Year: 1878

FORMAL OPENING OF THEIR CLUB ROOM


LAST NIGHr-sPEEcHEs by HON.


THos. f. BAYARD, JOHN o'BYRNE,


ESQ, AND OTHERS.


The formal opening of the Jefferson
Democratic club room took place last
evening, at their room in the AsI1ew
building, corner of Seventh and Market
streets. The room was crowded and
among the prominent persons present
were Hon. Thos. f. Bayard. James w.


Ware, John O'Byrne, Esq, Ex-Governor
Ponder, Lewis Paynter Milton Lackey,
j a. B. Smith and many others. Mayor
Forwood, of Chester, Pa, together with
nineteen members of the Baxter club of
that city were ALSO present The meeting
was called to order shortly after 8 o'clock
by Mr.. james Megarey, the President of
the. Association, who introduced the
chairman of the Committee of Arrange
ment, DIR. Ogle, who thereupon arose
and gave short history of the club
which was founded during the month of


September, 1876.


The club started with thirteen mem-
bers, it admits none under 81 or over As
years In framing the constitution, the
club had kept In view one great principle
and that was the advancement of the
Democratic cause and to have clubroom,
where the young men of the party could
meet. The club has now a membership
of about eighty. They have a room as
you see, it is furnished and paid for. He
closed by stating that the club intended
to go Into the next campaign and show
the party what they could do.


He then introduced Hon. THOMAS +.
BAYARD, whe spoke in substance as fol-
lows;-fientemen Of the Jefferson Demo-
cratic Ctno;-l am twenty-one years of
age, and sorry to say, am over forty
years, but believe that have the honor
to be an honorary member of this Asso-
ciation. l esteem it a privilege to be
associated with body of my young
fellow townsmen, who have banded
themselves together in such worthy
organization. In the fall of 1876 L was
invited to address this club, l did so, not
upon the Democratic politics, but upon
fare of the nation. In politics no one
party should b9 advanced, and kept in
power unless they have sound principles
such he thought that the Democratic
party had. This organization is body
of young men, orderly, quiet and honest
in their principles, who meet here to dis
cuss the great questions of the day, and
to keep alive the principles of the Demo
cratic party, which is the fundamental
element of the American government.


1t is solemn fact, that every man
recognizes, we must enforce into Ameri-
can politics the principles of justice,
of justice, honesty and fairness, and
until this is done great objects will be de-
feated. In the fall of 1876 an election
was held for President and Vice-Presi-
dent of the United States, and in the
face of the light of day, that election re-
suited in the choice of Tilden and Hen
bricks, by vast majority of votes. But
what made it possible for that result to
be made different? 1t was that lack of
sense'of honor, fairness and integrity of
the party in power, who grasped the
stolen fruits, and still continue to hold
them. Now what are we to do to remedy
such results? Are we to have a country
and government like Mexico, or q
Nepoleonic rule, or is it to be the Ameri-
| can principle of honesty, fairness, and
the education of the masses? You can
| accomplish just such result by the
quiet association like this, where men
shall meet and discuss such matters, as
shall improve their minds upon the
passing events of the day, to instruct one
| another and to be instructed through
| each other, then you will be able to pass
out into the community and teach the
principles of American government.
L have been for some years one of your
representatives in Congress, and 1 have
seen great many men from all classes
of life and all departments of life, and l
have met agreat many who We're wealthy
and prosperous, influential in certain
way from these two causes who have
panied me deeply by disclosing the fact
hat they were not only ignorant of the
politics of our country but Indifferent to
them


There is to-day in this country a great
deal of distress; many, too many worthy
and excellent men who are cast out of
employment. Business is depressed the
causes are not ditficdlt to find; the cures
are perhaps more difficult and yet cures
there are. The causes of our troubles are
no doubt political. L do not mean in the
party sense of the word; | am not allud-
ing to parties; L am speaking of things as
they are. The cures, no doubt, are to be
found in the wise, conscientious legisla-
tion. The difficulties have been unwise
legislation and administration in the past.
When we treat of the evils around as
we treat of politics, and it is the study of
disease that assures the cures of disease
in politics, that will form the object for
which this association is formed Idon't
mean to say that any man present is not
capable of assuming the functions of Of
hce; but lido mean to say this, that when
candidate is proposed, and where con-
duct is under consideration, you have
two things to conder. Is he a vlrtuous,
an honest and an intelligent judge able
to criticise measures and the effect they
may have upon your well being politi-
cally.


Congress has too mdny men IN ii who
treat every measure that comes up for
action wholly in the light of the effect of
the measure upon his political fortune.
1t is not for them to knew whether it is
proper measure. Whether it will be
wise or unwise in its result; but what the
effect of his action will be upon his popu-
larity among his constituents. [ will
agree that man may be very excel
lent man who may not be a wise one l
will agree that u wise man may make a
great many errors; but unless the people
who are represented shall be competent
and have Intelligence TO sustain wise
laws and wise men, nothing but confu-
sion can possibly result.


You see the fate of our people is in our
own hands. We have government that
is popular in its form and essence; if we
want it perpetuated we must see that
popular science means popular intelli-
gence and good character.


Mr.. John O'Byrne, Esq, was tie next
speaker, who spote for over an hour, in
a very able manner. He said in sub
stance IL am very glad that Mr.. Bayard,
being present that he was invited to ad-
dress you, although l was especially in