Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-20
APPEAL FOR HARMONY
Prominent Democrats Speak
at Tilden Club Opening.
CLEVELAND AND HILL
GOV. MONTAGUE OF VIRGINIA
ALSO Al SPEAKER.
W.. Bryan Was Invited, but Did Not
Even Vouchsafe
Reply.


Democratic unity was the keynote Of a
great gathering of democrats who attended
the opening of the handsome new quarters
Of the Tilden Club in New York city last
| night. Addresses were made by prominent
democrats, and afterward a collation. was
served in the banquet hall to the distin-
guished guests of the evening, and buffet
| supper was served In the basement for the
rank and file
Grover Cleveland and David B. Hill met
| In harmony, seeking to draw the factions
of their party together. 1t was the first
public political appearance Of the EXPIRES
ident in five years. He spoke first. Elk
Senator Hill spoke after him. and then
Gov. A. J. Montague of Virginia and Col.
w. A CASTOR OF Boston delivered adj
dresses
VIM. J. Bryan had been invited to attend,
| though not to SPEAK, but no reply was re-
celved from him.
Meeting of Cleveland and Hill.
Mr.. Cleveland arrived at the club house,
accompanied by H. D. Hotchkiss, DR.. Jo-
seph E. Bryant and John c. Calhoun. He
had scarcely got into the building when ex-
Senator David B. Hill, accompanied by L.
Latin Kellogg. came in. Mr.. Hills eye
caught Mr.. Cleveland as soon as he had
entered the club foyer, and moment later
they were cordially shaking each others
hand.
Loud and prolonged applause greeted the
two men as they entered the assembly
room. President Bowling of the club soon
began to speak, and in introducing eX-
President Cleveland, said:
I'VE have founded this club to promote
the best interests of the democratic party
For that reason we have invited democrats
from all parts of the country to listen 70
the words of those prominent in their
party. We have named this club after that
great statesman, Samuel j. Tilden, and this
club stands for the political and govern
mental honesty for which the name of TIL
den stands.
I'VE have with us here tonight the great
est of living democrats. The first speaker
L have the honor of Introducing to you is
the successful candidate of two nominal
tions, ex-Presdent Grover Cleveland"
There was tremendous applause Mr..
Cleveland assembled the small platform.
This applause wound up with three cheers
and a tiger
Mr.. Cleveland's Address.
He said: have been urged to. participate
in this occasion by those who have assured
me that this handsome structure is to be
dedicated tonight to the reha Utilization and
consolidation of the democratic party under
the days of democratic strength and
achievement was honoFed in every demo-
cratic household. Such an assurance made
to one who followed with hearty devotion
the leadership of Samuel ]. Tilden when
living, and who has since found In his ca
reer and fame the highest incentive to dem
ocratic Steadfastness, could hardly fail to
overcome the tempta lions of my contented
retirement from political activity. Perhaps
there are those who would define my posi-
ton one of banishment instead of re-
tirement. Against this l shall not enter
protest. 1t is sufficient for me in either
case that l have followed in matters of
difference within our party the teachings
and counsel of the great democrat in whose
name party peace and harmony are tonight
invoked. No confession of party sin should
therefore be expected of me. l have none
to make; nor do crave political absolution.
There to Take Counsel.
I am here to take counsel with others pro-
Tossing the same party faith concerning the
democratic situation. 1 suppose we all are
convinced that this situation might be i'm
proved; and some of us may think it is
perilousy undermined Whatever the meas
ure Of its impairment may be. our condition
organization cannot be improved by
calling each other harsh Names nor by
inaugurating system Of arbitrary pro-
Scription and Punishment. The members
of business firm in financial embarrass-
ment should not sit down and look in each
others faces in mute despair; neither will
they regain financial soundness or the con-
fidence OF the business community by re-
elimination and quarrel; nor will any mem
bers of the firm aid in it's restoration to
solvent strength by an angry insistence
upon a continuation Of the business methods
which have invited its embarrassments.
The democratic party is very far from
political insolvency; but no one here should
be offended by the suggestion that Its cap
ital and prospects have suffered serious In
1,1v on ylraC
Then and afterward northern democratic
states We're not rare curiosities; northern
democratic senators, now practically eX-
tinct, were quite numerous, and northern
democratic governors, now almost never
seen, were frequently encountered
Duty Of the Managers.
If this state of impairment exists, an in
slant duty presses upon the managers of
the democratic establishment, and one
which they cannot evade with honor. Those
of us less prominent in the party-the rank
and file-are longing to be led through old
democratic ways to- old democratic vic
tories We were never more ready to do
enthusiastic battle than now If we can only
be marsha1ed outside the shadow of pre-
destined defeat. Is 1t too much to ask our
leaders to avoid paths that are known to
lead to disaster? Is 1t too much to ask
that proven errors be abandoned and that
we be delivered from bbdy of death and
relieved from the burden of issues which
have been killed by the DEGREES Of the
American people? Ought we not to be fed
upon something better than the husks of
defeat? If these questions are met in
honest, manly fashion, believe it. will be
productive of the best kind of democratic
harmony.
In dealing with new issues we Of the dem
ocratic faith arc extremely fortunate in the
simplicity of democratic standards and the
ease with which new questions can be meas
ured by those standards. A party based
upon care for the interests Of all the people
as their aggregate condition demands, with
no unjust fayoritism for any particular
class; party devoted to the plan Of popu-
lar government as our sfathers ordained it
and for the purposes which they sought to
establish a party whose conservatism op-
poses dangerous and un>American expert
ments, ana yet puts no Barrier in the way
of genuine asa safe progress, ought to be
able to deal with new questions in man
ner quite consistent vita democratic doc
trine and stimulating Ito democratic i'm
pulses and instincts.
nn~Ir YR.A