The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-08
MEMORY OF JACKSON.
Celebration Of jackson Day by the
Silver Democracy.
W. J. BRYAN MAKES AN ADDRESS.
Compares Political Problems of Jack
sons Time With the Present.
ELOQUENT TRIBUTES PAID.
Trcatcd-1ov. AltgcId mud Other
Prominent Politicians spoke.

Chicago. January In the banquet hall
OF the fremont hall the silver branch of
the democracy held tonight it's banquet,
in celebration of jackson Day" The ban
quet was under the auspices of the W. j.
Bryan league, and was held one day in
advance OF jackson Day proper dis the dis
tnguished guest of the league William J.
Bryan, could not be present tomorrow. hay
ing an engagement in Omaha The banquet
hall was tastefully and lavishly decorated
with cver6rCens cut flowers and the Ma
tional eolors, and presented handsome
appearance when. at 10 O'Clock. the doors
| were opened to the 800 followers OF Mir.
Bryan. As the members of the league
marched into the hail every member bore
upon his left breast the badge of the league
which was worn tonight for the first time.
1t is of purple satin and hangs suspended
from a silver bar upon which is printed
the name of the wearer. Mr.. Bryans pic
ture is upon the badge in the form OF
medallion, set in silver, and the background
of purple is relieved by elaborate trimmings
of silver
Carter H. Harrison. the first president of
the league. was at the head of the table
and acted as POSTMASTER, Mr.. Bryan be-
ing seated Immediately at his right. 1t was
fully midnight when Mr.. Harrison raped
for order and in few pleasant. we'll chosen
words introduced Mr. Bryan. The latter
was greeted with great applause whom he
arose to speak In response to the toast or
Andrew Jackson" and frequently through
cut his address he was compelled to pause
while his hearers took time to demonstrate
their approval OF his sentiments, Mr. Bry-
ans address was as follows:
III view of the fact that the club under
whose auspices we meet had done me the
I al hat ID ic
only just 10 the club and to myself TO
repeat here what have said elsewhere,
namely that my judgment disapproves Of
the use OF my name in connection with
democratic or silver clubs. My objection
IS two-fold one, In the first place. ! be-
leye that a cause is so much greater than
any individual that it should not be bur
dened by any mistakes which he may make.
While q man lives he is liable to err, and
his errors are apt to injure any cause with
which lie Is closely identified. Daring !
, campaign a 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 a repre-
sentative capacity, | believe it is wise 10
dhassociate him from the cause far as
possible in order that public attention may
be centorod upon principles and policies
rather than upon men.
The other object is pei sonal one | do
not want to stand for four years in the
attitude of a candidate for the presidency.
/ do not want Jealous friends to be con-
tinually alarmed lest | should do some
thing to ALLEVIATE some of those who have
given me their confidence and support.
In the past | have spoken out upon
public questions which in my judgment
needed TO be discussed. aud ! desire to oc-
cupy the same position in The future,
When the next campaign opens it VIII he
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 appreoiating
the high compliment paid me and deeply
grateful therefor, | still repeat my sugges-
! ZION that my name be no longer connected
With the names of clubs.
As we are assembled upon this occasion
TO do honor TO the memory OF Andrew
Jackson we may properly discuss the rela
lions which should exist between the dem
J ocrats who Endorsed the Chicago platform
and the so called democrats who aided III
the election of republican president.
The democrats who controlled the CHI
cago convention earned their right to the
party organization and to the party nam.
3 by whatever rule their claims may be
measured. democracy is government
, in which the people rule In other words
Il is a government such as Lincoln de-
seribed-'A government of the people. bl
p the people and for the people and a
democrat in the broadcast sense is one VINO
believes in this form of government. When
= ! say believes in this form of government
mean actual, sincere. heartfelt belief, not
. a formal and enforced submission TO thai
, form of government. Measured by this
! definition, those who supported the Chicago
platform are democrats because they as
, sert the right of the people to govern them
selves and the right OF the American people
) TO legislate for themselves upon all ques-
. tious rgardess OF the wishes Of those who
live in other lands. In technical sense
! democracy is Outlined and defined by Inc
. democratic party. The democratic party OF
: the United States in National convention
! assembled according 10 custom, adopted a
3 uniform which received the sanction OF
. nearly two-thirds Of very large propor-
| tiun of the democrats of the Nation, lhd'
3 convention had right to define democ-
racv in a party sense and we have right
= 20 declare that those who Endorsed tha'
nlatform are democrats and that those who
refused To support the platform are not
democrats II is strange that there should
be any contest over this point II Is
strange that those who secured Tor theli
) | candidate less than | per cent or the popu-
| lar vote OF the United States should insist
that they are entitled to be called the real
democrats and then urge their claim TO re-
: spectability In numbers on the grouhd tha'
z the majority of them voted for the repuo'
Y lican candidates. II minority mas r,sr y,
Z 10 give a party definition Of denocfar'
n mon there may be as many definitions at
,here are individuals. II those who bolted
\ The Chicago nominees have right 10 cal
4 themselves better democrats than those
I Who supported such nominees, then me
holtinr democrats who bolted the boltins
ticket and voted for the republican noni'
nees have right to call themselves pet,el
democrats than the boilers who supported
the boiling tickets.
l The right to the party organization be-
longs TO the majority. and the right to the
marty must also belong to the majority
There should be no difficulty In under !.
II L : w. aiaii inns which shQulQ eAlSl