The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-31
CHICAGO PLATFORM LIVES.
VIII Furnish the BASIS for Fight OF
1000, Says Bryan.


Topeka, Kan. March 30.-A Democratic
conference and banquet, under the aus
pices of the Democratic State Convention.
was held in this city this evening
Prominent speakers, including Col. w.
]. Bryan of Nebraska, Champ Clark of
Missouri, Allen o. Myers Of Ohio, and
Sydney Clark of Oklahoma, were present,
More than "A thousand persons were in
vited.
The meeting was in the nature Of
conference of Democratic leaders, the
policy of the party In the campaign of 1900
being touched upon.
Mr.. Bryan was given the most promi-
nent place, his subject being "Democ-
racy.'
Mr.. Bryan stood out squarely for the
Chicago platform and said that there had
been no retreat from the positions taken
in 1896.
I'VE are not only holding our own" he
declared, but we are gaining back those
Democrats who left us without fully I'M
Outstanding the nature of the struggle.
Sometimes we hear pleas for harmony
from those who opposed the party in 1896,
continued Mr. Bryan, but harmony, In
stead of being a thing hoped for Is at
least a thing realized; not a pretended har-
mony between these entertaining antagon-
istic principles but an actual harmony
between those who are united In a COM
mon purpose against a common enemy.
The Democratic party was never more
harmonious and Its harmony can only be
disturbed by admitting within the fold
those who are at variance with its princi-
pies and aspirations.
The Democratic platform of 1900 will
be written by those who stood upon the
platform of 1896. not by those who tried TO
overthrow the Democratic party in that
campaign"
Mr.. Bryan declared that events have
been vlndlcating the policies proposed by
the Democratic party in 1895.
He then passed on to the subject of
trusts. and characterized them as the pro-
ducts of Republican methods.
Mr. Bryan closed with denunclation
of mllitarlsm and what he termed the ten
dency of the present administration to-
ward Imperialism.
Champ Clark of Bowling Green, Mo,
had for his subject prosperity, Past,
Present and Future" He said In part:
This is Democratic principle as old as
the Democratic party itself-a Democratic
doctrine on which Democrats stand and
must carry the country. Economy In pub
lie expenditures lies at the root of all en-
during prosperity. There may be now
what the doctors would denominate spo>
radio cases of prosperity in this country.
I have no doubt that the distinguished
statesmen who recently had their rendcz.
vous in Jekyl Island, otherwise known as
the creation ground OF muhi-mil-
lionaires, are prosperous; but that any
measure of general prosperity has come
20 the great body of the people Is a propo-
sition that cannot be maintained
Printing flaming advertisements In met
ropolitan papers, even in the guise of edi-
torials announcing that prosperity has ar
rived, fails TO prove the truth of the state
ment to the men who though toiling in
dustriously in summers heat and winter
cold and economizlng TO the utmost still
find themselves sinking deeper and deeper
into debt as the years go by.
II wish to heaven prosperity universal
and abiding would come. 1 care not who
brings ii, so II comes. ! would acclaim II
as cheerfully, Justify and gratefully IL
brought about by William Mckinley and
Republican Congress, as would II pro-
duced by William Jennings Bryan and a
Democratic Congress.
From the bottom of my heart, I wish
President Mckinley well. He Is a most
gracious, tactful and pleasant gentleman;
but unless he and the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress do more to fulfil the multifarious
and gorgeous promises of 1896 than he and
the Fifty-ifth Congress have done, It will
become the agreeable and patriotic duty
of President Bryan and the Fifty-seventh
and Fifty-eighth Congresses 10 induct the
country into an era of general and lasting
prosperity. With Bryan In the chair Of
Washington, Jefferson and Jackson, and
with a Congress In sympathy with him,
the people will come into their own again
and government of trusts, by trusts and
for trusts viii vanish like an ugly dream
from the American continent forever.
civilian ]. Bryan, following the ex-
ample of his illustrious predecessors, will
be elected In 1900, reelected IN 1904, and be
followed by a long line OF successors of
his faith, my faith, your faith, the peo-
pies faith; for 1 have an abiding conf
dence that If the American people ever
again get a taste of genuine Democratic
administration, they will like II so well
that like Oliver Twist they will cry for
more; for 1t must be remembered that
man must be a least 80 years old to have
been born during a Democratic adminis-
tration and at least 90 to remember from
his own experience what was done then
An entire generation has grown up in
this country which has known nothing
else OF government than as It Is admin
istered by Republicans and mugwumps.
A change from that to a genuine Demo-
cratic administration would be like going
out Of midnight darkness into the glory
OF the noon-day sunshine"
He was followed by Aleln o. Myers OF
Columbus, o., whose toast was THE East
. and the West"
The toast responded TO by Sydney Clark
was oklahoma, the Next Star in the Flag
of the Union"