Evening star., 1897-04-09
THE JEFFERSON DINNER
What is Expected of Mr.. Bryan in This City
on That Occasion.
He Will Probably Strike Fire ana
Sound the Key Note for the
Coming Fall Campaigns.

One effect Of the result Of the local elec-
tions Just held will be to increase interest
In the celebration here next we Of the
Jefferson anniversary. The preparations
already warranted a good attendance and
lively time. but the promise now Is Of
an outburst Of enthusiasm. Mr.. Bryan
will be the principal speaker. and another
stirring address from him-somewhat in
the line Of his Chicago Efforts expected.
as distinctly favorable to the silver cause.
and he may enlarge upon this topic in
what he shall have to say.
What MIR. Bryan's Friends Expect.
Mr.. Bryan's friends are looking forward
to the occasion with some eagerness. and
they predict that he will improve it to the
full. They give two reasons why he should
and will.
The theme ir itself will be inspiring. As
they view 1t. If jackson was the man of
action. Jefferson was the man OF Thought
The Virginian has supplied the party with
all OF its most effective shibboleths. Put In
the vernacular. whatever Jefferson has said
still goes The Bryan democracy claim him
for its patron saint, and quotes from him
largely to sustain its position on many
leading propositions. Mr.. Jefferson spoke
for the people, and Mr.. Bryan claims to be
lowers see an opportunity for a panegyric
which will add to his fame both as an ora
tor and as party leader.
To Redeem His Lecture Failure.
1t Is considered time. too. for Mr.. Bryan
to give the country another taste of his
best quality. He is making 1t too long
between drinks. so to speak. 1t is almost
ten months since he stormed the Chicago
convention. and since then he has appeared
on more than one occasion when his audi
ence was disappointed. He frankly con-
fessed to sense of failure himself. He
abandoned his active program because he
realized that he could not in such way
meet the reasonable expectations of the
people. Audiences would gather expecting
an address of some fire and even passion,
and would be disappointed when called
upon to accept instead a literary discourse
delivered In conversational tone and
manner His admirers want him to strike
fire again. and many of them consider
that. with Jefferson for his theme, and
these local democratic triumphs to give
present point to his observations, he ought
to be at his best on the evening of the
18th.
Keynote for the Party.
Still a third reason given why Mr..
Bryan's deliverance next week should be
one of his best Is that it will be likely to
serve as keynote for the party in next
falls state campaigns. These campaigns
will undoubtedly be contested with twice
the vigor that they would have been had
the republicans held their own in these
city campaigns. In Ohio. particularly, a
fight equal in intensity to that of last year
is said to be on the cards. Mr.. Hanna will
practically be the issu-. and the democ-
racy will exert every influence possible to
defeat him. Mr.. Mclean wants the office
of senator. and. it Is said. will personally
direct the democratic forces. He has large
means. a powerful newspaper. and a wide
acquaintance in the state. But he must
also have orators and = keynote. and MIR.
Bryan. it is held. is the man to sound 1t.
1t was intimated last week that Mr..
Bryan at this celebration might pay more
attention to trusts tuan TO silver. But
these elections have revived expectation
that silver will again be his leading topic.