Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-08
A MEMORABLE GATHERING Four Hundred Democrats, Repre-
 sentative of the Party,
 HONOR ANDREW JACKSON
Round the Postal Board, with William Jennings
 Bryan the Central Figure.
A STRONG APPEAL FOR DEMOCRACY
W. Tomlinson, of Birmingham, Repre- sents His State with Typical South
 ern Eloquence-Other Speakers.

Chicago, H., Jan. 7.-William J. Bryan was the guest of the Bryan league at big banquet given tonight at the Ire / mont house in celebration of the anni- versary of Jackson's Day. Four hum dred democrats who believe in the Chi cago platform assembled in the large dining hall. With few exceptions they were residents of Chicago. Their enthu- siasm, when the name of MT. Bryan was mentioned, was unbounded, and flatter- ing display of admiration followed his rising to speak to the toast, Andrew Jackson" To man each banqueter arose and waved anything available, ac- companying the demonstration with vociferous cheers of Bryan" The late candidate of his party was fully at his ease and although tired from his long travel and days work of receiving friends, he met all expectations when he spoke.
 The decorations of the hall consisted of a liberal draping of American flags, with crayon pictures of MT. Bryan, as well as Jefferson, but none of Jackson. For nearly two hours before the procession to the banquet hall was formed MT Bryan held a reception in the parlors of the ho- tel. He had previously spent several
 
 seated In an easy chair while line of admiring democrats filed past him and shook his hand. It was originally 1ntend- ed to have the banquet on Friday, which is the actual Jackson day and annivers- ary, but MT. Bryan had received a pre- vious invitation to attend a banquet in Omaha that night and he accepted, giv- ing tonight to the Chicago democrats. The speech making began after midnight purposely. Carter Harrison, president of 4l,o 1no ocrtrn q 1t a c He introduced MT. Bryan who spoke as follows:
 "Mr Postmaster and Gentlemen:-In view of the fact that the club, under whose auspices we meet, has done me the honor to take my name, l feel that it is only just to the club and to myself to repeat here what I have said else where, namely, that my judgment disap- proves of the use of my name in connec- tion with democratic or silver clubs. My objection is a two-fold one. In the first place, I believe that cause is so much greater than any individual that 1t should not be burdened by any mistakes which he may make. While a man lives he is liable to err and his errors are apt to injure any cause with which he is closely identified. During a campaign 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 represent tative capacity, I believe it is wise to dis associate him from the cause as far as possible in order that public attention may be centered upon principles and politics rather than upon men. The other objection is personal one. I do not want to stand for four years in the at titude of a candidate for the presidency. I do not want zealous friends to be con- tinually alarmed lest I should do some thing to alienate some of those who have given me their confidence and support. In the past have spoken out on public questions which, in my Judgment. needed to be discussed, and desire to occupy the same position in the future. When the next campaign opens 1t will be time enough to select a candidate and we can then select a candidate suited to the con- ditions then existing and fit for the work then to be done. Fully appreciating the high compliment paid me and deeply grateful therefor, I still repeat my sug- gestion that my name be no longer con- nected with the names of clubs.
 "As we are assembled upon this occa- sion to do honor to the memory of An drew Jackson, we may properly discuss the relations which should exist between the democrats who indorsed the Chicago platform and the so-called democrats who aided in the election of republican President. The democrats who control ed the Chicago convention earned their right to the party organization and the party name by whatever rule their claims may be measured.
 "If those who bolted the Chicago nomi- nees have a right to call themselves bet ter democrats than those who supported such nominees, then the bolting demo- crats who bolted the bolting ticket and voted for the republican nominees have right to call themselves better dem ocrats than the bolters who supported the bolting ticket The right to party organization belongs to the majority and the right to the party name must also belong to the majority.
 "There should be no difficulty in un- derstandng the relations which should exist between the democrats who remain ed in the party and those persons who went out ofthe party. A party is defined as an association of persons who agree upon an important question or ques- tions and who unite to give effect to their ideas. The money question became the paramount issue of the day: the demo- crats in convention took position upon the question and made gallant fight in defense of the platform adopted If the money question was now considered set tied another issue could be taken up and a new alignment made but the money question is not settled. The contest for the restoration Of the money of the con- stitution will go on with renewed vigor. The election has decided the presidency for four years and it has determined the complexion of congress for two years, but it has not overthrown the convictions of those who believe that the gold standard is conspiracy against the welfare of the producing masses nor has it changed the convictions of those who believe that tions made to obey the law.
 This campaign has shown the impossi- hility of keeping bimetallists and gold