Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-06-07
THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CON
VENTioN.

One thousand and eighty-nine represen-
tative Democrats assembled in Taylor
Opera House, Trenton. last Thursday, to
elect delegates to the National Democratic
Convention TO be held in Kansas City on
July 4.
Delegations from distant sections of the
State arrived the evening before, but the
crowds came by morning trains, the dele
cations from Passaic, Hudson and Essex
headed by bands of music.
1t was an enthusiastic gathering from
start to finish, without a dull moment IN
alI the proceedings
1t was a notable feature that the con-
vention was filed with young men, which
bodies well for the party in the future
There was q fair sprlnkling If the old time
leaders, but the young iuen predominated.
Former Governor C. Meyer Zulick. OF
Monmouth county, presided over the con-
vention in a most creditabe and fair
manner, and while his rulings caused
some of the reckless Burlington and
Camden shouters to smart bit, it was
conceded on all sides that he handled the
convention admirably.
While the convention was scheduled to
assemble at noon it was nearly
one o'clock when Chairman VIM. B
Gourley, of the State committee, introduced
Colonel Znlick, man who "has been a
strong political force on the stump in tbs
State, as the chairman.
Colonel Zulick was given very hearty
round of applause when he walked to the
front of the stage TO address the conven-
lion. He made a somewhat lengthy
address, which was eagerly listened to by
the delegates. and punctuated throughout
with vOciferous applause.
After thanking the convention for
having honored him, Colonel Zulick spoke
of the Democracy, whose power and
development he said, rests in the collective
force and energy of its masses. The only
reliable source of true Democracy was that
emsnating from the demands and neces
stiles of the people.
As obedience te the laws is the test oil
good citizenship" be said, $50 obedience
to the will of the majority is the test OF
true Democracy"
Every epoch in our national history
he continued, has furnished the men
equal to the necessities of the hour The
dark days of the American Revolution
produced Washington and inspired the
pen of Thomas Jefferson to write the
eternal truths of liberty and independence
Andrew Jackson's courage and foresight
throltled the infamous conspiracy of the
United States bank; Abraham Lincoln
successfully guided the nation in its great
struggle for the maintenance of the federal
union ; and now that the liberties of the
people are menaced by militarism imperial
ism, monopolies and trusts, the country
will find in the intellectual, honest, wise
pure, patriotic and Christian statesman Of
Nebraska, William Jennings Bryan. safe
tribune of the people"
This reference to Colonel Bryan was met
with wild applause, and Thomas Birch
one of the Burlington delegates, jumped to
his feet and proposed three cheers for the
Nebraskan, which were given with a will
and several times repeated.
Continuing, Colonel Zulick said that the
day is past, meyer to return. when the
great National Democracy can be swayed
and controlled by the dictation OF political
schemers. Real Democracy means that
industrial and political freedom shall not
be hampered. The boosted Republican
prosperity is as spotted as the leopard.
Trusts, syndicates and millionairies are the
chief benefciaries.
Grant you are honest In your especial
views on finance" said Colonel Zulick, "do
you not feel, with the bitter experience of
four years of Republican misrule, that yon
are not justified in aiding to continue in
power the Republican party. which you
know is destroying Republican government.
Permit me to appeal to all Democrats in
this hour of danger to the republic, to meet
the emergency and ask themselves whether
the plea of the honor and credit Of the
government may be endangered by some
imaginary financial issue is not weak and
idle when compared with the great and
Overshadowing question of the very exist
ence of the government. II you have no
government to protect, what matter about
the details of financial honor and credit?"
Colonel Zulick said that organized mo
nopoly shadows the pathway of success
and the comfort aud happiness of the plain
people. Must the people be burdened
with taxation for the protection of trusts
and the support of militaryism? Must
England's imperial policy be adopted and
the integrity of free institutions imperill-
ed?" be asked.
The Republican policy of colonial de-
Tendencies and conquered provinces be
branded as foreign to the spirit of free
institutions and but an imitation of Eng
land and other foreign tyrannicaI and
commercial despotism. The Republicans
were constantly appealing to the preju-
dices and passions of the people in support
of their imperial policy by the crying of
Destiny and the Flag"
Even President Mckinley, Colonel "a
lick said, was yielding to this cheap de-
magogism, his only answer to reason, jus
tice, constitutional faith and law being to
shake the flag in the face of the American
people and shout. Who will dare haul
it DOWN.
Destiny. he said, was not the game for a
republic to play. Against the cry of
destiny let us place the Declaration of
Independence the warning farewell words
of Washington and the teachings of
Thomas jefferson"
When the temporary secretaries had
been announced, and the various county
representatives had been named to the
committees, the convention took recess in
order TO give the committees an opportunity
TO get to work.