The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-21
BRYAN TO BELMONT
CHAMPION OF FREE SILVER
MAKES PUBLIC DEMOCRATIC
CLUB CORRESPONDENTS
SOME OF 1T is VERY TART
MIR. BRYAN ASSERTS HIS UNWIL.
LINGNEss TO DODGE THE
ISSUE THAT IS MADE
REVERTS TO LATE CAMPAIGN

REVERTS TO LATE CAMPAIGN
His Public Statement That Bry-
ans Election Would Be Disas-
trous to Democrats
That a banquet Presided Over by
MIR. Belmont Might BE Similar.
CHATTANOOGA. Tenn, March 20
W. j. Bryan today gave out the following
letter, having been notified that 1t had
not been made public by Mr.. Belmont.
Mr. Bryan stated that he had nothing to
say about the matter, but that the cor
respondence spoke for itself.
Mr.. Bryan, after quoting in full The
kilograms which have already been made
pubdc-the original invitation to attend
the banquet Of the New York Democratic
club, the reply to Mr. Belmont and the
response from New York that individual
opinions had not been considered in the
1nv1tations-enters more at length into
his reasons for declining, as follows:
as a reason for declining, but that would
be equivalent to saying that I would
come but for the engagement. Frank
ness compels me to add another reason.
l appreciate the compliment which the
Democratic club pays me in extending
al invitation, but 1 do not understand
how individual opinions can be ignored
at political gathering. You are the
president Of the club and represent the
club before the public. Your position
upon public questions was well known in
1886, and your telegram indicates that
your position has not been changed NY
position upon public questions is also
well known. The antagonism between
our opinions is so great that we cannot
with propriety join in a political ban
Quet given in honor Of Democracy's pa
tron saint.
Jefferson stood for certain well de-
fined principles. If your views are a cor
rect reflection of his ideas, fear that
my VOICE would sound a discordant note
at your banquet If, on the other hand
the Chicago platform applies Gas 1 be-
lieve 1t does Jeffersonian principles to
present conditions, then your conspicu-
GUS presence at the Jeffersonian banquet
would not honor the memory of the
worlds greatest Democrat.
DO not misunderstood me- You NAV
be right and may be wrong, but take
1t for granted that we are equally con-
scientious and I trust that 1 may not
show myself less courageous than YOU
You proclaimed to your fellow citizens
In 1896 that my election upon Democratic
platform would endanger the nations
welfare. You will pardon me If I suggest
that banquet presided over by you
will tnJure, rather than aid, the Demo-
cratic party. I believe in harmonizing
the personal differences, but differences
In principle cannot be harmonized, and,
In my judgment, no party advantage is
to be derived from political communion
between Jeffersonian Democrats who
stand upon the Chicago platform and the
Republican allies who masquerade as
Democrats between campaigns in order
to give more potency to their betrayal of
Democratic principles on election day"
MIR. BEEMONT'S REJOINDER.
NEW YORK, March 20.-Perry Bel
mont tonight gave out the following
reply to one received during the day from
Col. William ]. Bryan:
II have Just received your letter Of
the 18th inst, in which you described
those who declared in 1886 that your cleo
llOu 10 the VpToSlQency on the CnlCaRO
platform would endanger the nations
welfare as the Republican allies, who
masquerade as Democrats between cam
paigns In order to give more potency to
their betrayal Of Democratic principles on
election day."
Mr.. Belmont then goes on to say be-
fore answering "the unwarranted letter.
ne had instituted a suit against a New
York newspaper on account Of an alleged
libel in which he was characterized as
u oirr1,a f1ny, he
who sells his vote for 81 on election day.
and continues:
Your purpose to be equally defamatory
Is obvious. Your skill in the use of words
forbids the plea that in your letter you
misused them through ignorance The
design is plain, and, were it not that you
have interviewer in your abuse reference
to my opinions upon public questions as
opposed to your own, to the Democratic
club, of which l am president, and to it's
proposed celebration of Jefferson's birth
day, I should have left your offensive
statements unanswered
The Democratic club Of New York has
a membership Of nearly 5000 Democrats,
who all hold to the main principles Of
in regard to such political questions as
are not fundamental, but merely local or
transitory, like many of the vain con-
none of these 1900 members is Repub-
lican. AS for myself, I never voted for a
Republican candidate for either great
or small ONCE.
The board of governors and the presi-
dent of so large Democratic organiza-
ton endeavored to present officially the
wishes of the majority, which was that
the coming anniversary of the birthday
of Jefferson should be celebrated by our
organization as in previous years. To
recall those principles and traditions
with which it's name has so continually
been associated, tends to bring about a
revival Of Democratic control, based on
public questions, the conditions of which
are not transitory.
To the explanation made to you that
Individual opinions have not been con-
sidered," you replied that you do not
understand how individual opinions can
be ignored In political gathering
Then you proceed to contrast your
opinions with mine, to emphasize their
antagonism. and finally declared that
'you and I cannot with propriety join in
political banquet given in honor of
Democracys patron saint"
Your contention is that the Chicago
to "present conditions" and that be-
cause I criticised that platform in it's
application to conditions existing three
years ago, and then resisted your can
dfdacy to the presidency, therefore my
presence at the proposed dinner would
not honor the worlds greatest Democrat.