Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-08
WILLIAM J. BRYAN.
HE SPEAKS IN CHICAGO AT A
JACKSON BANQUET.
DEMOCRATS AND BQLTERS.
(Which Are Which" Pointed Out
The "Bolters from the BoIt"-Fight
Against the National Banks-CIub
Work.

CHICAGO, January 7.-William j. Bryan
| was the guest of the Bryan League at a
big banquet given tonight al the fremont
House, in celebration of the anniversary
of Andrew Jackson's birth. Four hundred
Democrats who believe in the Chicago
| platform assembled In the large dining
hal. With few exceptions. they were res
| idents of Chicago. Their enthusiasm
when the name of Mr.. Bryan was men
toned was unbounded, and a fiatte-ing
display of admiration followed his rising
to speak to the toast Andrew Jackson ."
| To a man each banqueter arose, and
waved anything available. accompanying
the demonstration with vociferous cheers
| of Bryan The late candidate OF his
party was fully at his ease, and although
tired from his long travel. and his days
work Of receiving friends. he met all ex-
pectations when NE spoke.
The decorations Of the hall consisted
| Of a liberal draping OF American flags.
with crayon pictures of Mr.. Bryan, as
well as jefferson, but none of Jackson.
For nearly two hours before the process
sion TO the banquet hall was formed Mr.
Bryan held a reception in the parlors of
! the hotel. He had previously spent seve-
raj hours with his publishers, and remain
! ed seated in an easy chair. while a line
! of admiring Democrats filed past him and
shook his hand. 1t was originally intend
ed TO have the banquet on Friday, which
| Is the actual Jackson-Day anniversary.
but Mr.. Bryan had received a previous
/ fpu 20 of n "A
that night. and he accepted. giving to-
| night TO the Chicago Democrats.
The speech-making began after mid
night. purposely. Carter H. Harrison,
president of the Bryan League, acted as
| toast-master. He introduced Mr.. Bryan,
who spoke as follows:
MR.. BRYAN's REMARKS.
"Mr. Toast Master and Gentlemen: In
view Of the fact that the club under
whose auspices we meet has done me
| the honor to take my name / feel that II
| is only just TO the club and to myself
TO repeat here what | have said else
where-namely that my Judgment dis
approves of the use of my name in con-
nection with Democratic or silver clubs.
My objection is a twofold one. In the
| first place, j 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 man
/ lives ne is liable to err and his errors
are apt to injure any cause with which
he is closely Identified. During q 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 II Is
wise to disassociate him from the cause
as far as possible, in order that public
attention may be centered upon prin-
ciples and policies, rather than upon
men. The other objection Is personal
one. | do not want TO stand for four
years in the attitude Of a candidate for
the presidency. / do not want Jealous
friends to be continually alarmed lest
j should do something to ALLEVIATE some
of those who have given me their con-
spoken out upon public questions which
in my judgment needed to be discussed.
and ] desire TO occupy the same posi-
ton in the future. When the next cam
paign opens it will be time enough to
select a candidate, and we can then
select a candidate suited to the condi-
tions then existing, and ht for the work
then to be done Fully appreciating the
high compliment paid me, and deeply
grateful therefor, I still repeat my sus-
gestion that my name be no longer con-
rected with the names of clubs.
AS we are assembled upon this occa-
sion 10 do honor TO the memory of An
drew Jackson. we may properly discuss
the relations which should exist between
he Democrats who endorsed the Chicago
platform and the so-called Democrats VIII
aided in the election of a Republican
President. The Democrats who controlled
the Chicago convention earned their right
TO the party organization and the party
names d. whatever rule their claims may
be measured. A democracy is a govern
ment in which the people rule. In other
words II is a government such as Lin
coin described: "A government of the peO-
pie, by the people and for the people,
and a Democrat i'm the broadest sense is
one who believes IN this form of govern
ment.
"When / say believes in this form of
government / mean actual, sincere,
heartfelt belief not a formal and en-
forced submission TO that form of gov
ernment. Measured by this definition,
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
people to legislate for themselves upon
all questions. regardless of the wishes Of
those who live in other lands. In
technical sense, Democracy Is outlined
and defined by the Democratic party.
The Democratic party of the United
States I'm national convention assembled,
according TO custom, adopted platform
which received the sanction OF nearly two
thirds OF the convention. That platform
at the polls received the enforcement Of
a very large proportion OF the Democrats
OF the nation. That convention had
right TO define Democracy in party
sense. and we have a right to declare
that those who endorsed that platform
are Democrats, and that those who re-
fused to support the platform are not
Democrats. 1t is strange that there
snould be any contest over this point. III
is strange that those who secured for
their candidate less than ] per cent. OF
the popular vote of the United states
should insist that they are entitled TO be
called the real Democrats. and then urge
their claim to respectability IN numbers
on the ground that the majority or them
voted for the Republican candidates. III
a minority has right 10 give party
definition of Democracy. then there may
be as many definitions as there are md
viduals.
BOLTERS FROM THE BOLT.
'If those who bolted the Chicago nomi-
nees have a right 10 call themselves better
Democrats than those who supported sucn
nominees. then the bolting Democrats
who bolted the boiling ticket and voted
for the Republican nominees have a right
TO call themselves better Democrats than
the boilers who supported the boltlng
ticket The right to party organization
belongs to the majority. and the right 10
the party name must also belong 10 the
majority. 80 -,
"There should be no difficulty in under
standing the relations which should exist
between the Democrats who remained In
the part and those persons who went out
of the party. A party is defined as an
association of persons who agree upon