The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-10
THE JEFFERSON BANQUET.
Mr.. Bryan Likely to Refer to Re-
cent Democratic Victories.


Benton McMinin, OF Tennessee, will pre-
side at the Jefferson banquet on the 18th
instant. OF course, the principal speech
OF the evening win be by Hon. w. j.
Bryan, but several short responses to toasts
viii be made by other distinguished
Democrats, The subjects are extracts
from the messages and public papers OF
Jefferson, and several OF them are particu-
larry pertinent at this time. The claim
was made by many gold Democrats dur
Ing the campaign that Ii was impossible
for Inan to believe in the free coinage
of silver and still be Jeffersonian and
Jacksonian Democrat. At the Metropol-
ltan banquet next Tuesday night MIR.
Bryan and his associate speakers will be
apt to make the Identification of Jeffer-
sonian Democrats in a very positive man
ner.
This celebration occurs just enc year
from the notable one of 1896. On that
occasion the National Association of Demo-
cratic Clubs, which gives the dinner at
the Metropolitan, celebrated at Monticello,
the home of jefferson. The gold and sill
yer Democrats fell out at the very grave
of the great Democratic seer. The dis
tinguished guests of the occasion We're
largely from Washington, and, being OF
the Cleveland office-holding class, very
generally for gold There were sofne nota-
bic exceptions in the company, however.
The speakers of the occasion were the late
Gov. William E. Russell, OF Massachusetts,,
and Senator John w. Daniel, of Virginia.
The speaking occurred from the portieo
of Jefferson's fine old Southern home.
Gov. Russell made long and able
speech, which he used as a vehicle for
launching a hooni for the Democratic Presi-
DENTAL nomination ON gold platform.
Senator Daniel, who followed, promptly
accepted the challenge and made a strong
silver speech. Russell had declared that
jefferson was "a believer in the single gold
standard, and Daniel retorted by quota
tons from his public papers to the effect
that he was not. 1t was noticeable at the
time that most of the applause for Rus
sell came from the persons on the porch
and most of the applause for Daniel came
from the multitude assembled on he green
at historic Monticello. This breach in the
party, which was parallel at the tomb
ofthefirst President the party ever elected,
marked the beginning of the sharp contrO-
verSy which continued for the next three
months in State convent ions, finally Ciilmi-
mating in the national convention at Chi
cago, where Gov. Russell aud Senator
Daniel again appeared as among the fore
most champions of their respective ele-
ments in the Democratic party
There will he no division OF sentiment at
next Tuesday nights dinner. 1t viii he
an assembly OF real Democrats, who vote
the straight ticket and believe in the party
platform. Although many prominent Of
ficers OF the National Association OF
Democratic Clubs last year went off into
the Palmer movement or voted outright for
Mckinley. this was not true OF its principal
officers, President Chauncey F. Black, OF
Pennsylvania, and Secretary Lawrence
Gardner of Washington. Both these men
stood true Ito the party, preserved the
national organisation or clubs, and are
still at the head as they were year ago
and will he prominent factors In the forth
coming celebration.
It's regarded as probable that Mr.. Bryan
will take occasion in his remarks to refer
to the recent great democratic victories
and their effect upon politics this fail and
two years hence. In his public speeches
since the elections he has refrained from
referring to them, in. fact has avoided dis
cussing politics. The talk at Alexandria
was an exception. Ofcourse Mr.. Bryan will
also alIudc to the silEeT question and to the
permanent place that bimetallism has
taken as fundamental Democratic tenet
Secretary Gardner received word last
nj ght that Mr.. Bryan's injuries at st. Au-
gustine were trifling in character and that
he will be on deck safe and sound for the
dinner.