The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-08
BRYAN ON DEMOCRACY
Al Eloquent Exposition Of Party Principles
Delivered at JaCkSon'S Anniversary,
RECEIVED WITH GREATEST ENTHUSIASM
For Two Hours the Crowd Filed
by shnI1inG siis IInnd-The Re-
Jackson" Wns Not Long, but TX
cited GrcnL Applause.

Chicago Jan. 7.-Wiilam ]. Bryan
was The guest of the Bryan League at
a lis banquet given Tonight at the Tre-
mont house in celebration Of the ami
versary Of Andrew JacksOn's birth.
-Four hundred Democrats who believe
in the Chicago platform assembled in
The large dining hall. With few excep-
tons they were residents of Chicago.
Their enthusiasm when the name OF
Mr. Bryan was mentioned was unbound
ed, and fiatteriug display Of admira-
tlun followed his rising To speak TO the
toast OF Andrew Jackson" To q man
cacn banuuvtri aTtsr dnt waV,u eN-IN-
thing available, accompanying the dem
onstrhtIun wiki vOCiieruus cheers Of
Bryan! The late candidate Of his
party was fully at his ease. and although
work of receiving friends. he met all eX
pectations when hc sDuke.
HONORS TO BRYAN.
The decorations Of The hall consisted
OF liberal drtDinE OF American nags
with trayon pictures Of Mr.. Bryan as
wen MS Jefferson, but none of Jackson.
For nearly TWO hours b-furo the prucrs-
sion 10 the banquet hall was formed.
MT Bryan held reception in the par
iorS OF The hotel. He had previously
spent several hours with his publishers.
ana remained seated in an easy chair
=
MED past him and shook his hand 1t
was originally intended to have the ban
quet on Friday. which is the actual
jackson day anniversary but Mr. Bry-
an had received n previous invitation to
attend banquet in Omaha that night
and he accepted. giving Tonight TO The
chicago Democrats
me speech making began after mid
night purpusely
:, carter II Harrison. president of the
tn1
lie introduced Mr.. Bryan. who smoke as
follows: 90
MIR. RRYAN'S RESPONSE.
"Alr. Toastmas,er nnd Gen,Ie,r.n
IN view of the fact that the club under
whose auspices we meet has done me
me honor to take my name, feel that
IT Is only Just TO the club and to myself
20 Fepeat mere what ! have said else
WheFe' namely, that my Judgment dis
approves of the use of my name i'm CON
hcction with Democratic or silver cIuhs
My objection is a two-fold one. In
me hrsi place. / believe that a causa is
SO much greater than any individual
'hat IL should not he burdened by anv
mistakes which he may make. While
a man lives he IS liable to err and his
| errors are apt to injure any cause with
winch he is closely Identified During
/! cdmpaiSn cause must he identified
Tor The time being, with candidates for
pubic Office. but when the campairn is
over ana the candidate no longer stands
IN a representative capacity, | believe
IL Is wise 10 disassociatc him from the
cause as far as possible in order that
puhlic attention may be centercd upon
principles and policies rather than upon
men.
The other objection is a personal one.
DO not want to stand for four years
IN me attitude OF candidate for the
Presidency. do not want Zpolnus
IL he nf4f Inn
should DO something 10 ALLEVIATE some
OF lhose who have given me their CON
ildence and support. In the past have
spoken OUT upon public questions which
IN my judgment needed to be discussed
ana desire To occupy the same uusf-
tion in the future When the next cam
pa!gn opens it will be time enough to
select candidate and we can then sc-
.ect candidate suited TO the conditions
then existing and III for the work TO be
uohe fniIY approaching the high COM
'piiinent paid me and deeply grateful
therefor, | stiii repeat my suggestion
that my name be no longer connected
with the names of clubs.
WHAT y DEMOCRAT RELIEVES.
"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 ex.s; be-
tween the democrats vino indCrscd the
oH'CaSo platform and the SO-caliei
democrats who aided i'm the election of
Republican President. The Democrat $
wh" cnntro led the Chicago convention
earned their right TO the party organize
non ana the party name by whatever
rule their claim may he measured \
democracy Is government IN which
the people rule. In other words IL IS a
government such as Lincoln described:
~ government OF the people. hy the
people and for the people and n Demo-
crat In the brOadest sense is one who
nelcNeS III TINS form Of government
when ] say believes in this form If
government. | mean actual sincere
| heartfelt belief. not a formal ana en-
forced submission to that form o! gov
| eminent. Measured by this definition.
those who supported The Chicago plat-
form are Democrats because they assert
the right of the people to govern them
selves and the right of the American
people 10 iegislltc for themselves upon
all questions regardless OF the wishes of
those who live in other lands In
technical sense Democracy IS outlined
and defined by the Democratic party
The Democratic party OF the Unit5f
states in national convention assembled
accorjn" to custom. adopted a plat
form which received the sanction of
nearly two-th!rds Of the convention.
That platform at the polls received the
Endorsement of very large proportion
of the Democrats Of the nation. That
convention had r.gh, 10 define Demo
cracy in party sense and we have