Evening star., 1897-04-14
Free Silver and William ]. Bryan In
1900.
DEMOCRATS DECLARE FOR B0rH
Significance Of the Banquet in
Memory Of Thomas Jefferson.
g REAT NTHUSIA ASM

Democratic Clubs is concerned-and II the
enthusiasm and earnestness Of leading and
influential democrats not connected with
that organization may be taken as an in
dtcation SO far as the democracy as an en-
tirety Is concerned-the issue upon which
that party will go before the people with
its candidates in 1900 will be the free and
unlimited coinage of silver at 16 to 1, and
Its standard-bearer will again be William
Jennings Bryan.
These facts were developed enlarged up-
on and emphasized with strong and unmis-
taxable accent at the banquet at the
Metropolitan Hotel last night in honor Of
the one hundred and ffty-fourth anniver-
sary of the birth Of Thomas Jefferson, the
sage of Monticello and the founder of the
democratic party. The banquet was given
under the auspices Of the National Asso-
citation Of Democratic Clubs, and the guest
of honor was William Jennings Bryan
The reverence paid to the memory of JEFF
ferson was pronounced: the homage paid
10 Bryan was even more profound. Every
word that fell from the lips of the hand
some young Nebraskan during his speech
upon the character and works of Jefferson
was listened to with tense ears. and be-
tween his periods there was not q sound to
interrupt the even flow Of his LANGUAGE
When he reached a pause, however, the
pent-up interest Of his hearers broke forth
In enthusiastic applause Cheers followed
cneerS, and the plauditS were accompanied
by the waving of napkins and handker-
chiefs by old and young alike, who forgot
Tor the moment the dignities of such an oc-
casion and lost all restraint in their desire
10 snow their approval of the man before
them and the principles he represented.
When the guests began to assemble in
the parlors of the hotel the conversation
was all of Bryan. The motive of the oc-
casion that drew them together seemed
to be hidden behind The personality of the
man who was to treat Of 1t. When Bryan
arrived he was at once surrounded by
crowd eager to shake his hand and hear
ms voice: the galleries above the recep-
ton nail were fringed deep with women
who looked down and waved their hand
kerchiefs. and every face showed the
pleasure its possessor felt. No observer
could have failed to have been struck with
the remarkable influence the Nebraskan
exerts on those who come in contact with
him.
Scene at the Banquet.
The banquet hall was tastefully deco
rated. Three long tables stretched from
end to end. A smaller table across the
east end OF the room was occupied by the
distinguished guests who were to partici-
pate In the speech making. At the western
end of the room was an orchestra that dis
c1ursed familiar southern airs and other
appropriate selections during the evening
Ex-Governor Chauncey F. Black of Penn
National
Association of Democratic Clubs. presided.
MI Bryan sat upon his right and Repre-
sentative Richard P. Bland of Missouri
urcn his left. To the right of Mr. Bryan
wa was REPRESENTATIVE Benton McMillin of
Ierne ssee, who was the POSTMASTER. Over
TWO hundred guests were seated when Mr..
Bryan entered the banquet room. He was
greeted with salvo of cheers, all the
guests rising and waving their napkins
and handkerchiefs in eager welcome Dur
ing the repast the orchestra played at
intervals. There was applause when Dix
ie' was rendered. but it was nothing to
the greeting with which MY Old Ken
lucky Home" was received. Probably a
Iourth OF the guests Joined in singing the
familiar song, and between air and cho-
rus there were frequent cries of "Hurrah
Tor Blackburn. while one or two uncom-
plimentary allusions to ex-Secretary Car
Isle were overheard.
Tasteful Menus,
The menus were very tastefully got I'D.
On the first page was an engraving of a
full-faced portrait of Thomas Jefferson,
with fac-simile Of his autograph beneath
1t, the date of his birth and the present
year. quotation from one of his IA
nous utterances was printed across the
top OF the page. The second page was de-
voted to the menu. which was nearly an
exact reproduction of the first dinner given
In honor OF Jefferson's birthday, which was
held at the Indian Queen Tavern, which
occupied the present site of the Metropoli-
night.
A picture Of the old tavern which was
used on the stationery of the hotel at that
ume decorated the top of the page. The
menu was printed In English and the zines
were American, the claret having been
made from grapes grown on the spurs of
Monticello. on vines which are the result
OF the vines sent from France by Jefferson
when he was minister to that country The
III q ol lc<,o
The menu comprised gumbo soup corn
pone. fried chicken, terrapin in MARYLAND
style and various other good things The
toast list occupied the third page of the
menu pamphlet, and the other pages were
devoted to the list Of the officers of the
National Association of Democratic Clubs
its principles, the committees having the
dinner IN charge and the musical program
When coffee was served President Black
welcomed the guests and called attention
to the fact that on the very spot where
they had assembled, and on a similar occa-
sion, Andrew Jackson had delivered the i'm
mortal toast, 1.-The Union, It Must and
Ehall Be Preserved" Loud applause fol-
lowed this announcement, which increased
moment later to q demonstration when
Mr.. Black said that he would not have the
hardihood to stand for a minute and a
quarter between a gathering like that be-
fore him and William Jennings Bryan.
Toast Master McMillin's Words.
Representative Benton McMillin was in
troduced as toastmaster and made a speech
which inspired the greatest enthusiasm on
the part Of the guests. After declaring that
Thomas Jefferson was the greatest con-
structive statesman and the grandest DO
lftical philosopher and prophet that the
world had ever seen. he turned to Mr.
Bryan and paid an eloquent tribute to him
as one Of the greatest expounders of the
principles Jefferson enunciated. Mr. Bryan
said Mr. McMiihn, had the intelligence to
understand those principles, the courage to
advocate them and the eloquence to pro-
claim them that was not surpassed by any
other man of his time. At this the guests
arose en- masse and cheered until hoarse
Mr. McMillin, when allowed to proceed, re-
cited how Mr.. Bryan had been chosen to
represent the party of Jefferson for the
presidency. and dwelt upon the gratiica-
ton democrats had of knowing that, though
defeated, the splendor of his campaign the
truth Of the cause he advocated was such
that his party was stronger the day after
defeat than the day before, and was now
ready and anxious for the day to come,
which was inevitable, when success will
crown its exertions and the principles Of
Jefferson again control the government.
He therefore proposed the toast, Thomas
Jefferson" and called upon Mr.. Bryan to
respond.
Mr.. Bryan,s Sueech