The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-01-12
Grand
Is the Toast of w. j. Bryan ut the
Jackson Banquet at ChicagO.-
Speech In Full.

the club under whose auspices W.
meet has done me the honor Il
take my name, feel that il is only
just to the club and to myself Il
repeat hero what | have said else
where, namely, that my judgement
disapproves of the use of my name
in connection with Democratic OF
silver clubs. My objection is two
fold one. In the first place, 1 be.
lieve that a cause is so much great.
er than any individual that il
should not be burdened by any
mistakes which he may make
While a man lives he is liable to
err, and his errors are apt to injure
any cause with which he Is closely
identified.
"During a campaign cause must
be identified, for the time being,
with candidates for public office,
but when the campaign is over and
the candidate no longer stands in
representative capacity, l believe
it is wise to diSassociate him from
the cause as far as possible in order
that public attention may be cen.
tered upon principles and policies
rather than upon men. The other
objection is a personal one. l do
not want to stand for four years in
the attitude of candidate for the
Presidency. do not want Jealous
friends to be continually alarmed
lest should do something to alien
ate some of those who have given
me their confidence and support
In the past l have spoken out upon
public questions which in my judg-
ment needed to be discussed and
desire to occupy the same position
in the future. When the next cam
paign opens it will be time enough
to select a candidate, and we can
then select a candidate suited to
the conditions then existing and fit
for the work then to be done. Fully
approaching the high compliment
paid me, and deeply grateful there
for, l still repeat my suggestion
that my name be no longer con-
nected with the names of clubs.
GAS we are assembled upon this
occasion to do honor to the memory
of Andrew Jackson, we may prop
erly discuss the relations which
should exist between the Demo.
Gratis who indorsed the Chicago
platform and the so-called Demo-
Gratis who aided in the election OF
a Republican President. The Dem
ocratS who controlled the Chicago
Convention earned their right to
the party organization and the
party name by whatever rule their
claims may be measured. A de-
mocracy is government in which
the people rule. In other words,
it is a government such as Lincoln
described: "a government OF the
people, by the people and for the
people," and Democrat in the
broadest sense is one who believes
in this form ofgovernment.
"When l say believes in this
form of government, mean actual
sincere, heartfelt belief, not a for
NAL and enforced submission to
that form Of government. Meas
ured by this definition, those who
supported tie Chicago platform are
Democrats because they assert the
right of the people to govern them
selves and the right Of the Amer
lean people to legislate for them
selves upon all questions, regard.
less of the wishes of those who live
in other lands.
"In a technical sense Democracy
is outlined by the Democratic party.
The Democratic party of the Un-
tied States, in National Convention
assembled, according to cu5t' m,
adopted a platform which received |
he sanction of nearly two thirds OF
The convention. That platform at
he polls received the Endorsement
Vt very large proportion OF the
Democrats Of the nation. That
convention had II right to define
Democracy in party sense, and
We have n right to declare that
hose who indorsed that platform
ire Democrats and that those who
'efused to support the platform are
lot Democrats. 1t Is strange that
here should be any contest Oyer
his point. 1t is strange that those
Who secured for their candidate |,
ess than per cent of the popRlao 5
'ote OF the United States sh0srfst
insist that they are entitled to abefI
allied The real Democrats, anddo
hen urge their claim. To respect.jg
biliiy in numbers on The ground !