The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-17
Mr.. Bryan's Speech at
Jefferson Banquet

At the Jefferson Banquet, which oc
Cured Wednesday night i'll Washington
city, just as the cigars were being served
President Black raped loudly for order
and finally secured it. He said: 1T be
comes my duty tonight to welcome you
gentlemen. to our banquet board 4
President of the association tenderin;
this entertainment it is also by dntv t,
introduce to you the chairman of til,
National Democratic Committee. wht
will conduct the future proceedings o
this gathering | now have the honor t
present to You Senator James II. Jones
of Arkansas" Loud applause greeted
Senator Jones as he arose and began:
.Gentlemcn. we are assembled here TO-
night to do honor to the man who de-
sired to be remembered to posterlly a.
the author of the Declaration of hide
penuence. MS the writer of the laws OF
Virginia, and as the founder OF the M
rcrsity of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson
stood on the doctrine that All men were
born free and equal. and no man has
arisen since his time that lrlS more clearly
colnprehended these rights than this man
We have with us tonight Il man who
has endeared himself to every true be-
lever in Democracy rs taught by
Thomas Jefferson. who has sent Il thrill
of JOY and hope to all men of the civil
lied globe. 1t is my honor now. gentle
men, to call upon Hon. William Jennings
Bryan. of Nebraska, to respond to the
toast which | now propose, Thomas
jefferson.
The company silently arose and drain
ed their cups, and Il moment later burst
into applause as Mr.. Bryan was left
standing Three cheers were again pro
posed for the hero of the evening, and
were responded to with the same vigol
that characterized the first plaudits OF
the evening.
MIR. BRYAN'S SPEECH
Mr.. Bryan said in part:
MIR. Chairman, Ladies aud Gentle
men, 1t is Il wear since We celebrated
the last birthday Of Thomas Jefferson in
this city. and under the auspices Of the
National Association Of Democratic
Clubs. And during the year through
which we have just passed the principles
of Thomas Jefferson have received each
month some new vindication. If year
ago there were reasons for us to renew
our faith in the principles of this man.
there are still more tonight. In the
principles of Thomas Jefferson are eX-
pressed all that there is in Democracy.
Through his principles we should be able
to solve every question that arises i'll
peace or in war The principles of Jeffer-
son are the definition of Democracy as
it stands to-day. And it is definition
broad enough to include in its limits
every true. believer in Jefferson.
THE Democracy of to-day knows no
sections. 1t extends alike from the At
lantic to the Pacific, and from the Great
Lakes to the Gulf Of Mexico To be a
Democrat means something. The prin-
ciple of Democracy, ats crystalilzed III
the definition of Jeffersonianism, is
greater to-day than it was Il year ago.
We have seen that the opposition to the
principles of Jefferson is proving fail
ure wherever and whenever it has been
tried. To-day, in the complexity of the
situation that confronts the American
people, we have to solve many problems;
yet these principles of Jefferson may
solve them ALL The Chicago platform
stood as did Thomas Jefferson for equal
rights TO all. and special privileges grant
ed to none. Jefferson's principles meet
any and every question that arises.
Taxation, as administered by the Repub-
lean party. is not in accordance with
the law of equal rights to all.
TAXATION TIME OF PERIL.
Mr.. Bryan then spoke of the fact that
the stand taken by the Democratic party
in favor OF an income tax was being VIM
Dictated with every succeeding day.
Events are daily developing, he said, to
show the truth of what Justice Brown
said-that the decision of the Supreme
court against the tax would rise up some
day to par;ilyze the government.
I'VE have now reached a time Of per-
H." said Mr.. Bryan, when we can CON
slider this decision and understand fully
what ii means. When the government
is i'm need of ready funds it cannot draft
the wealth of the rich, who are more ann
DIX protected by it than the poor people,
who have no property whatever The
government may go today 10 the mother
and take from her her only son, and it
may go to the wife and take from her
her beloved husband, aud send them to
war. but the government cannot touch
the fortunes Of the rich. In the name
of Thomas jefferson | tonight denounce
the policy that places the miser's dollar
above the mothers son or the wife's hus-
band. The time has not yet come when
me dollar is better than the man in this
country.
Nov. my friends. this is but one di-
rection i'm which the principles of Jeffer-
son have been vindicated. The principles
OF this man would make the trust inn
possible One Of my friends the other
day. hearing that confidence had been
restored by the Republican administra-
ton, looked in the dictionary to find out
Just what the word confidence meant.
And what do you suppose he found Z!
That one of the definitions of confidence
was trust. Great applause and laugh
teri Therefore if confidence means
trusts. no one can deny that it has been
restored. The last year has brought
wildly to the minds of the people thai
the trusts Of this country are growing
and that those of us who cannot com
bine with the rich must be the helpless
victims OF an aggregation of wealth.
NOT ENEMIES OF PROPERTY.