The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-15
Democrats Of New York CeIe-
braie J8fGrSOn's Birthday
WAS REAL HARMONY MEETING
Sage of Woolfert's Roost lntimates
That the Platform Should Contain
Antitrust Plank and Express
Sympathy for the Beers.

New York. April 14-Members of the
Democratic Club tonight commemorated
the birthday of Thomas jefferson with
a reception at the club house. 1T was
looked upon among the Dem ocrats of
the city and state as a harmony meet
ing.
David B. Hill, who had not visited the
club for number of years was the chief
orator of the evening and in his speech
he called upon Democrats to unite in
harmony. Perry Belmont. whose diff
ferences with Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Croker
have kept him away from the club for
three years, was also there.
Lewis Nixon the new leader of Tam
many Hall. introduced Mr.. Hill.
1--WE are assembled to do honor to the
memory of Thomas Jefferson who was the
founder of the Democratic party" said
Mr.. Hill in opening.
After defining the theories of govern
ment as contemplated by the Jefferson"
and Federal parties Mr.. Hill went on
to speak of the question of combinations
of capital.
He said:
"One of the great problems which is
now presented to the people for their
solution is how shall Jeffersonian senti-
ments be utilized for the prevention of
the evils which he foreshadowed? 1t is
perhaps difficult to predict how jefferson,
if he were alive today, would meet the
difficulties which we encounter. We ven
ture to suggest that he would insist upon
some reasonable limitation upon the
amount of corporte capital which might
be invested in a single corporation.
Limit to Dividends.
'Jefferson's teaching might suggest
limit upon the amount of the dividends
which could be lawfully declared Or upon
the profits which could be legally accum-
uated by this tremendous business or
ganization. Or he might demand that the
government, in justice TO its overbur-
dened taxpayers, should withdraw its
tariff favors from the infant trusts rep
resented by those institutions whose pro-
jectors are already rolling in wealth and
are astonishing the world by the munifi-
cerce of their private benefactions.
I'VE may well believe that Jefferson,
who was equal to every emergency in the
history of our country would if he were
in power, find some appropriate and ade-
quate remedy to curb the rapacity and
restrict the dangerous power of this 81
gantic combination
On the subject of colonial extension Mr.
Hill said:
1T is safe to believe that Jefferson
would never have favored an expansion
of our jurisdiction which did not carry
with it the provisions of our extension to
which he was so devotedly attached and
which he defended so vigorously with his
voice and pen. He would Enthusiastically
have viewed with abhorrence the estab-
lishment of a permanent American CO.
lonial system, whether contained under
military rule or under civil authority ap-
pointed by the central government at
Washingt on. His theory was unquestion-
ably the democratic doctrine of today
that this government has no more author
ity to create a permanent colonial sys-
TEN than it has the right to create
king
Mr.. Hill declared that Jefferson would
favor the election of United States Sena-
tors by the people.
Modern Party Platforms.
Mr.. Hill continued "Why should we
divide over the questionable utterances
of modern party platforms largely de-
signed to meet temporary emergencies
which soon pass away when we are all
united upon the rock bottom and funda-
mental doctrines of our faith intended to
last as long as our government itself
shall endure?
When 1t is the part of wisdom for the
Democracy to push to The front the is
sues upon which there is substantial un-
animity and ignore those in regard to
which there are such serious and honest
differences Of opinion must be fatal
to practicable SUCCESS"
THE adminiStra ton of President
Roosevelt Is all at sea 1t has no fixed
policies and no conscientious convictions
1t 'wobbles' upon every public question
with which it assumes to deal The mes
sages and public addresses of the Pres
ident are elaborate treaties upon ele-
mentary questions of government, con-
tanning nothing new and nothing definite.
He has no policy in opposition to that of
Congress and is prepared to approve
whatever Congress does"
Mr.. Hill said that upon tariff questions
Republican Presidents are largely con-
troled by the great tariff interests and
added:
IF any relief whafayer to Cuba shall
be secured from the present administra-
tion it will be due to the decided stand
taken by the Democratic Congress in
sisting that justice should be done.
THE policy OF the administration in
the Philippines Is a disgrace TO ciYilza-
ton. The attempt with regard to these
possessions to initiate the foreign policy
of England has proved a dismal failure.
"The administration will send its spe-
cial representatives to witness the coro-
nation of king but 1t has no words of
sympathy to express for the brave farm
ers OF South Africa who are heroically
struggling to maintain their republics
Republican lncompetency.
Mr.. Hill declared that Republican in
competency to deal with the financial
question is almost self-confessed"
In conclusion Mr. Hill said
Fellow Democrats-On this day, de-
voted to honoring the memory of one
who has been frequently styled the wis
est and truest Democrat Of his times
let us resolve to renew our allegiance to
the principles which he incucated and
the policies which ne advocated
There are numerous indications of
revival of popular confidence in Demo-
cratic politics, steke and national A
change of measures and men seems to be
imperatively demanded by the best inter-
ests of our state and country.
"Our opponents have only succeeded in
recent years by unfortunate divisions