The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-21
BELMONT REPLIES TO BRYAN.
HE CLAIMS BRYtS's REMARKS iitH
NoT JUSTIFIED.
s;II Adbcres To His Belief that the
Chicago PIR torn wss Not Whit
He wanted the Party Ia DO,

New York. March 20-Perry Beirnon,
oday gave ont the following letter in
reply to one received during the day from
william j. Bryan
Dsar Sir: have just received your
letter OF The 10TH inst IN videh sou de-
scribe those who declared In 1876 thai
your election to the presidency on the
Chicago platform would endanEer the
EatioH's welfare" As the republican a.
lies who masquerade as democrats between
Campaigns in order to giyo more potency
70 their betrayal OF democratic principle
on election day"
Air Belmont then goes on 10 say hist
before answering the warranted letter.
he had instituted suit against a New
York newspaper on account Of an al
legged libel In which he was characterized
40 a higher priced man than tie aoater
who sells his vote for So on election day"
ana continues
Your purpose "a be equally deiamatory
~ obvious. fCgr shiii In he use OF The
words forbids The plea that In your iet-
ter you misuscd them through ignorance
The cesign u plain and were IL not that
epcc % my opinions upon public questions
as opposed 10 your own, 20 Tho democratic
club OF which / am president and 10 It's
proposed celebration OF Jeferson's lGth-
DAY. ] should have left your Offensive
statements unanswered
The Democratic club Of New York has
membership OF nearly 5000 democrats,
VINO all hold To the main principles OF
democracy, while ;hoiT opinions may vary
in regard to the Political questions as are
not fundamental. but merely local or tran
STORY like many OF the vain concelts you
have yourself espoused. But none OF these
5000 members is a republican. As for my
self. never voted for a republican candi-
GATE for either great or small office.
The board Of governors and the presi-
dent OF so large Il democratic organiza-
tion endeavored to represent officially the
wishes OF the majority, which was that
the coming anniversary OF the birthday OF
Jefferson should be celebrated this year
by the organization as In previous years
To recall those principles and traditions
with which his name Is SO indelihly asso-
ciated tends to bring about q revival oil
democratic control based on public ques-
tions. the conditions Of which are not tran
STORY. To the explanation made to you
that indlviduai opinions have not beer
considered YOU replied that you do not un,
derstand how individual opinions can b.
ignored in political gathering.
Then you proceeded to contrast YOU
opinions with mine, TO emphasize their an
tagonism and finally declared that you an,
can not with proprlety Join Ia polilica
banquet given In honor of democracy
patron saint
Your contention Is that the Chcag
platform applies Jeffersonian principles I
present conditions and that because
criticised that platform IN It's appllcatn
20 conditions existing three years ago an
then resisted your candidacy for the presi
dency, therefore my presence az the pro
posed dinner would not honor the world
greatest democrat
1.-THE course OF events will probabl
prove your understanding OF the relation
OF individual oplnlons to democratic gath
erings and II Is not therefore required
me now to divulge in long discourse o
the relations In your politics of temporar
to permanent questions.
ION returning from the Chicago cor
yenslep / explained my course In publ
address TO my constituents and justine
rpy protest on the ground that Legislation
and executive action in enforcing tn
Chicago platform would be an assault O
wages and savings bringing on silv,
monometaliism and impairing the obligf
tons OK contracts. I therefore contende
whenever ] had opportunity THAI insis
ence by the United States on the ,vsnIu
ratio OF ~ TO would be the grave OF n