The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24
BRYAN AND BELMONT
Colonel W. j. Bryan Gives 10 tne re-
Their correspondence as 10 tn"rorn-
er,s presence at the Jefferson

.r,s presence at the Jefferson
Chattanooga, Tenn, March 2O.-Hon.
w. ], Bryan today gave out the ioi-
lowing correspondence to the Assoclat-
cd Press. having been notified that II
had not been made public by Mr.. BEL
mont. Mr.. Bryan stated that ne hao
nothing to say about the matter Out
that the correspondence spoke Tor IT.
self:
mrai Ills, March Is, 1899
Hon. Perry Belmont, President Dehio
cratic Club, New York: 400
Dear Sir: I received a few days aso
the following telegram: o 1900
New York, March y, 1919:
.Hon. William J. Bryan Lancodn' re.
an arranging the toasts Ia
a.os or tbe banquet of the demo-
epo+ic cInb of Jefferson's
Ali 18Th the committee are most nc
eiror1s If your engagements WIN p
o. -o,,r to have you select
S,Ich subject as you prefer "
in vor1r own way WITHIN the I'M. y
Ill sneeches of twenty minutes. Please
II PERRY BELMONT,
president.
RICHARD CROKER,
chairman"
1rnon nv return to Nebraska, L sent
the following enquiry: -
Lincoln, Neb., March 10.
Zion. Perry Belmont, Democratic
Club, New York:
"Invitation received. Remembering
that YOU openly repudiated the demo-
cratic platform in the last
T desire to know before answering III
vitation. whether you nave since lhe
election, publicly your CON
version to the principles set fortn III
hat platform.
civilian JENNINGS BRYAN"
I have just received your reply:
..The invitation extended to you IS on
behalf of the democratic club. lndl-
vidual opinions nave NOT neen ~ nela-
cred in issuing the invitations 10 cele-
hrate the birthday of Thomas JeHer-
on. PENN 80 oaaaoe-
might plead a previous ehsaSe.
ment as a reason for declining, but
that would be equivalent to saying thdt
I would come but for the Engagement
hut XXI compels me to add an
other reason. / appreciate the coihpll-
ment which the democratic clup pays
me in extending an invitation, but L 90
not understand how individual opln-
ions can be ignored at a political gam
arine You are the president of the cluD
and represent the club before the pup
, lie. Your position upon pupllc ques-
tions was we'll known in 1896 ana your
telegram indicates that your poonnon
has not changed. My position upon
n,Iblic questions is also we'll known.
The antagonism between our opinions
is so great that we cannot with proprl-
CIV ioin in a political banquet glven
in honor of democracy's patron SAINT;
Jefferson stood for certain we'll de-
fined principles. If your views are d
90 hio ideas IeaT
that my voice would Sounu d ul9|oiu
ant note at your
II. on the other hand, the chicago
platform applies Gas l believe 1t does)
Jeffersonian principles to present con-
ditions, then your conspicuous presehoe
at the Jeffersonian banquet Woulo nol
honor the memory of the worlds great
est democrat.
DO not misunderstood me. You may
he right and / may be wrong, but 1
take it for granted that we are equallS
conscientious and l trust that 1 may
not show myself less courageous tna1
YOU. You proclaimed to your felloW Gil
liens in 1896 that my election upon q
democratic platform would endanger
the nations welfare. You will pardon
If 7 suggest tina a banquet, presldeo
over by YOU, will injure rather imam
aid the democratic party. L oelleVe IN
h~armonizing personal differences, put
differences in principle cannot De mar
monized, and in my judgment no par
ty advantage is to be derived from po-
1ittcaI communio between Jeffersonian
democrats who stand upon the Chicago
platform and the republican allies VINO
masquerade as democrats betWee
campaigns in order to give more poten-
CIV TO their betrayal of democratic prln-
ciples on election day. Your truly,
WILLIAM J.