The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-23
MISSION OF DEMOCRACY
Washington's Birthday Cele-
brated by Virginians.
BRYAN GUEST OF HONOR
American Civilization Will Imprint Its
Flag on the Hearts OF All Who
Love Freedom Americas
Grander Destiny


of Columbia celebrated Washington's
birthday by a largely attended banquet
at the National Rifles armory. Hon.
William j. Bryan was the guest of
honor, and among those present We're
Senators Daniel. Martin and Stewart.
In the center of the stage. to the rear
of the hall. was an immense floral de-
sign presented to Mr., Bryan by his ad-
mirers. Patriotic speeches We're made
and songs sung, while the band played
popular airs. Mr. Bryan was given an
enthusiastic reception and every refer
ence to him by speakers was the signal
for treme endous applause.
Senator Daniel was the first speaker,
responding to the toast George Wash
ington; We Celebrate His Birthday An
niverSary for His Worth as a Warrior,
Statesman and Patriot"
'Democracy's Mission was respond
| ed to by Representative Bailey OF
| Texas. In the course Of his speech Mr..
Bailey referred to the organization of
| the democratic party and referred to
| the faithful manner in which it had
| performed it's mission. The men whose
| virtues we celebrate tonight did not
| teach their children to exchange prin-
| ciples for success, he said. They taught
| us that in this world a principle is
| worth infinitely more than triumph,
| and if the principles are followed out
! our triumph will follow cur fidelity, to
| them.
Il crave success said Mr.. Bailey,
''as sacredly as any man, but l know
there are things worse than defeat.
We have survived that before and we
can survive that again, but we could
| not outlVe a coWardly surrender of our
principles. We welcome the co-opera-
ton of all men who will join us in res
cuing our beloved country from the
perilous situation into which it has
been led, but will brook no deception of
any man. We will tell them now that
we will go into the next canvass with
no apologies on the last one we made.
AS certain as the years go by and the
great national convention. assemblies
we will rig up the platform made in
1895 and in his (pointing to Mr.. Bryan
| unsulled name will give the banner as
| stainless as his life (great applause)
| and the great commander will give the
| orders for forward march and it will
be march to victory. Let us here
| and now renew our pledge and keep
our faith, and when we have fought the
battle in its behalf and won the vic
| tory we shall receive as our reward the
| confidence of grateful people: and
we will reward that confidence by re-
| vitaliZing those great and essential
|
is the mission of our party to perpetu-
ate and defend"
Hon. Elliott Danforth of New York
| responded to the toast The State of
New York. He declared that the dem
| ocrats of the Empire state We're anx-
ious to give their votes to the next
| democratic nominee for president, and
in that contest the standard bearer Of
| the party was present.
/ Hon. d. A. De Almond of Missouri
responded to the toast The Demo-
cratic Party: 1t Cannot Die While the
Republic Lives" When he had fin
ished the president introduced Hon.
| William j. Bryan, who responded to
the toast 'America's Mission
Mission of America.
when the advocates of imperialism
| find it impossible to reconcile a colon
! ial policy with the principles of our
| government or with the canons of NOR
| ality; when they are unable to defend
| it upon the ground of religious duty or
pecuniary profit they fall back in help
| less despair upon the assertion that it is
destiny. Suppose it does violate the
constitution they say: suppose it does
| break all the commandments: suppose it
does entail upon the nation an incalcu-
liable expenditure of blood and money,
it is destiny and We must submit.
The people have not voted for inn
| perialism: no national convention has
declared for it; no congress has passed
| upon it. To whom, then, has The future
| been revealed? Whence this voice of
authority? We can all prophesy. but
our propheshs are merely guesses, col
| Ored by our hopes and our surround
ings. Mans opinion of what is to be is
half wish and half environment. Ava
rice paints destiny with a dollar mark
before it, militarism equips it with ii
:. sword.
He is the best prophet who. recog-
nizing the omnipotence of truth, comp
rehends most clearly the great forces
which are working out the progress,
not of one party. not of one nation, but
| of the human race
The Hue of Destiny.
History is replete with predictions
! which once wore the hue of destiny
but which failed of fulfillment because
| those who uttered them saw too small
an arc of the circle of events. When
| Pharoah pursued the fleeing Israeiites
| to the edge of the Red sea he was con-
tident thai their bondage would be re-
| neWed and that they would again make
| bricks without straw, but destiny was
not revealed until Moses and his fol-
| lowers reached the further shore dry
| shod and the waves rolled over the
| horses and chariOts of the Egyptians
| When BelShaZzar, on the last night OF
! his reign, led his thousand lords into
! the Babylonian banquet hall and sat
! down to a table glttering with vessels
| of silver and gold he felt sure of mis-
kingdom for many years to come, but
destiny Was not revealed until the hand
wrCte upon the wall those aWe-inspiring
words, Meme meme. tekel upharsin.
When Adertahman swept northward
with his Conquering hosts his imagina-
| ton saw the crescent triumphant
! throughout the world, but destiny Was
! not revealed until Charles Martel rails
! ed the cross above the battle field of
Tours and saved Europe from the sword
! of Mohammedanism When Napoleon
emerged victorious from Marengo, from
| ITlm and from AuSterlitZ he ,thought
| hR child OF IastinN. hllr