The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-24
Uns AeralA anA Mews
BRYAN AND BELMOSr,
A Sharp Exchange OF Letters Lik. ly to III.
tcustfy the Democratic Party Split.

might plead Il previous engage
ment Ms reason for declining, but
that would be equivalent to saying
that would come save for the en-
gagement, but franknes compcls me
to add another reason. L appreciate
the compliment which the demo
cratic club pays me in extending an
invitation, but l do not understand
how individual opinions can lee ig.
nored at political gathering. You
are the president of the club
and represent the club before the
public. Your position upon pub
lie questions was we'll known in 1896
and your teleram indicates that your
position has not been changed My
position upon public questions is
also we'll known. The nntago
n'sm between our opinions is
SO great that we cannot with pro.
prlety JOIN in a political banquet in
honor Of drmocracy's patron saint.
Jefferson stool for certain we'll de-
fined principles. If your views are
Il correct reflection Of his ideas | fear
that my voice woGld sound dis
cordant note at your banquet
If, on the other hand, the Chicago
platform applies as bcliovo it dors)
Jefiersonan principlcsto present con
d'uops, then your conspicuous pres
ence ut the Jcircrsonian banunc,
would not honor the memory of the
worlds greatest democrat,
do not tmlsnndcrstanG me. You NAV
be right and | may be wrong, but |
take 1T for granted that wc arc
equally conscientious and trust
that | may not show myself less
courageous than you. You pro-
claimed to your fellow titizrLs in
lo00 that my election upon dem
ocratic platform would cndungcr the
nations welfare; you will pardon ,uc
II suggest that Il banquet, presided
over by you, will injurc rather than
aid tho democratic party. | believe
IN harmonlzing personal difference
but differences i'll princi pie cannot br
harmonized, and, in my judgement,
party advantage is not to be derived
from political communion between
: Jetfersonlan democrats who stand
upon tho Chicago platform and the
republican allies who masquerade a,
democrats between campaigns in or
der to give more potency to thoir be-
tr"yal of democratic principles on
election day.
Yours truly,
VIM. j. Bryan.
Now York, March 2O.-Pcrry Bel
mont tonight gave ont the following
letter in reply to ono received during
the day from Col. VIM. j. Bryan:
Dear Sir-I have lust receive,
your letter of the 10Th instant, il
which you describe those who de
clared in 1896 that your election I,
tho presidency on tho Chicago plat
form would endangcr tho nations
welfare" rs "tho republican allies
who masquerade as democrats be-
tween campaigns IN order to civ,
more potency TO their betrayal o
democratic principles on election
days"
MIR. Belmont then goes on to sa,
that before answering "ho unwar
ranted letter. he had instituted ,
suit against New York newspapc,
on account Of an alleged libcl il
which he was characterized as g,
higher priced man than the noate,
who sells his votes COR - on electlol
day.
"lonr purpose to 10 equally dc
famatory is obvious. Your skill il
tho use Of words forbds tho pie,
that in your letter you misuscG then
through Ignorance. Tho design i
plain, and were it not that You hav
lnterwoven in your abuse rofcrcnc
to my opinions upon public question
as opposed to your own, to tn,
Democratic club of which I am Prcsi
dent, and to its proposed celobratio,
of Jefferson's birthday, l should hav
left your offensive statements un