Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-02-24
HILL is HEARD
New York Statesman
Discusses Democrat
iC Doctrine
AND FUTURE DUTY
Delivers Characteristic
Speech on Wash
ington's Day.
AND FUTURE DUTY

New York, Feb. 24.-A simple dec
iaration in favor of the general prin-
ciples of bimetallism was suggested
by David B. Hill in his speech at the
democratic harmony meeting at the
Manhattan club Saturday night. as
Il common ground on which the party
could unite. Mr.. Hill also declared
that President Roosevelt would be
renuminated by the republicans and
that New York would be the battle
ground of the next national cam
paign in 1904.
The meeting was called for the pur-
pose Of discussing the differences in
the party and the best means to heal
them. Democrats from almost every
state in the union were present. The
speakers. besides Mr.. Hill. were
Charles IL. TruaN. Mayor Patrick Col
Inns. Of Boston. and Edward VI. Shep-
ard.
Grover Cleveland was not present.
but sent Il long letter outlining his
ideas of plan TO rehabilitate the
party. William }. Bryan, who was
also invited. sent a letter of regret,
and Lewis Nixon. who is in Florida.
sent Il letter suggesting Il plan for
harmony in the state.
Among the guests were Hilary Her
bert. William {. Whitney. Richard Oh
uey, Perry Belmont. Henry Waiter
son. John d. Crimmins. John c.
Sheehan. Bird :. Coler. James Shevlin,
Jacob \. Cantor. William Travers
Jerome. GOV. TooIe. of Montana, Don
NJ. Dickinson. of Michigan. William +.
Harrity. Of Pennsylvania. W. \. Clark,
of Montana, Gen. Joseph Wheeler. of
Alabama. s. +. Morse. of Indiana.
Daniel :. Lamont. Charles s. Fair
child and Ben T. Cable, of Illinois.
Mr.. Hills speech.
The main interest of the gathering
centered i'm the speech of Mr.. Hill. ii
being his first public appearance for
several months. Among other things
he said:
Il speak tonight in favor of the
maintenance of the old landmark
democratic party. In that path there
i safety. honor. success. We trace
our political lineage back to Jeffer-
son, who was author OF that immor-
tai protest against British imperial
ism known as the declaration of indie
.pendence. Opposition to the precepts
and practices of Imperialism was thus
one of the cardinal principles of our
party faith at the very inception of
the government.
We should adhere to the policy in
volved in Jeffersonian expansion, the
reasonable and natural requirement
of territory adjacent to our own.
Wherever The American flag Of right
floats il should be an emblem of Il
free government and the aegis of con
stitutional liberty.
Relief for Cubs.
''Ncither should tariff wars nor Gus
toms duties obstruct the path of
American trade from one portion of
this government to another portion.
The spectacle is at present presented
of Cuba relieved from Spanish oppres-
sion only To be enslaved by the Unit
ed States in commercial bondage.
Justice demands that these imposi-
tionS shall cease. Nothing but self
interest stands in the way of tariff
reform for Cuba.
The democratic party should again
press to the front the issue of reven-
ne reform. The republican principle
or practice of protection iS based on
the right TO use the power of govern
ment for individual purposes. Our
republican friends make revenue in
cident and protection the main rur-
pose of all tariff taxation.
The policy of reciprocity is and
always has been a democratic policy
We believe in strict construction of
the federal constitution as essential
for the public welfare. We believe in
home rule for states. We favor 2n
amendment to the constitution pro
viding for the election OF United
States senators bv the people. Oppo-
sition to dangerous corporate combi-
nations of capital should continue to
be the democratic position. The Mon
roe doctrine. first enunciated by
democratic president, should remain
settled policy of this republic.
As to Money.
eve believe in hard money-the
money of the constftution-and are
unalterablY opposed to irredeemable
paper currency. If any further enur-
citation of democratic policy upon the
financial question is regarded nee
essary in view of the existing none
tary conditions. then il is suggested
that a simple declaration in favor of
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