Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-05-03

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That was significant feature of the
great Democratic New York dollar dinner
In which the enthusiastic auditors insist
ed that II greater than jefferson was
there. The audience, composed not of
leaders or of statemakers, but of the kind
OF men who cast the votes-ns virile in
New York City rs throughout the coun-
try--recognizcd the fact that an American
from their own ranks was addressing
them For n century the dominant par
ties of the country have been sinking I'M
der the obligations and entanglements of
officialdom. Whenever the common peo-
pie cried out for relief on no matter what
issue. it was only to find that the hands
of the leaders We're tied by the traditions
of statecraft. Desperate. they scattered
into confusion to come together again in
final effort ut 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
We're left men who spoke from Amer
lean hearts TO Americans on American
issucs--one who believed in Imperialism
the Imperialism of American might and
American initiative and American leader
ship, us against those who looked upon
our country MS mere playground for
Lombard street. Without seeking it,
William j. Bryan became the man of the
hour. He was young, as Pitt had been
before him; he was revolutionary, us all
men who love their country are; he was
opposed by incrusted oilicialdom, us is u-
ways the case when the peoples tribute
knocks at the door. Notwithstanding the
treason of men i'll office through Demo-
cratic trust. the opposition of all timd
interests which run to cover in political
thunderstorm, and the lukewarmness of
those upon whom the people had inflicted
censure, this young man came within n
fraction of the popular majority!
But the people had gained the victory!
They had cast aside the barnncles; they
had blnzed 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, cnthu-
siasm greets him, as great in New York,
where 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
reviviiied 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 TEN
pest of applause from the men and women
broke out. The band struck up, but could
scarcely be heard while it played 1.-The
Stars and Stripes Forever" Hats were
thrown up into the air; women waved
their cloaks and handkerchcfs. Mr.. Bry-
an raised his hand deprccutngly, but the
more he did this the more the crowd
cheered. Mr. Bryan began in a clear
voice. He was frequently interrupted by
applause.
Mr.. Chairman. Democrats Ladies' and
Gentlemen: esteem ii a great privilege to
pc permitted to attend this probably the
largest hunquet given In the United Suites
interruption Of cheers for l,rynn) appre
clate the kindness which has been mani
rested by your action and by the words OF
those who have preceded me. l shall carry
pack 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 are true to the
principles of Democracy us written In DE
nnprnPv'S a.I
The object of this banquet was to give
Cnlcago platform Democrats Il chance to
celebrate the birthday of Thomas Jefferson,
cCries of THAT'S lt.'o
There was II 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 a right
II ne has the money. The character of
political banquet is determined not by the
cost OF 1t, 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
criticise any man whose judgment or con.
science leads him out of the Democratic
party.
Political Bigumists.
When the Republicans met al st. Louis
some Republicans left the Republican party
rather than adapt themselves to the plat
lied distinct party and they took IL name
sufficiently different from the Republican
name SO that no one would mistake the one
for the other. They made a bold and earn
est hight and the Republicans who left the
party In 1890 have neither gone back nor,
standing outside, have they attempted to
write the platform of the party which they
left; There were Democrats who left us In
1SsG. They organized distinct pnrty they
nominated 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 to
carry a precinct In the United States. A
party Is an association Of people for the pur-
pose OF giving force and effect to political
opinions held In common. They talked to
us 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 those whose prln-
ciples IRE antag0nistc 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 he part
of the Democratic party. We simply insist
TINT man cannot be political bIgnmist
He cannot be welded to the name of our
party and to the principles of some other
party. We simply ask that lie shall get
formal divorce. either from our name or
from their principles The Democratic party
mas PLATFORM. 1t does not disnay those
who stand upon 1t TO hear 1t denounced this
year by those who denounced 1t two years
ago. We got accustomed to 1t In 1896 and
1t Is not strange now, but 1t would be n sur
prlsing thing indeed to hear that party de-
nounced by those who left 1t 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 II presden.
tial nomination from any national cOnven-
tion, hut am proud that my nomination
came from convention. not of bosses, but
Of Democratic citizsns. cloud applauseD
1t has ylndlcated that platform, and every