The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-09
WATTERSOH At A
JACKSON DINNER
Honors Old Hickory's Mem
DRY in a Character
istic Speech.
Scores the Bryan Democracy and
Rejoices Over McKinley's
Success.
Letters From President Cleveland, Sec.
rotary Morton, Senator Palmer and
Other Gold Democrats.

CHICAGO, ILL, Jan. 8.-Choosing the
anniversary of "Old Hickory's' victory at
New Orleans, representative members OF
the National Democratic party from the
ten Middle and Western States who
fought for principle and the gold standard
under the banner of Palmer and Buckner
assent led, $50 strong, t0-nightin the ban
quet hall of the Auditorium Hotel to cele-
brate alike the birthday of Andrew Jack
son, the victory over Bryan and free silver
and renew pledges of adherence to the In
dianapois platform.
The occasion was made notable by the
presence of the party's nominee for Vice
President. General Simon B. Buckner of
Kentucky, Hon. Charles S. Hamlin of
Massachusetts, Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury, and Henry Watterson. The
banqueters were also honored by having
read TO them letters from the President of
the United States, from his Secretary of
Agriculture, Hon. !. Sterling Morton,
and from the standard-bearer of the party
in the recent campaign, United States
Senator John NJ. Palmer, and kilograms
from Secretaries Wilson and Francis and
others prominent in the party.
The letter which President Cleveland
wrote to Franklin MacVeagh of Chicago,
POSTMASTER OF the Jacksonlan feast, in
lieu of his presence, was as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, D. c., January 4, 1878
Franklin Mdc Vedgh. Esq, chairman etc,
Chicdgo-MY DEAR SIR: L regret that Official
duties prevent my acceptance OF the invitation
I have received on behalf OF the National
Democrats of the Middle States to attend their
Jackson day banquet on the Sth inst. When
passion and prejudice threatened to obscure the
meaning Of true Democracy and pervert its
patriotic purposes, a reunion OF those who are
Democrats for the sake of principle and the
good OF their country cannot talI to be IN
spring and useful.
On an occasion when the character and
achievements OF Andrew Jackson are COM
memorated the old landmarks OF Democratic
faith should De distinctly pointed out. At
such time it should be impressiyely taught
that Democracy is not disorder; that its
gard for popular rights does not mean the
care of only portion of our people; that It's
loyalty to the constitution and law does not
mean petulant challenge of the duty OF civic
obedience; that its aggressiveness does not
mean class hatred and sectional Yltuperat1on,
and that its success should never mean mere
partisan triumph at the sacrifice of principle
and patriotism. Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Senator Palmer intended TO he present
in person, but his illness in Springfield
made his presence impossible. Instead
the general sent the following letter:
1t seems to me emtnently proper that the
National Democracy OF the Middle States, as
enumerated by you, should in some way
phasize their adherence to the principles of
the Indianapolis platform and their loyalty to
true Democracy. l am gratlhed 10 find that
IT, is not the purpose OF the banquet to antag0-
nize our former friends, but merely to empha-
size our position, for it must be that the DEM
ocrats OF the several States VINO under a mis-
taken sense OF duty accepted and supported
CHICAGO nlaff0rm and candidacy
Bryan viii at no distant day discover that
neither the platform nor The candidate eX-
pressed or represen ted Democratic principles
and will unite with US in the support of the
recognition OF the Indianapolis platform
true, precise and accurate definition of the
principles OF the great historic Democratic
party, and that the convention and its plat
form was proper and patriotic protest against
the conspiracy organized at Chicago ana per-
fected at st. Louis 10 commit the Democratic
party not only TO Populism, with all its unde
fined meanings, but to the service of q mere
silver property interest, which is as arrogant
and grasping as any other which ever existed
in the United States.
The following kilograms from members
of the Cabinet were read:
WASHINGTON D. c., Jan. 8.
To the Democratic party is still committed
the defense OF the principle of free govern
ment. We must fight not only the battle for
sound finance, but never-ending struggle
WI WILSON.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 8.
Official duties viii not permit me to accept
the invitation 70 attend the Jackson day ban
quet I trust the occasion may prove prolific
of much good to the interests OF true Democ-
racy, as advocated and exemplified by that
noble patriot whose victories we celebrate to-
night. DAVID R. FRANCIS.
Telegrams were also received from Ben
T. Cable of Illinois and Z. Vey Holman of
Maine, who was chairman of the National
Democratic party literary bureau during
the last campaign.
When POSTMASTER MacVeagh men
toned President Cleveland in words of
praise every man arose, cheered. waved
napkins and applauded to express his
admiration OF the man and sympathy
with the sentiments of the speaker. There
was milder demonstration when Senator
Palmer's letter was read, and hearty ap.
plause followed the reading of Secretary
Morton's letter, which was as follows:
Never before in the history of the Republic
has the duty of making fearless and honest
declarations in behalf of honest econo-
mics, honest currency and an honest ad-
mtnistration OF municipal, State and
National affairs been so imperative
upon good citizenship. Never before have
there been such grave and weighty reasons
for REFRESHING partisanism and exelting pat
riotism. The recent ampaign-notwithstand-
ing 1t gave us glimpses OF possible disruption
OF this form OF goVernment-aiso gave the
WOrlQ q view OF nu0QreQS oil thousands OF
non-partisans who placed the credit, prosper
ity and glory of the Republic far above the
success of merely alleged regularity of politi-
cal organization. THESE independent votes
sacrificed not single particle of principle,
but between protective tariff on one side
and the certainty Of a debased currency on
the. other they chose to tolerate what they
believed to be the least of two evils.
Had consistency cast all ballots 1t would
have forced all Democrats to maintain the
auti-protective gold standard and compelled
Republicans 10 nave declared for the free coin
age protection of silver at 10 to l.
The primary questions asking serious atten-
ton are: Is it the fixed legal ratio enacted
between the coins which governs the relative
value of the metals in bnllion. or is it the rela-
tive value of the metals in bullion which gov
ern relative value of the coins. And in view
of the recent excursion of Senator Wolcott
allegedly on an international monetary ques-
ton, the question comes naturally after the
foregoing.
If single separate nation cannot maintain
fixed legal ratio between the metals when
coming in unlimited quantities, how can an
International agreement among q number OF
nations maintain fixed ratio between the
metals?
The real object of the Wolcott invasion of
European finances may possibly be for the
purpose of holding within his party number
Of voters who have been promised Woicott
Silyerism with protection by international
agreement instead of Teller silversm on
homeland basis and without regard to any
other nation, and now impatiently await the
tulfillment. These delUded disciples await the
miracle of an international conference with
power to declare and maintain the PROPOSE
ton that sixteen ounces of silver in coin shall
equal one ounce of gold in coin, notwithstand-
ing the TACT that it takes thirty ounces OF sill
yer in bullion 10 buy one ounce OF gold in
bullion.
Bimetallism has been printed in the statute.