The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-08
BRYAN TALKS
ON JACKSON.
Speaks at the Chicago Bryan
League Banquet.
Each Member of the League
Wore Bryan Badge.
GOLD BUG DEMOCRATS
Bryan Styles Them the "Web-
Footed Members"
The Ducklings Among the Brood
of Chickens.

of the fremont hotel the Democracy
held it's banquet in memory of Jack
son.. The banquet was under the aus
pices of the w. ]. Bryan league and
was held one day in advance of Jack
son day proper, as the distinguished
guest of the league, William J. Bryan
could not be present tonight, having an
engagement in Omaha. The banquet
hall was tastefully and lavishly decor
ated with greens, cut flowers and the
national colors, and presented hand
some appearance, when, at 10 o'clock
the doors were opened to the 300 fol-
lowers of Mr. Bryan. AS the members
of the league marched into the hall
every member bore upon his left breast
the badge of the league, which was
worn last night for the first time. It is
of purple satin and hangs suspended
from a silver bar, upon which is print
ed the name of the wearer. Mr.. Bry-
ans picture is upon the badge in the
form of a medallion set in silver and
the background of purple is relieved by
elaborate trimming of silver.
Carter H. Harrison, the first presi-
dent of the league was at the head of
the table and acted toast master
Mr. Bryan being seated Immediately at
his right. 1t was fully midnight when
Mr.. Harrison raped for order, and in a
few pleasant, we'll chosen words, intro
duced Mr.. Bryan The latter was greet
ed with great applause when he rose to
speak in response to the toast, Andrew
Jackson" and frequently throughout
his address he was compelled to pause
while his hearers took time to demon
strate their approval of his sentiments.
Mr.. Bryan'S address was as follows:
LAS 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 endorsed
the Chicago platform and the So-called
Democrats who aided in the election of
q Republican president The Democrats
who controlled the Chicago convention
earned their right to the party organi-
cation and to the party name by what
ever rule their claims may be measur
ed.
"A Democracy is a government in
which the people rule. In other words
it is a government such as Lincoln de-
scribed: "A government of the people,
Ana Democrat in the broadcast sense
is one who believes in this form of
government. When I say believes in
TINS form OF government, I mean ac-
fual, sincere, heartfelt belief not a
formal and enforced submission to that
form of government
Measured by this definition those
who supported the Chicago platform
are Democrats because they assert the
right of the people to govern them
selves and the right of the American
people to legislate for themselves upon
all questions, regardless of the wishes
OF those who live in other lands. In a
techncal sense Democracy is outlined
and defined by the Democratic party
The Democratic party of the United
States, in national convention assero-
pIed. according to custom, adopted a
platform which received the sanction
OF nearly two thirds or a very large
proportion of the Democrats of the ma
ton. That convention had a right to
define Democracy in a party sense and
we nave right to declare that those
VINO refused to support the platform are
not Democrats. It is strange that there
should be any contest over this point
1t IS strange that those who have Sc
cured for their candidates less than one
per cent of the popular vote of the
United States should insist that thew
are entitled to be called the real Dem
ocrats ana then urge their claim to re-
speciality in numbers on the ground
that the majority of them voted for the
Republican candidates.
IF a minority has a right to give a
party definition of Democracy then
there may be as many definitions as
there are individuals If those who
bolted the Chicago nominees have a
right to call themselves better Demo-
Gratis than those who supported such
nominees, then the boiling Democra Is
who bolted the boiling ticket and voted
for the Republican nominees have a
right to call themselves better Demo-
Gratis than the boilers who supported
the boiling ticket.
This campaign has shown the limos
Sibility of keeping bimetallists and gold
standard advocates in the same poIiti-
cal organizations and it will be a more
difficult task in the future than it has
been this year.
To use common illustration, hen
is always disturbed if she has in her
brood a few ducks which insist upOn
padding in the water while the chick
ems are content to scratch upon the
land. The Democratic party will in
like manner be i'll at ease if it has a few
Web-foOted members Who insist upon
crossing the ocean while the great ma
Jorlty of the party are willing to find
their political food upon American soil.
Not only is this separation between the
gold standard Democrats and the free
silver Democrats a necessity but il
ought to be desirable to both sides. If
the gold standard Democrats are as bad
politically as we think they are we
ought not to care to affiliate with them
and if those who supported the Chi
cago platform are half as bad as the
gold bugs say, they ere apt to contain
mate all who associate with them.
I'm my opinion there should be nc
compromise of the issues involved in
the late campaign and no terms short
of absolute surrender offered those who
have deserted us.
I'VE are engaged now in just such q
contest as that through which Andrew
Jackson passed ard we do well on this
occasion to take encouragement from
his devotion to the cause of the people
He gained his grea test victory in his
fight against tle national bank We
have the same fight on hand today The
national bank is seeking to force re-
tirement of the greenbaeIss and then
monopolize the issue OF pa tper money
The Republicans, during 4 he campaign
just closed, avoided this subject and
refused to declare themselves either fol-
or against the retirement of the green
backs. But when they ONE to apply
their ideas TO legislation they must dis
close their views.
"A statement issued by the treasury
department near the close of December
S1rar.I