The Van Buren press., 1899-10-14
A PLEA FOR HARMONY.
The Elder August Belmont. Speaking
Through his Son, Pleads for
Democratic Harmony.

August Belmont, Chairman of the
National Democratic Committee, thirty
years ago. In calling the National
Convention to order that nominated
Hon. Horatior Seymour for President
he made. like his son at Dallas, an able
earnest plea for United and harmonious
Democracy.
Mr.. Belmont in his Dallas speech
said:
4 have not come so much to speak
to You as to listen. have come in re-
sponse to the cordial invitation received
and in appreciation of the honor con-
ferred upon me by that invitation and
TO witness this great rally of Democrats,
preparing to march to victory, have
come also with the pleasant task OF
bringing you the greetings of the
Democracy of the Empire state and to
tell you that we are waiting to march
as a unit, to victory with you in 1900.
All factions are coming together. All
wounds are healing and all scars are
disappearing.
..Gentlemen. the questions that the
people of this great republic have come
face to face with. have caused every
man who ever had the slightest Demo.
cratic sentiment in his make up to
register his determination to elect a
Democratic president and to restore the
Democratic party to power. Time is
pressing and | must hurry on. We
gather in the name Of Democracy on the
eve of tremendous political campaign, ,
with the convention still months away
our standard bearer is practically settled
upon by the people. The nomination
will be a mere formality The name of
Bryan is heard on every lip. On the
subject of ticket. therefore, | need not
pause.
As to issues / will say but little.
Not that feel lightly about them. Like
you. feel that the very tenure of
american IllSllbutlVlls 10 az ob6hts oui
war in 1900 will be as much of war
for liberty and independence as was that
of onr forefathers in 1776. No; | do
not slight the issues in my talk today
because they are Insignificant or not
constant in my mind. They were new
er of more moment. Imperialism,
monopoly, militarism. finance, income
tax, all clamor for consideration. You
have already heard and will again hear
of them all. While | may fail to more
than touch upon them. their sure elab-
Grafton is in safer, better, wiser hands
than mtne.
There is one topic, however, on
which | may briefly expand. 1t is
Democratic harmony and party union.
1t must be invoked. There must come
an unbroken party front to build up vic
tory and win triumph from the battle
of 1900. The man who raises his voice
to disturb it will be guilty of great
crime. And now, I'M the name of
harmony, let me speak one word con-
cerning the Democracy of New York ;
the Democracy from which | come to
you and Of which strain no truth when
] say fairly represent. The New York
Democracy will be solidly with you in
the coming battle 1t will stand by and
stay with you to the glorious last. |
might say the same of the whole region
east of the Alleghenies Papers and
politicians, mugwumps. Republicans
and traitors wearing the mask of
Democracy. all moved by the power of
money and greed, will ever and anon
tell you of Democratic disaffection in
the East. Such are the lies and wiles
of the enemy. They are paid for by
Republican money. Their inspiration
is Hanna. Their purpose is the dis
organization of Democracy and to set
the South and West against the East.
! am here today to refute these stories
! have come 2 500 miles to brand these
Hanna suggested falsehoods. The New
York Democracy, the whole Eastern
Democracy, has never in its history
come closer to the general party heart
than it has today. Name Bryan make
your platform what you will, and in the
East not one in hundred of all who
ever wore the party badge will be
missing from Democracy muster in
November, 1900 More than that there
will be with them thousands upon
thousands of others who, being Ameri
cans and honest men. long before they
are Republicans, will leave that party
of imperialism. foul with plunder, rotter
with misrule, and side by side with the
followers of jefferson. strike one blow
for Bryan and the nation 5 safety.
Look at what we have done in New
York. In 1895 we lost the state by
246, 900 plurality. The New Yorl
Democracy, like the party ship in many
other states, went down, scuttled by
Clevelandism 1t is not my purpose t
extensively speak of that lone fisherman
who sits at Princeton. Yet | tell yoJ
in candor he was the blight. Ii was HI
who prepared Democracy for defeat il
1895, and who buried it in New Yorl
under a landslide of which history nevel
knew the PARALLEL.
but the eclipse Of Cleveland did no
stay. 1t has all bat passed. Last fal
l.. a.i.l. n..l r,1nnnv and hu rin,nrnn