The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-16

The letter OF National Chairman
Jones. Of the Democratic committee.
sent to each member OF the New York
delegation TO the Chicago convention,
and the dispatch sent by Col Bryan to
Perry Belmont president Of the Demo-
cratic Club. in response to an invitation
to attend banquet to be given by the
club in New York April 80. in honor OF
Thomas jefferson. are Of more than Or
binary interest as each In its way rec
ognizes the we'll defined breach exist
ing between the Democrats OF the East
ern and Middle states and those OF the
West and South.
TO learn what will be the attitude Of the
New York delegation In the next ma
tional Democratic convention, that he
may lay his plans accordingly. He does
not hesitate to assert that the Demo-
Gratis OF the West and South are In
favor Of practical reafiirmation Of the
Chicago platform. and, in effect, asks
the New York Democrats what they
are going to do about it, His letter is
temperate, but positive. and practically
serves notice on the New Workers that
they must yield to the wishes OF the
South and West on the silver question
or pursue the course followed by them
In 1896. Chairman Jones has given them
abundant time to consider the question
and no doubt there will be numberiess
heated discussions between those who
are Democrats from principle and those
who are Democrats for office, before a
conclusion is reached. IL, indeed, 1t Is
possible for them to reach a conclusion.
Conscious that he and Tammary are
not in exact political harmony, Mr.
Bryan's dispatch to Mr.. Belmont has a
well-defined tone OF defiance. ''Remem-
bering," he says, that you openly re-
pudiated the Democratic platform in the
last campaign. desire to know before
answering invitation whether you have
since the election publicly announced
your conversion to the principles set
forth in that platform" There is a good
deal Of sarcasm in this. as Mr. Bryan is
well aware that Mr.. Belmont has
neither publicly nor in any other man.
ner announced his conversion to the
principles enunciated by the Chi
cago platform. nor is he at all likely 70
do so. In his reply Mr.. Belmont falls
back upon that old Democratic stand
by. Thomas Jefferson. and says: "The
invitation extended to you is on behalf
OF the Democratic Club. Individual
opinions have not been considered in
issuing the invitations to celebrate the
birthday or Thomas Jefferson"
As Tammany. through its leader,
Richard Croker. has declared itself In
favor 81 expansion, 1t may be readily
surmlsed that should Mr.. Bryan attend
the Democratic Club banquet he will,
not find sympathetic audience. and IL
Is safe 10 predict that he will follow
the example Of ex-President Cleveland
In declining 10 attend.
Col. Bryan's telegram and the letter
Of Chairman Jones lead to the conciu
sion that the same tactics adopted by
the majority for the control of the Chi
cago convention will again be euipley
ed. and the efforts o. the minority Ia
frame connnon-sense platform VII,
h. as futile as they were In fsss what
the minority will 10 canine: now be-
foTesha60wed. bat T. win be far batter
for the Democrats whose sentiments on
currency and expansion accord with
the Republicans Ia jain The Republicans
AMI not waste ,heir Efforts on insfevsu.
asat organization.