The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-21
BRYAN'S REPLY TO BELMONT.
REPUBLICAN ALLIES WHO MAS
QUERADE AS DEMOCRATS.

His Reference 10 the President of
the Democratic Club of New York,
10 which MIR. Belmont Makes a
shnrD RepIy-IndividuaI Opinions
Way BE HarmOnizsd, He Says, hut
Not So with Differences in Princi-
pie.
chattanooga, Tenn, March 20.-Hon.
William ]. Bryan to-day gave out the fol-
lowing correspondence to the Associated
press. having been notified that it had not
poen made public by Mr.. Belmont. Mr..
Rrvan stated that he had nothing to say
about the matter, but that the corre-
epondence spoke for itself:
Champagne, ILL.,. March 16.-Hon. Perry
Belmont President of the Democratic
club, New York:
Dear Sir: received a few days ago
the following telegram:
New York, March 9.-Hon. W. J..
BRYAN. Lincoln, Neb. In arranging the
toasts and reponses at the banquet of the
Democratic Club on Jefferson's birthday
Anril 19. the committee are most desirous,
if YOUR engagements will permit your at
tendance to have you select such subject
as YOU prefer to discuss in your own
wav within the limit so far all speeches of
twenty minutes Please wire reply.
(signed) Perry Belmont, President
Richard Croker, Chairman"
"Cuon my return to Nebraska sent the
following inquiry;
Lincoln, Neb.. March 1S-Hon. Perry
Belmont, Democratic Club: In
vftaton received. Remembering
that you openly repudiated the
Democratic platform in the last
campaign, 1 desire to know before an
swering invitation whether you have since
the election, publicly announced your con-
version to the principles set forth in that
platform (Signed.) William Jennings Bry-
an
Il have just received your reply: The
invitation extended to you is on behalf of
the Democratic Club. Individual opinions
have not been considered in isuing the in
vitauon to celebrate the birthday of Thom-
as jefferson.
(Signed) Perry Belmont
His Reasons for Declining.
Il might plead previous engagement
for reason of declining. but that would be
equivalent to saying that / would come
buI for the engagement, but frankness
corpels me 10 add another reason. l appre-
clate the compliment which the Democratic
Club pays me in extending an invitation,
but | do not understand how individual
opinions can be ignored at political gath
ering. You are the president of the club
and represent the club before the public.
Your position upon public questions was
well known in 1896, and your telegram indl-
Gates that your position has not been
changed. My position upon public questions
is also well known. The antagonism be-
tween our opinions is so great that we
cannot with propriety, Join in a political
banquet given in honor of Democracy S
patron saint
Jefferson stood for certain well-defined
principles. If your views are correct
reflection of his ideas, 1 fear that my
voice would sound a diScordant note at
your banquet
IF on the other hand the Chicago plat
form apples (as l believe il does) Jeffer-
sonian principles to present conditions,
lnen your conspicuous presence al the JEFF
lersonian banquet would not honor the
memory of the worlds greatest Democrat.
Cannot BE HarmOnized.
10 not misunderstand me. You may be
right, and l may be wrong; but / take il
lof granted that we are equally conscien-
Ious and l trust that I may not show
myself less courageous than you. You
proclaimed to your fellow citizens in 1886
tnat my election upon Democratic plat
form would endanger the nations welfare.
You Will pardon me if l suggest that a
banquet. presided over by you, will in
yuTe rather than aid the Democratic party.
peleve in harmonizng personal differ
ehees but differences in principle cannot
oe harmonized, and in my Judgment nc
party advantage is to be derived from po-
Iuca communion between Jeffersonian
p'Inocrats who stand upon the Chicago
Platform and the Republican allies wno
Masquerade as Democrats between cam,
id-sns in order to give more potency 70
uelr betrayal of Democratic principles on
'iecuon day. Yours truly,
William ]. Bryan"