The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-08

Chicago, Jan. 7.-William J. Bryan
was the guest of the Bryan League at
a big banquet given tonight at the Ire
mont House in celebration of the an
niversary of Andrew Jackson's birth.
Four hundred Democrats who believe
in the Chicago platform assembled in
the large dining-hall.
With few exceptions they were resi-
dents of Chicago.
Their enthusiasm when the name of
Bryan was announced was unbounded
and a fiattering display of admiration
followed. his rising to speak to the
toast. Andrew Jackson"
To man each banqueter arose and
waved anything available, accompany
ing the demonstration with vociferous
cheers for 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 expec-
tations when he spoke
DECORATIONS.
The decorations of the hall consisted
of liberal draping of the American
flags with crayOn pictures of Mr. Bry-
an, Mr. Sewall and Jefferson, but none
OF jackson For nearly two hours be-
fore the procession to the banquet hall
was formed Mr.. Bryan held a recep-
ton in the DarlorS of the hotel He
had previously spent several hours
with his publishers and remained
seated in an easy chair while line
or admlrlng Democrats filed past him
and shook his hand. 1t was originally
intended to have the banquet on Fri
day, which is the actual Jackson day
anniversary, but Mr.. Bryan had re-
celVed previous invitation to attend
banquet in Omaha that night, and
he accepted. giving tonight to the
Chicago Democrats
The speech-making began after mid
night, purpOsely.
Carter II. Harrison. president of the
Bryan League, acted as POSTMASTER.
He introduced Mr.. Bryan, who spoke
as follows:
A MASTERIY EFFORT.
Mr.. Toastuiaster and Gentlemen-In
whose auspices We meet has done me
the honor to take my name. I feel that it
is only lust to the club and TO myself
to repeat here what I have said else
where, namely. that my Judgment dis
approves of the use of my name in con-
nectiOn with Democratic or silver clubs
fist Di;,ce ! believe that a cause is so
much greater than any individual that
it shOuld not be burdened by any mis-
takes which he may make. While "A man
ives he 5 liable to err and his errors
are apt to injure any cause with which
he IS closely identified. During a cam
paign 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 a
representative capacity, | believe it is
VII 10 70 n fvrr- Tna
as far as possible in order that public
attention NAV be centered upon Drin-
cipIes and policies rather than upon men.
The other objection is Il personal one
| DO not want to stand for four years
in the attitude of a candidate for the
presidency. I do not want Jealous friends
to be continually alarmed lest | should do
something 20 ALLEVIATE some of those
who have given me their confidence and
support. In the past L nave spoken out
upOn public questions which in my IudS-
ment needed to be discussed and / de-
sire to occupy the same position in the
future. When the next campaign opens
it VIII be time enough to select can
didate and We can then select candidate
suited to the conditions then existing and
fit for the work then to be done. FullV
appreciating the high compliment paid
me and deeply grateful therefor. I still
repeat my suggestion that my name be
no longer connected with the names of
clubs.
WHAT IS a DEMOCRAT?
AS we are assembled upon this oc-
casion TO do honor to the memory of
Andrew Jackson we may properly dis
cuss the relations which should exist
between the Democrats who indorsed the
Chicago platform and the so-called DEM
Ocrats who aided in the election OF a
Republican president. The Democrats
who controlled the Chicago convention
earned their right to the party organlza-
ton and the party name by whatever
rule their claims may be measured "A
democracy is a government IN Which the
people rule. In other words, 1t is gov
ernInent such as Lincoln described "A
government of the people, by the people
and for the people" and Democrat IN
the broadest sense is one who believes
in this form of government
When l say l believe in this form or
government. I mean actual. sincere,
heartfelt belief. not a formal and en-
forced submission to that form OF gov
ernment. Measured by this dennltlon,
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
peODIe to legislate for themselves upon
all questions regardless of the wishes or
those who live in other lands In a
and defined by the Democratic party
The Democratic party OF the United
States in national convention assem-
bled according TO custom, ADOPTED
platform which received the sanction
of nearly two-thirds of the convention
That platform at the polls received the
indOrsernent of a very large Dro0orLlon
of the Democrats of the Nation. That
convention had a right TO define denoc-
racy in a party sense and we have a
right to declare that those who endorsed
that platform are Democrats and that
those who refused to support the plat
form are not Democrats. 1t is strange
that there should be any contest over this
point 1t is strange that those who Sc
cured for their candidate less than l per
cent of the popular vote of the United
States should insist that they are en-
titled to be called the real Democrats,
and then urge their claim to respectable