covering
the issues of the Campaign, fireworks and
a general good time characteristic of
everything which the Davis Association
undertakes The banner stretches across
Mercer street, from the rooms of the asso-
citation to the opposite house, and is
fine specimen of its kind.
Long before eight o'clock the time fixed
for the ceremony, Mercer street was jam
med with people; the clubhouse was
crowded; every stoop had its complement
and not a few piered over the roofs OF
adjoining houses to see and hear what
was going on. On the steps of the club
house were: Mr.. Robert Davis. Treasurer
Thos J. higgins of the Association, Col
r. j. Smith, NJ J. Coyle Surrogate ]. c.
Lillis, M. r. Kelaher, J. F. Madden, j. D.
German, S. Maggie, James Ellington, Tax
Commissioner Robert j.. Hoos, w. j. Mo-
ran, j. J. Heavey and other prominent
members.
Mr.. Thomas ]. higgins presided and in
a few tasteful words introduced the speak
ers the first of whom was Mr.. John c.
Sweeney who dealt with the subject of
Expansion" Mr.. Sweeney coutended that
when Admiral Dewey by his great victory
in Manila Bay overthrew Spanish dornin-
ion over the Philippines it was never in
tended that the United States should
transform them into colonies. The policy
of the Republican party, said Mr.. Swee-
ney was utterly at variance with the ira
ditions of this country and ought to be
vigorously opposed by right thinking
Americans. Mr.. Sweeney's address was
greeted with loud cheering.
Mr.. higgins then introduced Mr.. James
Hamill, who won his spurs in political
platform speaking at the last election.
His topic was Imperialism" and he said
in part
Imperialism is a paramount issue of
this campaign, not because the platform
of the Kansas City convention formally
declared it TO be such, but because it Is
the main question which at present di-
vides the sentiments of the American peo-
pie. The Republican party. whether
through ignorance or design, have given
the same Interpretation to the terms i'm
perialism and expansion, but between the
two there is a great and radical difference
in meaning. The policy of expansion as
Jefferson practiced it is the policy which
establishes our institutions wherever our
flag may float and which imparts our
liberty to all who come beneath the do
rninion of its folds (Cheers) The policy
of Imperialism which the Republican
party purposes now to inaugurate is a
scheme to plunder the resources of
Colonial possessions for the benefit of the
A.
the former the Democratic party has
ever been identified; with the latter it
has never had any connection Cheers.
I'm the treaty by which this country
acquired title in 1903 to the territory em-
braced in the Louisiana purchase, it was
stipulated that the Inhabitants of the
ceded land should be admitted to the
rights of American citizens, but in the
treaty of Paris any terms of this charac-
ter are conspicuously absent. Before inn
perialistic fever had affected our Presi-
dent, he declared that it would be Grim
inal aggression to annex the island of
Cuba against the consent of its citizens,
and still he now allows the same policy
of criminal aggression to be cruelty
prosecuted in the Philippines. The corner
stone of our political system is the
Declaration of independence, and that
priceless document of our freedom de-
clares it as a self evident truth that
governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed
Though this doctrine is contemptuously
disregarded today by the present adj
ministratfon. it will be reinstated to its
proud and time-honored position by the
overwhelming vote of the American elec-
torate at the coming election" (applause)
Following this speaker was Lawyer
Hendricks who kept closely in view Mr..
w J. Bryans injunction delivered to him
last year in the Davis Associa-
ton rooms Mr.. Hendricks went
over all the issues in his usual
forceful and vigorous style evoking
much enthusiasm by his telling hits
against the platform and policy of the
Republican party. The last speaker was
MFR. c. F. x. O'Brien. who punched Aoles
lin the trusts
He said that trusts must be curbed and
opposed by stringent measures if the
working people were to continue their
struggle for existence.
..The combination continued the
speaker "of capital, paralyzed industry
restrained State and federal legislation
made and unmade laws to suit selfish in
terests, elected and defeated presidents
governors and legislators. fixed low the
price of labor and made the hearts of
men hard and sordid. tApplause)
1T satisfies the greed of its promoter
at the expense of the general public 1t
destroys competition, impedes the general
law of supply and demand, takes away
the opportunity of young mems advance
ment. deadens all desire of Improvement
and invention and encourages the pro-
duction of imitation and inferior articles.
There is not an industry today in the
country that is not owned and operated
by some gigantic corporation. Day after
day the cry is raised and justly, too. that
capital is a devouring Octopus, gather
ing in the fruits of labor, and while one
man grows richer, thousands are re-
duced to an incredible state Of penury
and hardship Actuated by no other
motive than that of stocking their
- 81 -