Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-10-25

directions yesterday.
The first meeting Of tho day was held
at Seaford, which is enc of the largest
towns OF Sussex county. The Demo-
cratic club Of the town turned out in
full force to greet tho speakers. The
niassmeetiug was held in an open
square 10 front Of the Sussex Hotel.
The stage was decorated and a brass
aud was in attendance. The ladies OF
he town showed their interest in the
ause by attending the speaking.
At night ex-Congressman l.. Irving
Handy addressed large and enthusi-
astic meeting at Camden, In Kent
county. Merchants aud farmers alike
applauded the name of Bryan, and from
their actions it is a safe prediction
that the Camden Democracy is keeping
step to the music.
At Seaford, J. E. r. Wood Of Fred.
erick, Md, John Biggs and John G.
Gray spoke. Mr.. Wo7d was the first
speaker. He was listened to with
marked attention for nearly an hour.
Mr.. Wood said:
"The Democratic party would have
an easy time in both Maryland and
Delaware If the appeal were to the
saucasan race alone. But the Repub-
licans have thousands OF negro votes.
Tho black men do not listen to reason,
do not study political questions, do
not seek to cast intelligent ballots.
Until political freedom comes to this
'lass of voters We are confronted in
States like Maryland and Delaware
with q dense mass of unresEonsipe
votes cast for the Republican ticket
without regard to whether tho Repuh-
loan rarty is right or wrong.
This campaign is Of supreme i'm
portance. We have come to the part
| ing of the ways. The question is
whether We shall follow the beaten
pathway of our fathers, marked out for
us ny Thomas Jefferson, or branch off
| TO an unknown road down which we are
new directed by Hanna, Mckinley d
Go. Shall we stand by the Declaration
OF Independence or trample human
rights under foot? Shall we treat the
Constitution as wornout and obsolete
document? Have you observed that
| Republicans no longer refer in their
speeches to Abraham Lincoln? They
are tired of Abraham Lincoln because
they have abandoned his idea of gov.
eminent of the people, by tho people
aud for the people. Bryan quotes
Lincoln and follows in his footsteps
when he puts humanity ABOVE self.
Mckinley keeps quiet about Lincoln
because he puts the dollar above the
man.
Republicans today take Alexander
Hamilton for their patron saint. They
ate organizing Hamilton clubs. Why
this Republican revival of Hamilton!
Because they have turned to the doc
t'ine of q government by force and
favor special protection for the artistic
cratic class. Such were Hamilton
| views."
Ex-Attorney- General John Biggs
made q strong and effective speech,
dwelling on the evil results of trusts
and showing how they have affected
the int; ests Of Delaware farmers. He
pointed out the danger of Imperialism,
and declared that the war of conquest
in the Philippines was at variance with
The principles and traditions of the
United States government. Mr.. Biggs
denounced the tariff on products a
Porto Rico as manifestly unconsttu
tional and contrary t, "plain duty. "
He pronounced eulogy on the char
acter of the Democratic national and
State candidates.
The meeting at Camden was a rous.
ing one. Ex- Congressman Handy said
in his speech there:
1.-THE demand of McKinley's admin
istration is now, and constantly has
been, for large standing army. This
demand was urged even before the wa
with Spain began. We have leo, oOC
.oldiers under arms II we are to con.
tinue the policy of foreign conques,
and colonial government, | am free to
admit that our present force is none toe
large. Indeed, it is not large enough.
The Philippines alono will require
100, 600 soldiers. tbs not an oye -esti
mate to say that the carrying out Of
Mckinley's policy as now foreshadowed
will require $50. 600 soldiers, and his
second administration, il he be re.
elected, will see our army increased te
something like those figures
Hitherto we have pursued policy
which permitted us to get along with q
small standing army. Twenty five
Thousand soldiers was the number be,
:ore Mckinley came into power. We
relied upon our volunteers to fight fol-
the country when the need came. Oul
small standing army served to keel
alive military knowledge among us. !
"As q result of this policy we hay,
develofed two features peculiar to ou-
government, namely, the pension system
and the system of large pay to soldiers
in the standing army. No other eoun
try pays pensions like we do aud NJ
other country pays soldiers like We do
Our private soldiers are better paid
better fed, better clothed md better
housed than any ether private soldier,
10 the world. Our officers, except il
the highest grades, aye paid far bettel
than the officers of any other army
The result is that in round number!
the annual cost of our army is 81, 900
man. This means for 100, 600 soldier,
soldiers, $3.50, 000, 900.
Our pension list has been running
over 8l40, Oo0,C COZ. Even with our littl,
stanalng army OF 20, men this gov
ernments military budget, includius
ooth the army and the pension list, wa,
greater than the military budget a
Germany. With such an incresst In tb,
standing army as is now impending th,
burden OF military expenses will be
come enormous. It will be greater tina,
the taxpayers can hear.
One O. the Inevitable results will h,
the breaking down of our pension sys
tenn: 1t must fall from lis own weight
Militarism means the wiping out az n,
distant day Of the present system o
pensions to the veterans of the Ciyi
War l warn those now drawing pen
sions from the general government tina
their stipends are In danger"
PENINSULA PARAGRAPHS.