The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1899-04-27

That was significant feature of the
great Democratic New York dollar dinner
in which the enthusiastic auditors insist
ed that a greater than Jefferson was
there. The audience, composed not of
| leaders or of Statemakers, but of the kind
OF men who cast the votes-as virile in
New York City as throughout the coun-
| try-recogniZed the fact that an American
from their own ranks was addressing
them. For century the dominant par
| ties of the country have been sinking un-
| der the obligations and entanglements of
Otficialdom. Whenever the common peo-
pie cried out for relief, on no matter what
issue, it was only 10 find that the hands
of the leaders were tied by the traditions
of statecraft. Desperate, they scattered
into confusion, 10 come together again in
| final effort at Chicago.
There the leader appeared-One of the
young men in the background with no
ambition or hope for high place, but full
| Of the fire of men who are in earnest. His
burning words electrified the assembly,
| which went wild over the fact that there
were left men who spoke from Amer
| lean hearts to Americans on American
issues-one who believed in Imperialism
| the imperialism of American might and
| American initiative and American leader
| ship, as against those who looked upon
our country as a mere playground for
Lombard street. Without seeking it,
William ]. Bryan became the man of the
hour. He was young, as Pitt had been
before him; he was revolutionary, as all
men who love their country are; he was
/ nppnSa6 hv incruSto1 off ei n l1op iS al
ways the case when the peoples tribute
knocks at the door. Notwithstanding the
treason of men in office through Demo-
cratic trust. the opposition of all timid
interests which run TO cover in a political
| thunderstorm, and the lukewarmness of
| those upon whom the people had inflicted
censure, this young man came within
fraction of the popular majority.
But the people had gained the victory!
They had cast aside the barnacles they
had blazed the pathway to reform; they
had placed the laurel upon the brow of
the man who was to wear it until the bat
tie was over. Go where he will, enthu-
siasm greets him. as great in New York,
where a conspiracy of suppression was
organized against him, as in Wisconsin.
where the week previous his eloquent
words thrilled the nation!
Mr.. Bryan's New York speech was ring
ing. effective, popular. He stirred the
heart. appealed TO the conscience and
revivified patriotism. Issues championed
by such leader cannot be ignored; peo-
pie who can be SO stirred up are not to
be satisfied with official platitudes. The
cause of the people lives, and the people
are alive to the fact. The slogan has been
sounded for 1900.
In introducing Mr.. Bryan. Chairman
Brown said that Abraham Lincoln had
come out of the West to save the nation
and another man had come out of the
West to save the nation. A perfect tenn
pest of applause from the men and women
broke out. The band struck up, but could |
scarcely be heard while it played The
Stars and Stripes Forever" Hats were
thrown up into the air; women waved |
their cloaks and handkerchiefs. Mr.. Bry /
an raised his hand deprecatingiy, but the
more he did this the more the crowd |
cheered. Mr.. Bryan began in clear
voice. He was frequently interrupted by |
applause.
Mr.. Chairman, Democrats. Ladies and |
Gentlemen: l esteem 1t great privilege TO |
be permitted to attend this, probably the |
largest banquet given in the United States |
interruption of cheers for Bryan | appre
ciate the kindness which has been mani
Tested by your action and by the words of |
those who have preceded me. | shall carry
back to my Western home new courage
from your meeting and shall be glad to tell |
to the people in other States that in New
York there be those who true to the
principles of Democracy as written In De
mocracy's latest creed.
The object of this banquet was to give
Chicago platform Democrats n chance to
celebrate the birthday Of Thomas Jefferson.
("Cries Of That's it,
There was banquet given In honor of
Thomas Jefferson two nights ago, and the
discussion of the price per plate obscured
to some extent the difference between that
banquet and this. A Democrat has right
to pay whatever he pleases for a dinner
II he has the money. The character Of
political banquet is determined not by the
cost Of It, but by the sentiments which are
woven into the post-prandial oratOry. We
have not one word of hostility to utter to-
ward those Democrats who left the Demo-
cratic party in 1896. Far be 1t from us to
crltcise any man whose Judgment or con
science leads him out Of the Democratic
party.
Political Bigamists.
When the Republicans met at st. Louis
some Republicans left the Republican party
rather than adapt themselves to the plat
form written out at st. Louis. They organ
lied distinct party and they took name
sufficiently different from the Republican
name SO that no one would mistake the one
for the other. They made Il bold and earn
est fight and the Republicans who left the
party In 1896 have neither gone back nor,
standing outside, have they attempted TO
write the platform of the party which they
left. There We're Democrats who left us in
1856. They organized Il distinct party; they
nominated a ticket and perfected their ma
tional organization. But instead of calling
themselves Gold Democrats so that they
could not be mistaken for the regular Dem
Ocrats they called themselves National
Democrats, although they did not expect 10
carry II precinct in the United States.
party is an association Of people for the pur
pose of giving force ami effect to political
opinions held in common. They talked TO
as about harmony, the only kind Of har
mony that is possible; harmony between
those who think and act together to give
force to their common opinions. There can
be no harmony between thoae whose prin-
ciples antagonistic as the opinions
set forth In the Chicago platform and the
Indianapolis platform.
All that we ask is that those who come
into the Democratic party shall be Il part
of the Democratic party. We simply insist
that man cannot be Il p4tical bigamist.
He cannot be welded TO the name of our
party and TO the principles of some other
party. We simply ask that he shall get
formal divorce. either from our name or
from their principles. The Democratic party
has a platform. 1t does not dismay those
who stand upon 1t 20 hear 1t denounced this
year Dy tnoSe WHO uenouHceu II Two years
ago. We got accustomed to 1t in 1896 and
II Is not strange now, but ii would be Il sur
prising thing indeed TO hear that party de-
nounced by those who left it two years ago.
But this we do not hear. The Democratic
platform Is satisfactory to those who sup
ported 1t in 1896 That platform was writ
ten by the representatives of the Demo
cratic party in the most democratic conven-
tion that has been held in quarter of n
century.
1t is compliment TO receive presiden-
tial nomination from any national conven-
tion, but | am proud that my nomination
came from a convention, not Of bosses, but
Of Danocratic citizens. loud applause)
It has yindicated that platform, and every