The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-16

Ndftu IuelT Ciodhb anu uhuoheICHltlb'
There was q malestrom OF discord. Bryan
raised his hand deprecatlngly, but the
more he did this the more the crowd
cheered. II was Wild frantic demon
stration. II lasted for at least ave MIN
utns.
Mr. Bryan began IN clear. calm voice.
He was frequently interrupted by applause.
When he said there was harmony only
between those who think and
act alike there was great applause. His
reference TO the Chicago platform and HIS
declaration that his nomination had not
come from bosses was received with
cheers He caused great enthusiasm when
he declared that the Chicago platform was
menace to those who robbed others,
and no created n furore when he stated
that tho platform was disliked by those
who had their hands in the pockets OF
their neighbors.
Tumultuous, applause greeted his refer
oncr to the drafting of the soldier and tho
unwillingness to tax the rich.
tremendous amount OF cheering and
applause greeted Mr.. Bryan. lie said:
MIR. Chairman, Democrats, Ladies and
Gentlemen: l esteem It great privilege
TO be permitted to attend this, probably
the largest banquet ever given In the
United States. interruption of cheers
for Bryan.) appreciate the kindness
which has been manifested by your action
and by the words OF those VINO have pre-
ccded me- / shall carry back to my Vest
ern home new courage from your meeting
and shall be glad to tell tho people in
| other States that In New York there be
those who are true to the principles Of
democracy as written in democraoys latest
creed. (Cries OF "Bravo.'D The object
OF this banquet was to give Chicago plat
| form democrats chance to celebrate the
| birthday OF Thomas Jefferson. (Cries OF
That's it.'') There was a banquet given
in honor OF Thomas Jefferson two nights
ago and the discussion of the price per
plate obscured TO some extent the DIFF
ferences between that banquet and this. A
democrat has a right to pay whatever he
pleases for dinner II he has the money.
The character OF political banquet is to
determine not by tho cost OF It, but by the
sentiments which are woven into the post
piandnl oratory. We have not one word
OF hostility to utter toward those demu~
Gratis who left the democratic party In
1926. Far be II for us TO oritieise any man
whose judgment or conscience leads him
cut of the democratic party.
When tho republicans met at ST.. Louis
scme republicans left tho republican party
rather than adapt themselves to the plat
eorm written out at St. Louis, They or
gauiSed distinct party and they took a
name sufficiently different from the re-
publican so that no one would mistake
the ono for tho other. They made a bold
and earnest fight and the republicans
who LETT the party in 80 have neither gone
back nor, standing outside, have they at
tempted to writo the platform of the party
which thoy LETT, There were democrats
who left US in '9G They organized dfs-
tinct party they nominated a ticket and
printed their National organization. But
Instead Of calling themselves gold demo-
Gratis so they could not be mistaken foi
the regular democrats they called them
selves National democrats, although they
did not expect 10 carry precinct In the
United States. A party is an association
of people for the purpose of giving force
and effect to political opinions held In
common. They talked to us about har-
mony; the only kind Of harmony that is
possible is harmony between those who
think and act together to give force to
their common opinions
There Gun be no harmony between
those whose opinions are us antngo-
nistic ms the opinions set forth in
the Chicago platform nud the Iu-
dionnpoiis fulmInntion.
All that wo ask Is that those who come
) into democratic party shall be a pari
of tho democratic party We simply In
slst that man can not be political big.
amist, He can not be welded TO the name
OF our party aud TO the principles OF some
other party. We simply ask that he shall
get a formal divorce from our name OF
J IRON their principles. The democratic
party has a platform. II does not dlsmay
those who stand upon II TO hear il de-
, nouneed this year by those who denounced
: ~ Two years ago. We got accustomed to
1 II In 1895, and II is not strange now, bu,
1t would be surprising thing indeed no,
4 TO hear that party denounced by those
. VINO leH 1t two years ago, But this we do
not hear. The democratic platform IL sat.
lsiaetory 10 those who supported It In 1896
That platform was written by the repre-
sentatives OF tho democratic party In the
most democratic convention that has been
held In quarter OF century. II is o
compliment to receive presidential nom
. ination from any National convention, but
am proud that my nomination came from
convention not OF bosses, but OF demo-
cratic citizens. (Applause) II has vlndi-
Gated that platform and every plank OF il
, Is as strong today as when il was writ
, ten. Those who believe that we should In
yite into the democratic party those who
can not share In the purposes and aspira-
, tons OF that party--I can not speak for
, others--I speak for myself--are wrong ana
say that l would not abstract from Il a
single plank TO get back every man who
left II. Nor do | believe that we could
draw people TO US by cowardlce. The day
/ for ambiguity has passed. That platform
( means something and II you ask me why
|, X was that In the campaign OF 1895 the
hearts Of the people were stirred az they
have not been lately stirred. / will tell