The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-21

Chattanooga. Tenn. March 2o-Hon. "
J. Bryan to-day gave out the following
correspondence, having been notified that
IL had not been made public By Mr.. Bel
mont Mr.. Bryan stated that be had
nothing 20 say about the matter, but that
the correspondence spoke for itself.
Champaign. H.. March 10.
Hon. Perry Belmont, President Demo
cratic Club, New York:
"Deer Sir: / received few days ago
the following telegram:
'.New WORK March 3
Hon. W j. Bryan. Lincoln. Nebr.
In arranging the tuasts and responses az the ban
quet OF the Democratic Club OF Iefers0ns Birthday
April l.. the committee are most DESTROYS. 70 YOUR
engagements will permit your attendance. 20 have
you select such subject you prefer To discuss In
your oVn way within the limit so far all speeches
OF twenty minutes. Please wire reply.
PERRY BELMONT. President.
RICHARD CROKER Chairman"
Upon my return to Nebraska sent YOU
the following inquiry:
Lincoln, Ne5r. March 70.
Hon. Perry Belmont Democrat, Club New YORK:
Invitation received. Remembering that VOC open
ly repudiated tie Democrats platform in the last
campaign. desire TO know. before answering inyi-
tation, whether you have since the election, publicly
dlihbuuCtu AulI tuuAtiN.uu 10 -At LllultIIg1 81
forth in that platform.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN"
81 have just received your reply.
The invitation extended 10 YOU is on behalf Of
the Democratic Club. individual opinions have not
been considered in issuing th invitations to cele-
brate the birthday o. Thomas jefferson.
BERRY BELMONT"
Had Previous Engagement.
II might plead a previous engagement
as a reason for declining. but that would
be equivalent to saying that [ would
come but for the engagement. but frank
ness compels me 90 add another reason.
l appreciate the compliment which the
Democratic Club pays me in extending an
invitation. but | DO not understand now
individual opinions can be ignored at "a
political gathering. You are the PTesl-
dent Of the club and represent the club
before the public Your position upon
public questions was we'll known in 1896.
and your telegram indicates that your
position has not been changed. Ny posi-
ton upon public questions Is also well
known. The antagOnlsm between our
opinions is so great that We cannot with
prOpritty join in a political banquet given
in honor of Democracy's patron saint.
Jefferson stood for certain well defined
principles. IT your views are "A correct
reflection of his ideas. | fear that my
voice would sound a dlscOrdant note at
your banquet. IT, on the other hand. the
Chicago platform applies tas / believe II
does) Jeffersonian principles TO present
conditions. then your conspicuous pres
ence at the Jeffersonian banquet would
honor the memory Of the worlds greatest
Democrat.
Will Not Afiiliaie with Gold Bugs.
do not misunderstood me You may
be right and | may be- wrong. but I take
IL Tor granted that we are equally cOnsci-
entious. and / trust that | may not show
myself less courageous than you. You
proclaimed to your fellow-citizens in 1895
that my election upon a Democrats plat
form would endanger the nations welfare:
you will pardon me il / suggest that a
banquet presided over by you will injure
rather than aid the Democratic Party
81 believe In harmonzng personal diff
ferences, but differences in principle can
not be harmonized, and. In my Judgment,
no party advantage Is TO be derived from
political communion between Jeffersonian
Democrats VINO stand upon the Chicago
platform and the Republican allies who
masquerade as Democrats between cam
paigns in order To give more potency I1
Their betrayal of Democratic principles on
election day. Yours truly,
Nv. J. BRYAN"
!dr Bryan said tonight that ne would
attend the dollar banquet in New York
II IL is postponed until April Il, provided
the management Of that entertainment
make il distinctly a Chicago platform
banquet IN honor OF Jefferson; otherwise
not Hc was Informed on authority that
the management would postpone the ban
quet II he would attend but 10 answer
has yet been made al 20 whether M" ar
fair would be- made a distinctive Chicago
platform banquet