Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1897-01-09
Mr.. cIeveIand,s letter was as follow


ed with cheers.
Mr. .CIeveIand's Letter.
Mr.. Cleveland's letter was as follows:
Executive Mansion
washington, d. c., Jan. 4. 1897.
franklin MacVeagh, Esq, Chairman,
Etc, Chicago.
My Dear Sir:-I regret that official du-
ties prevent my acceptance of the invita-
ton have received on behalf of the Ma
tional Democrats of the Middle states to
attend their Jackson day banquet on the
Sth inst.
When passion and prejudice threaten to
and pervert its patriotic purposes, d re-
union of those who are Democrats for the
sake of principle and the good of their
country cannot fail to be inspiring and
useful.
ION an occasion when the character and
achievements of Andrew Jackson are com-
memorated, the old landmarks of Demo-
cratic faith should be distinctively pointed
out.
"At such time. 1t should be impressive
ly taught that Democracy is not disorder:
that its regard for popular rights does not
mean the care of only a portion of our
people; that its loyalty to the constitution
lenge of the duty of civic obedience; that
its aggressiveness does not mean class ha-
tired and sectional vituperation and that
it's success should never mean mere par
tisan triumph, at the sacrifice of principle
and patriotism. Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND"
The enthusiasm was even greater when
General Simon B. Buckner rose to speak
for the state of Kentucky.
He spoke in praise of the defections from
the party, which followed the Chicago con-
vention. Saying:
buy a horse, and he brings me back a
iackass, l am not bound to take it. The
Democrats sent delegates to Chicago to
build a Democratic platform and they con-
structed one which bore the earmarks of
Populism and we did not choose to accept
it or stand upon 1t.
The far West was represented by John
P. Irish, of California, and the assembly,
recalling his hard work for the gold stand
ard during the campaign of last fall, greet
ed him with cheers. He spoke in part as
follows, in response to the toast, Our
President"
gil p. Kline. who responded for Ohio:
Washington Iryipg Bahb. who was charged
with messages from the gold Democracy of
toast of ''Nebraska;' ]. Med. Trimble. of
Kansas City who represented Missouri:
Daniel W. LAWYER, from Minnesota, and
speakers told of the condition of the gold
Democracy in the states from which they
had come, and all made enthusiastic prom
ises of the future prospects and usefulness
of the party.
j. Med. TrfmbIe's Address.
Mr.. Trimble's address was as follows:
MIR. Toastmaster and Gentlemen
when Missouri was admitted to the
Union, IN lS2l, she was the IWenty-IOuTln
member of the federal family. and was in
area the largest of the sisterhood.
BY reason of her natural advantages.
and the energy of her people, she has now
become in point of population the fifth. and
in many other particulars the first state in
the republic.
I'm 1925 when she was about seven years
old she cast her three electoral votes for
Andrew Jackson, and four years later, with
increased emphasis. she gave her four cleo
toral votes to the same distinguished DEM
ocrat, and regretted that she had not more
to give. She still continues TO rejoice that
she voted Tor that old hero of the Hermit
age as often as she had the opportunity,
"As an illustration of the lasting influ-
ence of early training, Missouri has con-
tinued, from her youthful days to the pres
ent time, except when most of her citizens
were disfranchised, TO vote for everything
that was called Democratic, and this, too
as ii would seem-without much regard as
to whether or not it was misnamed. So
strongly has her early training fixed this
habit upon her that she even voted for
Horace Greeley in ~, and for Bryan in '96.
For a number of years it has been quite
fashionable for the Missouri Democratic
politicians to publicly apologize for having
voted for Mr.. Greeley, and 1t may be that
in the near future they will deem 1t equal
ly becoming to make the same amends for
the support which they recently gave to
this latter-day candidate of doubtful DEM
oCracy.
''As Missouri now points with pride to
the fact that in her youth she voted twice
she will recognize that the best evidence
of her fidelity to Democratic principles
rests on the fact that in her ripper years
she voted thrice for Grover Cleveland.
President Cleveland Euiogized.
1.-The conspicuous statesman who now oc-
cupies the presidential chair equals Jack
son in moral courage and patriotic devotion
to principle, and surpasseS him in learning.
and wisdom, and in the judicious exercise
of the powers of his high office Ii requires
hot n imnlrtial history
will soon place him upon the same plane
with the greatest presidents of the past.
where he may rest without fear of being
eXcelled in the future.
THE two most important issues decided
by the recent election were:
"FirSt-Whether the president should be
denounced for interfering by military force
to prevent Il riotous infractlon of federal
laws within the boundary of a state. or
whether his action in so doing should be
| indorsed.
"Second-Whether the value of our dollar
which for twenty-three years had been
| fixed by law at twenty-five grains of gold,
| should be so changed as to fix its value
at either twenty-five grains of gold or AZ
| grains of silver at the election CT the mon
| ey holder.
Every promise made in the last twenty
| three years to pay any number of dollars
was promise TO pay so many times twen-
| ty-five grains of gold or its equivalent.
''The purpose of the proposed change was
| to give to the debtor the right to discharge
| these promises by paying for each dollar OF
his Indebtedness either twenty-five grains
| of gold or l12 grains of silver as he might
| elect. AS 412 grains of silver were worth
| only half as much as twenty-five grains OF
| gold, of course every debtor would pay in
| silver. This proposition of the Chicago
| platform necessarily meant. SO long as
| there should be disparity between the
| two coins, a partial reputation of all
| debts, both public and private.
| Missouri md Organism.
| 'Nissouri's vote will be counted in favor
| of denouncing the president for his action
| in suppressing the great Chicago riot OF
1894, and as in favor of repudiating finan-
| cial obligations: yet, notwithstanding the
| fact that the record is evidence against
me- know that the people of Missouri are
| not in favor of either.
IF these propositions could have beer
| submitted to n vote of our people without
| the Endorsement of a party convention
| both would have been Overwhelmingly de
| feated.
The press and party orators misIeG
many people into believing that the decla
| ration of the Chicago platform against
| federal interference in local affairs wa:
| but the statement of an abstract doctrine
| familiar to the Democratic mind, but haC
no reference to anything in particular; ant