The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-08
Mr.. Bryan's Address.

W.T.. bryan A0UresS.
Mr.. Bryan was greeted with great APP
piause when he rose to speak in response To
the toast of Andrew Jackson" and fire.
quently throughout his address he was
compelled to pause while his hearers took
time TO demonstrate their approval of his
sentiments. Mr.. Bryan's address was as
follows:
In view OF the fact that the club under
whose auspices we meet had done me the
honor to take my name. / feel that Ii is
only Jast to the club and to myself TO re-
namely that my Judgment disapproves of
the use OF my name in connection with
Democratic or silver clubs. My objection
rs two-fold one. In the first place. i be-
lieve that Il cause is so much greater than
any individual that IL should not be bur-
dened by any mistakes which he may
make While a man lives he is liable TO
err and his errors are apt TO injure any
cause with which he is closely identified.
During campaign a cause must be identi-
hed. tor 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
wise TO disassociate him from the cause as
far as possible in order that public at
and policies rather than upon men
the other object is personal one. /
do not want to stand for four years in the
attitude of candidate for the presidency.
/ do not want jealous friends to be con-
unually alarmed lest / should do some
thing TO ALLEVIATE scme of those who have
given me their confidence and support In
the past have spoken out public ques-
tons which. i'm my judgment. needed % be
discussed ard | desire TO occupy the same
paign opens il will be time enough TO select
a candidate. and we can then select
candidate suited to the conditions then ex-
| listing and fit foI the work then TO be done
| Fully appreciating the high compliment
paid me and deeply grateful therefor.
! be no longer connected with the names of
| clubs
| POPOCRATS ARE DEMOCRATS.
AS we are assembled on this occasion
| to do honor to the memory of Andrew
Jackson we may properly discuss the rela-
tions which should exist between the Dem
| ocrats who indorsed the Chicago platform
and the so-called Democrats who aided in
the election of IA Republican President The
| Democrats who controlled the Chicago con-
vention earned their right to the party or
ganization and to the party name by what
| ever rule their claims may be measured A
| democracy is a government in which the
/ people rule. In other words II is a govern
| ment such as Lincoln described: a gov
ernment of the people by the people and
| for the people, and a Democrat in the
broadest sense is one who believes in this
form of government When | say be
ment.' mean actual. sincere, heart
| felt belief. not a formal and enforced
submission to that form of government.
| Measured by this definition. those who sup
ported the Chicago platform are Demo-
| Gratis because they assert the right of the
people to govern themselves and the right
| OF the American people to legislate for
themselves on all questions, regardless of
the wishes OF those who live in other lands
lined and defined by the Democratic marty.
| The Democratic party of the United
| States, in national convention assembled
according to custom. adopted a platform
which received the sanction of nearly two
thirds of very large proportion OF the
Democrats of the Nation. That conven-
| party sense. anc we have right to declare
| that those who indorsed that platform are
Democrats and that those who refused to
support the platform are not Democrats.
1t is strange that there should be any con-
test over this point. 1t Is strange that
less than | per cent. of the popular vote
of the United States should insist that
they entitled to be called the real Dem
ocratS and then urge their claim 10 respec-
liability in numbers on the ground that the
majority of them voted for the Re-
publican candidates. If minority
has right TO give party defni-
ton of Democracy then there may be as
many definitions as there are individuals.
If those who bolted the Chicago nominees
Democrats than those who supported such
nominees, then the bolting Democrats who
| DOlteu the DOlllflS llchtl ana NOttu TOT the
Republican nominees have q right To call
themselves better Democrats than the bolt
ers who supported the bolting ticket The
right TO the party organization belongs 10
the majority and the right TO the party
| must also belong 10 the majority.
There should be no difficulty in under
! standing the relations which should exist
between the Democrats who remained In
the party and those persons who went out
of the party. A party is defined as
sociation OF persons who agree upon an i'm
portant question or questions and who
unite TO give effect to their ideas. The
money question became the paramount is
sue OF the day The Democrats in conven-
tion took "A position on the question and
| made a gallant fight i'm defense of the plat
form adopted. If the money question was
now considered settled another issue could
be taken up and a new alignment made
But the money question is not settled. The
| contest for the restoration OF the money
! of the Con-. titution will go with renewed
vigor The people who advocated free sil-
YER before the election advocate Ii now
The election has decided the presidency for
four years and IL has determined the com.
| plexion of Congress for two years. but II
has not overthrown the convictions oi
| tNese who believe that the gold standard
| Is "A conspiracy against the welfare of ths
producing masses. nor has IL changed ths
convictions Of those who believe tha