The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-02-23
PATRIOTIC
DEMOCRATS.
Davis Association Holds a
Joyous Celebration Of
Washington's Birthday,
POLITICAL CANNONADE
Sulzer, Salmon and Robin
so7 Batter the Republi-
Administration.
BANQUET AT THE CLUB HOUSE
Joe Noonan Acted as Toast
Master and Kept Things
Going.
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DID
Dances, Receptions, Entertain
ments and Dinners Made
Up the Great Day.
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DID
Dances, Receptions, Entertain
ments and Dinners Made
Up the Great Day.

Oratory by men of national reputation,
music flowers in the prettiest and most
commodious hall in the city-St. Peters :
followed by banquet at the Davis AS
sociation headquarters were features
of the way in which the Davis Associa-
ton, the Gibraltar of Hudson's Democ-
racy, celebrated the one hundred and
sixty-eighth anniversary of the birth OF
the father of this country, George Wash
ington. 1t was the eleventh time that the
association led the city in this patriotic
observance.
Grand lessons were drawn from the life
and character of Washington and in
stilled into the minds and hearts OF Old
men as well as young. No less than four
members of the House of Representatives
were present. Two were from New Jer-
sey They were Congressman Daily and
Salmon, the only two Democratic MEM
bers in the House from New Jersey; Con-
gresham William ]. Sulzer of New York
and Congressman James 7. Robinson OF
Indiana, who was the first regular speak
er. He was introduced by President Rob-
ert G. Smith, President of the associa-
tion, who presided at the meeting and in
a few we'll chosen remarks opened the
meeting.
Holden's orchestra had meanwhile been
playing patriotic airs The hall was patri-
otically decorated. Robert Davis occupied
a seat in the rear centre of the stage. The
speakers occupied front seats and men
prominent in the local councils of the
Denoeratic party occupied several rows
of seats that stretched across the stage.
The hall was not as well filed as 1t was
49, II,
had something to do with this. But what
the crowd that gathered lacked IN num-
bers it made up fully in enthusiasm. The
utterances of all the speakers struck a
responsive chord.
Washington's farewell address, in Which
he advised his countrymen to refrain
from entering into any entangling alliance
with foreign powers was dwelt upon by
every speaker.
The Indiana Congressman, when intro
duced, congratulated those who had as
sembled to thus perpetuate the memory
and principles of Washington. He con-
graduated New Jersey upon having two
Democratic Representatives on the floor
of the lower House of Congress.
1.-TWO, did I say?' he suddenly ejacu-
lated. Il would say three. Salmon, from
Morris, one. Daily, from Hudson, two.
That makes three" After a few witty
sallies designed to put himself on good
terms with the audience, he launched into
the depths of his brilliant discourse.
Our history, he declared, presented no
more stirring incidents in mans fight for
liberty and self government than those re-
lated of the battles fought by the Ameri-
can people under the leadership of the
man whose birth was thus being COM
memorated.
.'Our forefathers thought that mans
mission was something better than that
he should be ruled, that they should rule
themselves and not be subservient to any
class of men," he continued. SIT is well
to celebrate these sentiments, which teach
US the love of liberty. For over a hun
dred years patriotism has protected our
nation from foes within and foes without.
Today, of all others, it is called upon
so to do.
This is something more than meeting
to celebrate the deed of a warrior. 1t is
to teach US the duties of government,
our duties toward that government, and
instill into the minds of the rising gen.
GRAFTON that service to country always
brings its own reward. 1t makes us bet
ter citizens, better Democrats, better
men. We must teach the rising genera
tion that by following Washington's ex-
ample and teaching our country will re-
main great and strong. Washington was
the pioneer of popular government He
will always be known as the Father of
his country
Without new government, without
the encroachments and tyranny of Eng
land, which brought about our independ-
ence Washington would still have been
a great man. OF all countries in the
world, of all governments, ours is sup-
posed to be one of liberty, of freedom
yet patriotism seems today to be in this
country the pursuit of dangerous ambi-
tion. Our Revolution was the most mag
nificent struggle for patriotism and lib
erty the world has ever seen. Washing
TONS patriotism was manifested on all
his battlefieids, but blood was everywhere
spilled in support of the sentiment that
all men are created free and equal. At
ter the tarmoils of wer Washington and
his compeers gave lis the Constitution
Al organic law fdespsse tie fact that we