Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-04-14
JUDGE PARKER SPEAKS.

toria last night. There were many men
there of national reputation, and chief
among these was ex-Judge Alton b. Par
ker, democratic nominee for President
last November
In the banquet room portraits of JET
ferson we're conspicuous. In addition
to Mr.. ParKer the speakers were United
States Senator Newlands, of Nevada;
Mayor George b. Mcclellan, of New
York; Congressman Henry I. Rainy, of
Illinois, and j. J. Willett, of Alabama.
Senator CArmack, of Tennessee, was the
only one of those expected 10 speak who
could not attend.
Mr.. Parker was the first speaker and
be was enthusiastically received. FIRE.
quently he was interrupted BY applause.
| The speech was on the future of the
democratic party and he made sugges-
lions for harmony and urgent appeals
against seclionalisn.
Judge Parker began by stating he at
tended the dinner solely to commune
freely with his fellow -countrymen who
believe that the time honored doctrines
OF the democratic party Gas deduced
from the great policies defined by the
man whose birth we here commemorate,
and established by the founders, are still
true, still alive, still worthy OF accep-
tance and devotion and still necessary
if our institutions are to be maintained
in their early vigor and purity"
After speaking of the democratic de-
feats between 1860 and 1876, "when
great wrong which was far-reaching in
its effects upon morals and justice left
the party in minority for another eight
years." Judge Parker referred to the
political complexion Of the South say-
ing:
"Surprise is sometimes expressed that
the South has remained solid, and yet
no student, whatever his prejudices,
could overlook the fact that in politics
there is a sense of gratitude. not for
favors expected, but for unsel6sh aud
commanding services to humanity. In
deed, nothing in all the recorded history
Of mankind has been more pathetic,
more heroic, more deserving of admira
ton and sympathy than the attitude of
the South since 1865. AS fate would
have it, their defeat in war was the
smallest of their woes because it could
neither threaten nor bring dishonor.
But the new contest-with partisan ran
cor, with military power, with theft and
robbery, with prOverty and the enforced
domination of race lately in slavery
forced as it was without time for recovery,
and that, too, in their own homes, re-
quired a courage little less than super
human.
"Maintaining the struggle with the
one great and almost insoluble problem
of our time, working under the most seri-
GUS difficulties, courageous in the face
of manv disconragements, these people
have manfully represented the hopes,
the ideal and the traditions OF their coun-
try and The logic as we'll as the heroism
of our national history. If any man is
so foolish as to ask why the democratic
party has been true to the South in its
time of trial, and why this attachment
has been requited, 1t must be because he
knows little of history and less of human
nature"
In speaking later of proposed reor-
ganizatiou of the democratic party Mr..
Parker said
"Trom time to time much idle talk
| =. IN oh nj 10 n
the reorganization Of the democratic
party. This is to forget two things.
The first is that when party has an
idea and policy which makes appeal
to half the people they will not be Ion /,
in getting together to promote this idea
and this policy.
''The second thing to be borne in
mind about organization is that it begins
down in the smallest political units that
compose our political life. A national
committee cannot create itself; it cannot
even perpetuate its own existence. Each
member is dependent upon his own
State for election or reelection. In
order, therefore, to have an organization
worthy the name we must arouse or re-
arouse down in every community that
attachment to and interest in our higher
politics which since the days of Jefler-
son have been the vivifying force Ci the
party. This is only possible when the
party stands for something, not some
new fad, but the fundamental principles
that underlie lis life.