Evening star., 1897-04-14

4 II = = 6
strain did Mr.. Bryan pay tribute to the
Qualities OF the great author of the Declu-
| ration Of Independence. Jefferson, he de-
clared. comprehended more completely
| than any one has tHY principles which un-
deriie our form OF Experiment. and he had
| @ such an absolute knoEledge Of human ma
ness as well as the pslnts of strength In the
| democracy. When jefferson began his first
| inaugural address, iYaid Mr.. Bryan. with a
declaration In favor OF equal and exact
Justice to all men. ofIwhatever state or per-
suasion, religious or political, he laid down
q rule, the observance Of which will purge
pes,assian rss @asns5y ad Of Of Inn
whether it finds its ,source In the legisla-
ture, in the executive or in the judiciary.
Continuing. Mr.. Bryan said the democratic
| party was strong just in the proportion as
It proves true to the teachings Of Jefferson,
and 1t was its duty to crystalline into legis-
iation the principles which he taught.
Events Make Issues.
Events make political issues, said Mr..
Bryan, further on, and the democratic
party applied democratic principles to the
issues which might arise from time to
time. For many years the tariff question
was the paramount issue. and the party
took a more advanced position each year
untn 1872 when 1t declared itself in favor
nue. only. But the President elected, at that
time, instead Of proceeding to carry out
that portion of the platform, forced upon
puolic attention an issue which had up to
tnat time been considered secondary Mr.
Cleveland. more than any other person in
this nation. was responsible for the promi-
nent position which the money question
now occupies. It was his DETERMINATION to
complete the decentralization of silver and
make the gold standard perpetual. That
aroused the masses OF the United States to
active resistance. The struggle for su-
premacy between the gold standard and HI
metta1ism was recognized a contest he
tween the money power and the common
people.
Necessities That Were Met.
The explicit declaration in favor of free
and unlimited coinage at 16 to l. without
waiting for the aid or consent of any other
nation. said Mr.. Bryan, was made neces-
sary by the attempt of certain public men
to evade preceding platform. The party
struggle. which eliminated in the Chicago
convention, of necessity alienated a por-
tion of the party. The party was placed
In the position where it was compelled to
indorse the financial policy of the Presi-
dent or adhere to the doctrines and ira
d1tions of the party. The position taken
by the democratic party in 1896 will not
be surrendered If you doubt the perma-
nency of the Chicago platform as a party
creed, go among the rank and file of the
pei ity diiu HledSuTe tne zeal ana enthusiasm
which that platform has aroused and you
will realize the impossibility of taking a
backward step.
Approval of Bailey's Policy.
1t was true the present administration
is seeking to turn public attention to the
tariff question, but If our reasoning is well
founded, said Mr.. Bryan, an increase of
taxes cannot restore prosperity to the pro-
ducers Of wealth. If the Dingley bill brings
general and permanent prosperity. the
democratic party will not be in position
to win contest by opposing 1t. If, on the
other hand the Dingley bill proves a dis
appointment to those who advocate it, our
position of 1896 will be strengthened and
public attention will be riveted upon the
fact that the cause of financial depression
is to be found in our monetary system.
There is much in recent events to en-
courage the followers of Thomas Jefferson,
continued Mr.. Bryan. The spring elections
indicate a growing sentiment along the
lines of the Chicago platform. In fact,
the elections which have taken place show
SO great a gain that the republican party
may now be considered minority party.
1t has but one hope of escape from the
wrath to come. and that is to secure BIZ
metallsm by international agreement be-
opportunity to speak at the polls. Those
who believed in Independent bimetallism
generally, and regard international
agreement as neither necessary nor pos
StDle, may Well Hopc tOT SuCCeSS 10 any
who may make the attempt to secure for
eign assistance. IF our opponents succeed
in opening the mints Of other nations. as
well as their own mints, he declared. we
shall rejoice. because the condition of the
people will be improved, and they will be
able to proceed with other remedial legis-
lation. If, however, the republican party,
after pledging itself to secure international
that pledge. its expressed preference for a
double standard will rise up to condemn it
if 1t attempts to- continue longer the evils
Of the gold standard.
A Compliment to a CnrtOonist.
In conclusion Mr.. Bryan urged democrats
to strongly support democratic newspapers,
ard, In referring to the attitude of the
American press in the last campaign, he
took occasion to pay high compliment to
Mr.. Homer Davenport. the caricaturist Of
the New York Journal, who was present at
the banquet and seated a short distance
away from the speaker. He said he was
glad there was present the king OF cartoon
lists. who gave his services to the prince of
journalists. There were cries Of three
cheers for Davenport, and the blushng
artist seemed covered with confusion as
the gathering responded to the suggestion.
Chairman Jones' Remarks.
When Mr.. Bryan concluded the assem-
blage arose to its feet again and cheered
until it could cheer no longer. When order
was finally restored. Senator James K.
Jones of Arkansas chairman OF the ma
tional democratic committee. was intro
duced. He replied to the toast ''The Diffu-
sion Of Information and the Arraignment
of All Abuses at the Bar of Public Rea-
son." and said that In the recent great
contest the democratic party had insisted
ON the restoration of the coinage laws
which had been in existence when the coun-
try was prosperous and when 1t had made
its marvellous growth: but that the MEM
bers of the party had been called revolu-
tionists for doing SO. When they urged
that a standard of value which was hourly
increasing in value and decreasing the
value of property and of product and of
labor. was unjust. unwise and improper.
they were called anarchists and repudia-
tionists
He referred to the visit of Mr.. Bryan to
Yale where he went to give In words of
truth and soberness the reason for the faith
that was in him and to tell why the laws
made by Washington and Jefferson and
lived under by Jackson and Lincoln, should
be restored to the statute book. and said
he was ir suited and reviled, and that this
occurred in New England, where in the
healthier and better days of the republic
men were willing to. die for the right of
free speech. In conclusion Senator Jones
said that democracy believed that return