The Van Buren press., 1898-05-21
Jefferson Day In Washington City.

The editor of the North Carolinian
was present at the Jefferson banquet on
the 18th ult. We copy the following
from his paper:
The presence of Mr.. Bryan in
Washington City threw the Republican
leaders into "Conniption fits - They
know they lied about him and his plans
during all the campaign, and defeated
him by corrupt methods. Some folks
can never forget man who outlives
their libelling. Bryan has committed
the offense of doing this, and Senator
Hale in his speech Saturday afternoon
gave him credit for unifying the Demo
Gratis in congress upon the proposition
of Cuban independence. This gives
Mr.. Bryan a credit he does not claim.
1t shows that whatever the Democratic
party does or does not do, Bryan gets
the praise or the blame.
Mr.. Hale, in the same speech, said
Mr.. Bryan will probably be the next
Democratic candidate for president.
He might have said lis certain to be
the candidate and quite as certain to be
elected. - His speech at the Jefferson
banquet was in many respects equal to
his Chicago speech. 1t was quite as
happy and carried the banqueters by
storm. His allusion to the income tax
decision, showing that it paralyzes the
national arm, in times like the present,
was happy. Those at the board waved
flags and stood upon chairs and hurrahed
when he said:
THE government may go today to
the mother and take from her her only
son, and il may 60 to the wife and take
from her her beloved husband, and send
them to war, but the government can
not touch the fortunes of the rich. In
the name of Thomas jefferson l tonight
denounce the policy that places the
miser's dollar above the mothers son
or the wife's husband. The time has
not yet come when the dollar is better
than the man in this country
His allusion to Fitzhugh Lee, stand
ing at his post of duty, and winning the
approval of the whole country, was the
signal for long and loud applause.
Perhaps the best part of his speech was
his reference to the fact that Lee s con-
duct in Havana has wiped out section
alism, making it impossible hereafter
for nen to deny that the men who wore
the gray are as loyal and as true
Americans as those who wore the blue.
1t is clear not only that Bryan is to be
renominated in 1900, but also quite as
clear that the Chicago platform will be
reaffirmed and readopted without cross
ing 't' or dotting an o. The
speech of Amos Cummings at the
banquet. in which he voiced Tammany
sentiment. was as thoroughly permeated
with the Chicago platform as was the
splendid speech of De Almond, of
Missouri. BY the way, keep your eye
on De Almond. He is another Charles
F. Crisp. with more conciseness and
clearness if less real leadership.
The presence Of Richard Croker at
the jefferson dinner was an event of
great significance. 1t means that the
New York Democracy will be in line in
1900. More significant still was the
utterance of Mr.. Croker. who. when
called on for speech. affirmed his
belief in the principles of jefferson and
said: II endorse all that has been said
here tonight. - Mind yon. he was the
last speaker. and spoke after De Almond
had said that the Chicago platform
would be reaffirmed without crossing A
80 OF dotting an II. " and Amos
Cummings. Senator White and others
had followed Bryan in preaching the
doctrines contained in the Chicago plat
form. II MIR. Croker endorses all that.
as be said. he is not far from the
kingdom.