The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-14

niyersary of Jefferson's birthday wa
celebrated tonight at the metropolitan
Hotel by a subscription dinner giveI
under the auspices of the National AS
sociation of Democratic clubs. TIL.
first celebration of the anniversary O
Jefferson's birthday occurred at the
same hostelry, then known as the In
dian Queen.
Jackson was the guest of honor, an6
the occasion was made memorable by
the presence of Vice-President John C
Calhoun and other Democratic leaders
of that day. Tonight. William j
Bryan, OF Nebraska, the late Demo
cratic candidate for president, was the
guest of honor
Senators, Representatives and Others
conspicuous in the councils of the
Democratic party were present. Many
of whom were from a distance.
GREETED WITH CHEERS.
Mr. Bryan was greeted with a lusty
cheer as he entered the hall. The menu
| was carefully prepared, and was SINH
lar to such a dinner as might have
been served during Jefferson's days.
The dishes were all American crea-
| lions, and each course as far as pos
sible represented one section of the
country. The dinner began promptly
at O'clock, an orchestra playing ma
tional airs blended with southern melo-
dies to conform in simplicity to the
| spirit of the dinner The toasts were
| composed and briefly responded to, ex-
cept in the case of Mr.. Bryan, who
spoke at length to the toast of Thomas
Jefferson
The order of the set toasts were as
| fellows:
Thomas jefferson, We Celebrate the
Anniversary of His Birth, Not in the
Spirit Of Personal Idolatry, but From
Regard and Reverence for His Politi-
! Nebraska.
Ar BRYAN said in part:
The Democratic parry is StrouS
Just in proportion as it proves true
to the teachings of its great found
er. 1t is the mission of the Dem
ocratic party to crystalline into ed
ucation the principles which he
taught The party applies Demo-
cratic principles to the issues which
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
until 1892, when it declared itself in
favor of a policy which meant SUD-
stantiaily a tariff for revenue only.
But the president elected at that
time, instead Of proceeding to carry
out that portion of the platform,
forced upon public attention an is
sue which had up to that time been
considered secondary. Mr.. Cleve-
land, more than any other person
in this nation, is responsible for the
prominent position which the
money question now occupies. 1t
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 supremacy be- 81
tween the gold standard and the
bimetallists was recognized as
contest between the money power
and the common people.
The explicit declaration in favor
of free and unlimited coinage at Is
to 1, without waiting for the aid
or consent of any other nation, was
made necessary by the attempt of
certain public men to evade the
preceding platforms. The party
struggle, which eliminated in the
Chicago convention, of necessity
aIienated a portion of the party.
The party was placed in the posi-
ton where it was compelled TO in
dorse the financial policy of the
president or adhere to the doctrines
position taken by the Democratic E;
party in 1896 will not be surren-
dered. If you doubt the permanent
cy of the Chicago platform as Il
party creed, go among the rank and
file of the party and measure the
zeal and enthusiasm which that
platform has aroused, and you will /
realize the impossibility of taking a
backward step. True. the present
administration is seeking to turn
our attention to the tariff question,
but if our reasoning is we'll
founded, an increase of taxes can
not restore prosperity to the pro-
ducers of wealth. If the Dingley
bill brings general and permanent
prosperity, the Democratic party
will not be in a position to win d
contest by opposing it. If, on. the
other hand, the Dinghy bill proves
a disappointment TO those who adj
vocated it, our position of 1896 will
be strengthened and public atten-
ton will be riveted upon the fact
that the cause of financial depres-
sion is to be found in our monetary
system.
There is niue in recent events TO
encourage the followers of Thomas
Jefferson. The spring elections in
dictate 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 a minority party. It
has but one hope of escape from
the wrath to come, and that is to
secure bimetallism by international
agreement, before the people of the
nation have another opportunity to
speak at the polls. While we who
believe in independent binetallism
generally regard an international
agreement as neither necessary nor
possible, We may well hope for Sue
cess to any who may make the at
tempt to secure foreign assistance
If our opponents succeed in opening
the minis of other nations as well
as their own nfints, we shall re-
joice, because the conditions of the
people will be improved and they
will be able to proceed with other
legislation. If, however, the Repub-
lican party, after pledging itself to
secure international bimetailism.