The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-06-24

New York, June 19.-Democratic
unity was the keynote to, night of a
great gathering of representative
Democrats who bad come to attend
the opening of the Tilden Club. Ad-
dresses were made by prominent
Democrats and afterward collation.
was served in the banquet hall to
the distinguished guests of the even
ing and buffet supper was served
in the basement for the rank and
file.
There was tremendous applause as
Mr.. Cleveland assembled the small
platform. This applause wound up
with three cheers and a "tiger."
When quiet was restored the former
President began speaking. He said:
GROVER cLEvELAND's SPEECH.
; II have been urged to participate
! in this occasion by those who have
assured me that this handsome struc-
| ture is to be dedicated to night to
the rehabilitation and consolidation
of the Democratic party, under the
inspiration of name which, during
the days of Democratic strength and
achievement, was honored IN every
Democratic household. Such an as
surance made to one who followed
with hearty devotion the leadership
of Samuel ]. Tilden when living, and
who has since found in his career
and fame the highest incentive to
Democratic steadfastness, could
hardly fail to overcome the tempta-
tions of my contented retirement
from political activity. Perhaps
there are those who would define my
position as one of banishment in
stead of retirement. Against this I
shall not enter a protest. It is suf-
6cient for me in either case that I
have followed in matters of differ
ence within our party the teachings
and counsel of the great Democrat
in whose name party peace and har-
mony are to night invoked. No
confession of party sin should there
i fore be expected of me. I have none
to make; nor do l crave political ab'
solution. I am here to take counsel
with others protesting the same party
faith concerning the Democratic sit
! uation. suppose we all are con-
vinced that this situation might be
improved, and some OF us may think
it is perilously undermined. What
ever the measure of its impairment
may be, our condition as an organi-
zation cannot be improved by call
ing each other harsh names, nor by
! inaugurating system of arbitrary
prescription and banishment. The
members of a business firm in fnan-
cial embarrassment should not sit
| down and look in each others faces
in mute despair; neither will they
regain financial soundness or the
| confidence of the business commun.
ity by recriminetion and quarrel;
nor will any members of the firm aid
| in it's restoration to solvent strength
by an angry insistence upon a con
tinuation of the business methods
which have invited it's embarrass-
ment.
"The Democratic party is very far
from political insolvency, but no one
here should be offended by the sug-
gestion that it's capital end prospects
have suffered serious injury since
Mr.. Tilden was elected President.
Then and afterwards Northern Dem
ocratic States were not rare curiosi-
ties; Northern Democratic Senators,
now practically extinct, were quite
numerous and Northern Democratic
Governors, now almost never seen,
we're frequently encountered.
: "If this state of impairment exists
! al instant duty presses upon the
; managers of the Democratic estab-
lishment, and one which they cannot
evade with honor. Those of US less
prominent in the party-the rank
and file are longing to beled through
old Democratic ways to old Demo
cratic victories. We were never
more ready to do enthusiastic battle
than now, if we can only be mar
shalled outside the shadow of pre-
destined defeat. Is it too much to
ask our leaders to avoid paths that
are known to lead to disaster? Is it
too much to ask that proven errors
be abandoned and that we be deliv-
cred from body of death and re-
lieYed from the burden of issues