The news & observer., 1897-01-10
-B[RYR[E79 9[P[5[EGll
ON JACKSON DAY.


IF Jackson:
In view Of the fact that this club, under
whose auspices we meet, had done me
he honor to take my name, feed that i
i only Just to the club and to myseh
- rcnpaf here what ! have said else
shere namely, that my Judgment dlsap-
,,raves Of the use Of my name IN connec-
ion with Democratic or silver clubs. My
..hiaotion is a two-fold one. In the first
,aaoe I believe that q cause Is so much
sreater than any Individual that iE
shopld not be burdened by any mistakes
which he may make. Whale man hNes
be Is liable to err and his errors are apt
toinfure any cause with which he Is close
IL identified. During 4 campaign a cause
,nret he identified. for the time beng
with candidates for public office but
when the campaign is over and the canul-
date no longer stands in Il representa-
tive capacity. / believe il is wise to DIS
associate him from the cause as far as
nossjble in order that public attention
may be centered upon principles and poll
eies rather than upon men.
The other object is a personal one.
yjo not want to stand for four years in the
aftitude of candidate for the presi-
.lenev. / do not want Jealous friends to
he continually alarmed lest | should do
something to ALLEVIATE some of those who
have given me their confidence ana sup
port.
In the past | have spoken cut upon
public questions, which, III my Judgiilel'
needed TO be discussed and | desire to
oeenny the same position in the future,
When the next campaign opens 1t VIII
be time enough 10 select candidate ana
we can select a candidate suited to the
conditions then existing and Mt Tor the
work them to be done. Fully appreciat-
ing the high compliment paid me ana
deeply grateful therefor, still repeat my
suggestion that my name be no longer
connected with the ma mes OF CLUBS
As we are assembled upon this occasion
ia do honor 10 the memory OF Andrew
Jackson we may properly discuss tue
relations which should exist between the
Democrats who endorsed the Chlcago
platform and the so-called Democrats
who aided In the election of Republican
President.
The Democrats who controlled the Cni-
sago convention earned their rlgnt 10
the party organization and TO the party
name By whatevep rule their claims may
be measured. A Democracy IS govern
ment in which the people rule. In ouner
words, it is a government sucn as Lin-
xsoln described:-AA government OF the
people by the people and for the people.
And a Democrat in the broadest sense
i one who believes IN this
form OF government. When
say i believe in this form of gov
erpment. l mean actual, sincere, heart.
felt belief, not a formal and en1orceo
admission to that form OF government.
Measured by this definition, those VINO
supported the Chicago platform are Dem
ocrats because they assert the right OF the
people to govern themselves and the right
Of the American people to legislate for
themselves upon all questions regardless
of the wishes of those who live In otner
lands. In technical sense Democracy
ia outlined and defined by the democrat
ic party. The Democratic party or the
United States in National convention, as
sembled according TO custom, adopted
platform which received the sanction
Of nearly two-thirds Of very large pro-
portion Of the Democrats OF the Nation.
That convention had a right TO dehne
Democracy IN a party sense and we nave
n right to declare that those who endorsed
that platform are Democrats and rnat
those who refused to support the plat
form are not Democrats. 1t is strange that
there should be any contest over this
point. 1t is strange that those who Sc
cured for their candidate less than one
per cent OF the popular vote OF the Uni-
ted States should insist that they are
entitled to he called the real Democrats
and then urge their claim to respectable
~ in numbers on the ground that the ma
iority Of them voted for the Republican
candidates. Ii minority has a right TO
give a party definition of Democracy
then there may be as many definitions
az there are individuals. If those who
bolted the Chicago nominees have right
fa call themselves better Democrats than
those who supported such nominees, then
tha boIting Democrats who bolted the
lsolting ticket and voted for the Republi-
can nominees have right to call them
selves better Democrats than the boilers
who supported the bolting ticket.
The right to the party organization be-
longs to the majority and the right 10 the
party must also belong to the majority.
There should be no difficulty In under
standing the relations which should exist
between the Democrats who remained III
the party and those persons VINO went
out of the party.
A party is defined as an ASSOCIATION OF
persons who agree upon an important
question or questions and who unite 70
give effect to their ideas. The money
question became the paramount issue OF
the day; the Democrats in convention
took a position upon the question ana
made gallant fight in defense OF the
platform adopted. II the money question
was now considered settled another issue
could be taken up and new alignment
made. But the money question IS not
settled. The contest for the restoration
Of the money Of the constitution will go
on with renewed vigor. The people who
advocated free silver before the election
advocate it now. The election has decid
ed the Presidency for four years and
it has determined the complexion of Con-
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