The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-16
CHEEREDBYFRANTIC,THO THOUSANDS
AT JEFFERSON DINNER.
Burning Issues Discussed Before Throngs in
the Grand Central Palace, Shaken
by Thunders of Turnultu
Gus Applause.

demonstration.
O. III. +. Belmont. was next intro
,luced and spoke. and was followed by
John Clark Ridpath.- who spoke on
"Thomas Jefferson. When Mr. Rid
path said that Jefferson stood above
Adams and Otis. and was the most in
tellectual Democrat that ever lived. Il
hundred voices shouted No. No, Bryan.
Bryan"
Mr.. Williams whispered somethin~ TO
Mr.. Ridpath and the latter replied:
Il accept the suggestion and bowed
to Colonel Bryan. At the close of Mr..
Ridpaths speech horseshoe of flowers
was presented to Colonel Bryan. who
arose and bowed.
A tremendous amount of cheering ana
applause greeted Mr.. Bryan. He said:
Mr. Chairman, Democrats, Ladies
and Gentlemen: | esteem il great
privilege to be permitted TO attend TINS,
probably the largest banquet ever given
in the United States. interruption of
cheers for Bryans
Il appreciate the kindness which has
been manifested 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 III
other States that in New York there
be those who are true to the principles
OF Democracy as written iii Democrf-
cys latest creed. tCries of bravo.)
THE object of this banquet was to
give Chicago platform Democrats Il
chance to celebrate the birthday OF
Thomas jefferson. tCries of That it. !
There was banquet given in honor OF
Thomas Jefferson two nights age aiid
the discussion of the price per plate OBJ
scured To some extent the difference be-
tween that banquet and this. y Demo
crat has Il right to pay whatever he
pleases for a dinner if he has the money
THE character Of a political banquet
is determined. not by the cost of it. but
by the sentiments which are woven into
the post prandial oratory.
I'VE have not one word of hostility
TO utter toward those Democrats Wno
left the Democratic party i'll 1916. Far
he it from us to critieise any man whose
Judgment or conscience leads him out
Of the Democratic party. When the
Republicans met ut st. Louis some OF
the Republicans left the Republican par
ty rather than adapt themselves to the
platform written out at st. Louis. They
organized a distinct party and they took
name sufficiently different from the
Republican names 50 thar no one would
mistake the one for the other.
''They made bold and earnest fight,
and the Republicans who left the party
in 1896 have neither gone back nor,
standing outside. have they attempted
al 49,, oh
they left There were Democrats who
left us in 1896. They organized dis
ttinct party: they nominated a ticket and
| perfected their national organization.
But instead of calling themselve gold
/ Democrats so that they could not be
mistaken for the regular Democrats.
they called themselves National Demo
Gratis, although they did not expect to
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.
Ibey talked to MS about harmony. The
only kind of harmony that is possible
Is harmony between those who think
and act together to give force to their
common opinions.
All that we ask is that those who
come into the Democratic party shall be
part of the Democratic party. We
SIMPLY insist that man cannot be IL
political bigamist. He cannot be we'd
ded to the name of our party and to
the principles of some other party. We
simply ask that he shall get Il formal
I, divorce, either from our name or from
their principles. The Democratic party
has Il platform. 1t does not dismaS
those who stand upon it to hear il de
nounced this year by those who de
nounced it two years ago. We got ac
customed to it in 1896 The Democratic
platform is satisfactory 10 those who
supported it in 1896.
THE platform was written by tbs
representatives of the Deniocratic party
in the most Democratic convention thai
has been held in quarter of IA centu
ry.
1t is II compliment To receive a PreSi
dental nomination from any national Co
yention. but ] am proud my nomination
came from Il convention, not of bosses
but Of Democratic citizens. loud ap
plause) 1t has yindicated that plat
form. and every plank of ii is stronge4
to-day than il was when the platform
was written.
Those who believe that we should in
vite into the Democratic party all thos'
who cannot share in the purposes an'
the aspirations of that party.l canno
speak for others-l speak for' myself
are wrong, and | say that | would no
abstract from il a single plank 10 ge
back every man who left it. That plat
form means something. and il you as
why it was in the campaign of 1896 tn
hearts of the people were stirred ~
they have not been lateiy stirred ! vii
Coutinuad an Saooud paooa a