Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-19
THE DOLLAR DINNER.
Platform Democrats Have a Big Rally Ir
New York.

dinner OF the Chicago platform Demo-
Gratis, was held at the Grand Central
Palace in New York last Saturday
night, and was attended by five thou
sand people, including not less than
three thousand men and women who
sat down to the tables. The dinner is
said to have been one of the biggest af-
fairs ever held in New York.
Among those who sat at the guests
table were James R. Brown, presiding
on his right, w. J. Bryan on his left,
Charles A. Towne, of Minnesota; O..
H. P. Belmont, William S. McNary,
secretary of the Democratic State COM
mittee, of Minnesota Mayor j. L..
Rhimooks, of Covington, KY; Bolton
Hall, George Frederick Williams, Ex-
Congressman w. E. Ryan, of Roches-
ter; A. S. Townson, of Virginia; Col.
onel Thomas Smith, of Virginia, and
John Clark Ridpath.
There were a number of speeches,
among others, one by o. H. 2. Bel
mont; but Mr.. Bryan was the favor
ite. People kept calling for him until
they realized that the programme was
to be strictly adhered to, and then they
were more patient.
In introducing Mr.. Bryan, Chairman
Brown said that Abraham Lincoln had
come out of the west to save the na-
ton and another man had come from
the west to save the nation. A Aperfect
tempest of applause from the men and
women broke out. The applause sub
sided but started afresh. The band
struck up, but scarcely could be heard
as it played "The Stars and Stripes
Forever" Hats were thrown up into
the air; women waved their cloaks
and handkerchiefs. There was a
maelstrom of discord. Bryan raised
his hand deprecatingly, but the more
he did this the more the crowd cheer
ed. 1t was a wild, frantic demonstra,
ton. 1t lasted for at least five min
utes. Mr.. Bryan began in a calm,
clear voice. He was frequently inter-
rupted by applause. :,
Mr.. Bryan's speech was, as usual,
bright and forcible. He commenced
his speech by expressing his pleasure
at having been permitted to attend the
largest banquet ever given in the
United States. He referred to the
"Ten Dollar" dinner that had been
given few nights before, and conced-
ed that a Democrat had the right to
pay whatever he pleased for his din
ner, provided he had the money, and in
few remarks that were in exceeding
good taste, about the right of people TO
quit party when they differ from its
principles, he prefaced strong defense
of the Chicago platform with the fol-
lowing:
eve have not one word of hostility
to utter toward those Democrats who
left the Democratic party in 1896. Far
be it from us to criticise any man
whose judgment or conscience leads
him out of the Democratic party.
When the Republicans met at St. Louis
some of the Republicans left the Re-
publican party rather than adapt
themselves to the platform written out
at St. Louis. They organized a dis
tinct party and they took name sufti-
ciently different from the Republican
name so that no one would mistake
the one for the other. They made a
bold and earnest fight, and the Repub.
licans who left the party in 1896 have
neither gone back, nor standing out
side, have they attempted to write the
platform of the party which they left.
There were Democrats who left US in
1896. They organized distinct par
ty. They nominated ticket and per-
fected their national organization.
But instead of calling themselves gold
Democrats, so that they could not be
mistaken for the regular Democrats,
they called themselves National Dem
Gratis, although they did not expect to
carry precinct in the United States.
A party is an association of the people
for the purpose of giving force and
effect to political opinions held in com
mon. They talk to US about harmony.
The only kind of harmony that is pos
sible is harmony between those who
think and act to give force to their
common opinions.
"There can be no harmony between
those whose opinions are as antago-
nistic as the opinions set forth in the
Chicago platform and in the Indiana
polls platform.
Gall that we ask is that those who
come into the Democratic party shall
be part of the Democratic party. We
simply insist that a man cannot be a
political bigamist. He cannot be we'd
ded to the name of our party, and to the
principles of another party. We simply
ask that he shall get formal divorce,
either from our or from their princ-
Piles. The Democratic party has u
platform. 1t does not dismay those
who stand upon it to hear it denounced
this year by those who denounced it
two years ago. We got accustomed
to it in 1896. The Democratic plat
form is satisfactory to those who sup
ported it in 1896. The platform was
written by the representatives of the
Democratic party in the most Demo-
cratic convention that has been held
in quarter of century.
Mr.. Bryan condemned the bill pend
ing in congress providing for the re-
tirement of greenbacks by an issue of
bonds drawing 81 per cent. He said
if it became law and % per cent.
bonds are at par, then a national bank
with capital of 100000 can invest