The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-16
DEMOCRACY MUST RULE
pR PLUToCRACY WILL DRAG
Us DOWN TO MOST Alb
JECT SLAVERY.
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR A THIRD PARTY
Inc Issue in 1900 Win be, Are we to be Con-
ho led by the Cosmopolitan Money
PoWer Democratic Harmony.


New York, April 15.-At the Chicag,
platform banquet, Mr. o. II. =. Belmon
spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen: 1t
gives me great pleasure to be here this
evening and | feel highly honored at be
ing given the opportunity to address a
rev words to so notable gathering.
am no speaker and shall not detain you,
Knowing well how anxious all present
are to hear the guest of honor of the
banquet.
we are here assembled for three pur-
poses, 1t seems to me: First. to honor
the memory of the founder | might
say patron saint of American Dcmocra.
cy, the great Thomas Jefferson. Sec
ond. to honor our standard bearer of
democracy. the great believer in and
eXpounder of Jeffersonian principles.
William Jennings Bryan: third by as
sembling as we have to give practical
demonstration of our firm resolution to
Wrest the helm of government from the
h;inds of the Republicans who arc steer,
ing us to sure destruction and ruin, and
to place it where it belongs, in the hands
Of Democracy.
We often hear that the late war wip-
ed out all sectional feeling, and that
today, there is no North no South no
East and no West. | am satisfied that
this lsNtrue, but ! am also sure that this
WIS true from a national point of view,
before. Let then, this banquet be the
outward visible sign OF this same unity
III the Democratic party. Tonight the
East extends its hand of welcome to the
West and is ready to do honor To one of
her great sons of whom she is so justly
proud. Let this be the sign that there
is no North, no South. no East, no
West i'll the Democratic party. What
ever our individual, local or sectional
opinions are, let us express them and
LET them be respected this is the soul of
Democracy But when after these opin-
lens and conditions have been submitted
to our chosen leaders in convention
when they have sifted them down and
chosen the material from which our plat
form is to be constructed, then let us.
with one voice say. this is the platform
upon which we will stand, shoulder to
shoulder, as a unit to win or lose
I'VE have reached a point when Dem
ocracy must rule. or the heirs to this
greatest Republic that we know of must
bow their necks to the most powerful
plutocracy the world has ever known:
mind you, not even Il national plutocracy
hut an international plutocracy without
faith or kin which will drag us to the
most abject slavery. | am no hater of
money or wealth and ! coubt the hon
esty of any one who is, but | do hate
the one who does not understand the
words, Live and let live
To-day the people are waking up to
the fact that the freedom of man is the
question they are called upon to decide
and not theoretical Issues for political
supremacy, and in looking about for
the means to secure this right. they see
their only hope in the Democraticaparty.
And what makes them hesitate? A doubt
iii, the unanimity in the party. And
what makes the Republicans exult? The
same thing, coupled with knowledge that
they are concentrating all the sinews
of war There is one other ray Of hope
held out to them by honest but | hold
misguided people. and that is, the crea-
ton of a third party, to be made up of,
as they claim. from the best elements
of both. What that means. | don't
know This ray. is a mere will o. the
wisp 1t only creates situation for
the multiplication of deals The most
liberal minded man never claims more
than two sides TO Il question; then, why
Il third party? Let us range ourselves
honestly on one side or the other. but
when we range ourselves. let there be no
classifications OF. rich and poor. labor
and capital The great Jefferson knew
no classes. nor do we. Take away n
mans right to improve his condition or
take away his right of maintaining it.
and you reduce him below the lowest of
creatures, and God. the Creator. and the
laws of nature forbid this and by these
laws Democracy will abide
The Issue will he in 1900, are we TO he
controlled by rhe Cosmopolitan money
power or are we to be frccmen of the
great Republic? Nothing more.
nothing less. The Republicans have
ranged themselves on the side Of
trusts. which means the assured
wealth of the few, and the mremittod
labor of the many, and these trust in
many cases are controlled abroad
The Republicans have ranged them
selves on the side of monopOlies and the
concentration of wealth. They were
slow in avengng the insult and injuries
Of the enemy and only did Go when push
cd To il BY the Democracy of the coun-
try They are guilty of carrying on our
late war in partisan and corrupt man
per and to the profit of corporations.
They are today leading us into the en-
ENGAGEMENTS of foreign alliances and
grating upon us imperialistic principles
To MI this. Democracy, ! hold, is OPP
nosed and is assembling its mighty army
Ia defeat its dangerous foe.
..The individual Democrat should be
ready to subordinate his personal views
to the accomplishment Of this great
task. As for myself, SHOULD the Demo
cratic party in 1900 stand on the plat
form Of 1896. and should ii place the
standard in the hands of William Jen-
nings Bryan, ! shall give to it and t.
him NY full support aAd work for his
election.