The times., 1899-03-16
Mr.. Bryan VIII Not 80.


Mr.. Bryan VIII Not so
Mr.. Bryan has done nothing since the
campaign of three years ago that so much
entities him to the ccmmeudation of fair
minded men as the writing of his message
to Mr.. Perry Belmont. This young gen.
ueman is the president of a concern that
calls itself The Democratic Club" cf
New York. AS such, he invited Mr. Bryan.
among other leading Democrats, to attend
banquet in celebration Of the birthday
of Thomas jefferson. 1t was announced
that the dinner would cost about sixteen
thousand dollars. An expensive layout
like this is not inappropriate for the
launching of the Presidential boom of
Speaker Reed by Representative Belden
Mr.. Reed has been extremely considerate
of the interests of one of the wealthy COR
porations in obstructing the progress of
patriotic canal measures and Mr. Belden
Is one of the richest men in central New
York. The development of gigantic trusts
under Republican rule makes it reasonable
enough for the party banquets to incline
TO extravaganza. But the democracy of
club that proposes to celebrate the birth
day of the original advocate of democratic
simplicity with ten -dollar-a-plate spread
is open to suspicion. For the proudest
boast of the Democracy has been that it
is the party of the people, of economy in
public expenditure of opposition TO luxu-
ries that can be paid for only at the cost
OF creating trusts to oppress the common
man 1t is out of harmony with extrava-
gance of any kind.
And there is another and stronger
reason, perhaps, why we should doubt the
right OF Mr.. Belmont's Iuxury-loving club
to bear its charter title of Democratic.
Its president was delegate 10 the Chicago
Convention which nominated Mr.. Bryan
and enunciated tta principles of the Demo-
cratic party. He returned to his home
from the convention only TO reject and de-
nounce its platform and to oppose its can
didates. During the campaign, when Mr.
Bryan and his fellow Democrats were de-
voting all their energies TO the success OF
the party and 10 exclude from power the
party of an oppressive gold system, the
party of a barbarous protective system, the
party which drew its enormous campaign
benehciaries of trade exclusion 10 corrupt
Cur eiections-while they were laboring in
the interests of the masses of the people.
the present president of the Democratic
Club of New York was striving to elect
Mr.. Mckinley. Now, when Mr.. Bryan re-
ceives from him an invitation to a Bel
shazzar-like feast in the name of Democ-
racy, and to celebrate the memory of a
father of Democracy, it is reasonable that
he should ask a question. Indeed, it is
necessary.
or course, it was proper to infer that
Mr.. Belmont had been converted and that
as the president of the Democratic Club of
New York city. he had ceased to entertain
the heresies of three years ago 1t would be
Just TO censure a man who should accept
that office and should invite tried and true
Democrats TO a significant feast, while
still cherishing opinions that are not
Democratic-with hands still red with the
political blood of the slaughtered candi-
date of the party. Yet, because there has
been no public recantation; because such a
recantation is essential in the case of a
man who was active in opposing the party
in its latest struggle, Mr. Bryan had every
right to know the fact before consenting to
consort with him or become the guest of
the society OF which he is the head There
fore he sent this proper message to Mr..
Belmont:
Hon. Perry Belmont. New York CITY:
Invitation received. Remembering that you
openly repudiated the Democratic platform in
the last campaign, 1 desire 10 know before an
he yh4f lpr ltqt4.
the election publicly announced your conversion
10 tine principles set forth in that platform.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN.
The reply is cvasive and non -committal,
which is equivalent TO a confession of false
pretences. Mr.. Belmont, who is ambitious
to become Governor of New York, and is
not disposed to sacrifice any chances on
the altar of political honesty, answered.
Of the Democratic Club. Individual opinions
have not been considered in iss1ing invitations 10
celebrate the birthday OF Thomas jefferson.
The occasion is political and partisan.
None but man protesting to be a Demo-
crat Is invited. Since Democracy is the
| test, II is right that the quality of the
cion that club which feasts at ten dollars
a piatS IS mol truly democratic Is con-
frmed by the refusal Of its president to
ayow Democratic principles. 1t is not such
dinner as Jefferson would approve No
hungry man will be invited. Mr.. Bryan
| is TO be commended for refusing to go
Belshazzar feasts have not been regarded
with much favor since Mr.. Blaine attended
one that cost him the few votes needed
| for his success and this one is not likely
to restore their popularity. All loyal
| Democrats who have been hidden to Mr..
Belmonts spread owe it to their party
and 10 their own self-respect TO decline.
The only condition under which they could
find justification would be the inscription
on the walls OF the banquet hall: Free
Silver Free Trade. Expansion. Down
With the Trusts"
The Kaiser and the Rcichstag.
II is easier now than formerly to under
stand that our friend. the Kaiser. may be
| indeed and heartily the friend of the Unit ed