The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-08

Cli'NhSo, jim. iii Unc banquet nall
OF the fremont House, the silver branch
OF the Democracy held tonight it's ban
quct in celebration of Jackson day
The banquet was under the auspices of
the w. j. Bryan I.eaguc and WAS held
one day i'll advance os Jackson day
proper, as the distinguished guest OF the
league, William j. Bryan, could not be
present to morrow night, having IN en-
sagemcnt in Omaha.
The banquet hall WAS tastcfuliy and
laviahly decorated with green's, cut flow.
crs ANA the national coiCrs, ana presented
an extremely handsome appearance, when
mt 10 O'Clock the doors were opened 10 the
800 followers of Mr.. Bryan.
Carter fl. Harrison, the first president
Of the league, was at the head OF the ta
hlc and acted rs toastlnastcr, Mr.. Bryan
being seated immediately ut his right
1t was fully midnight when Mr.. IIarri-
son repued FOR order, and in II few pleas.
ant, well chosen words introduc Il Mr.
bryan. The latter WAS greeted with
great applause when he arose to speak in
response to the toast Of ANDREW Jack.
son. ana frequently throughout This nd-
dress he was compelled TO pause while his
hearers took time to demonstrate their
approval OF his sentiments. Mr. BRYAN
said:
der whose pieces we meet has done me
the honor to take my name | feel that 1t
$ only Just to the club and to myself to
repeat here what have said elsewhere,
namely, that my Judgment disapproveS
of the use of my name in connection with
Democratic or silver clubs. Ny objection
is II two. fold one. IN the first place,
believe that IL cause is so much greater
than any individual that it should not be
burlcncd by any mistakes which he may
make.
while II man lives he * liable to err
an'! his errors are apt 10 iniurc any cause
with which he is closely identified Dur.
ing Il campaign cause must be denti-
fled, for the time being, with candidates
for public Office, but when the campaign
is over and the candidate no longer stands
III II representative capacity, / believe it
is wise to diSassoCiate him from the cause
us far rs possible III order that public at
tention may he centcred upon principles
and policies rather than upon men.
"rhc other object is IL personal one
do not want to stand for four years i'm
the attitude of II candidate for the presi.
dency. do not want Jealous friends to
Ire continually alarmed lest ! should do
something TO ALLEVIATE some of those who
have given me their confidence and sup
port.
SIN the past have spoken ont upon
public questions which in my Judgment
needed to he discussed, and | desire to
occupy the same position in the future.
When the next campaign opens it will
be time enough 10 select u candidate, and
we can then select Il candidate suited to
the conditions then existing and fit for
the work then to he done. Fully appre-
chatting the high compliment paid me and
deeply grateful therefor, still repeat nv
suggestion that my name be no longer
connected with the names of clubs.
80 AS we are assembled upon this occa-
sion to do honor to the memory of An
drew jackson we may properly discuss
the relations which should exist between
the Democrats who endorsed the Chicago
platform and the sn-called Democrats
who aided i'll the election OF Il Republican
President.
1.-The Democrats who controlled the
Chicago convention earned their right to
the Misrepresentation and TO the party
name by whatever rule their ssclaims may
he measured. y democracy is Il govern.
ment in which the people rule. In other
words, it is government such us Lincoln
described: ~ government of the people,
by the people and for the people. And Il
Democrat in the broadcast sense is one
who believes in this form of government.
When say believes in this form OF gov
eminent, mean actual, sincere, heartfelt
belief. not IL formal ana enforced silbmis-
sion to that form OF government Meas.
urcd 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 legslatc for
themselves upon ll.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 in national convention as
scmbed, according 90 custom, adopted IL
platform which received the sanction of
nearly two. thirds of IL very large proper
ton of the Democrats of the nation. That
convention had II right to define DemOc-
racy i'll a party sense and we have IL right
to declare that those who endorsed that
platform are Democrats and that those
who refused to support the platform are
not Democrats.
1T is strange that there should be any
contest over this point 1t is strange that
those who secured for their candidates
less than one per cent of the popular vote
of the United States should insist that
they are entitled to he called the real
Democrats and then urge their claim to
responsibility in numbers on the ground
that the majority OF them voted for the
Republican candidates. If Il minority has
Il right TO give IL party definition OF de-
mocracy ttcn there may he as many def
nitions as there are individuals.
If those who bolted the Chicago nom
inees have IA right to call themselves bet.
ter Democrats than those who supported
such nominees, then the boiling Demo
Gratis who boltcd the boiling ticket and