The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-30
THE YAN-BELMONT FIGHT
Plain and Emphatic Language on
Both Sidcs-Thc Meaning OF Jrt:
fCrSOnian Democracy.

Plain and Emphatic Language on
Both Sidcs-Thc Meaning OF Def
fcrsOnian Democracy.
Hon. Perry Belmont, president Of the
Democratic club in New York, who
WAS in revolt against the Democratic
platform and nominees in 1896, rec nt-
~ sent an invitation To Hon. w. j.
Bryan, dated New York, March 9th,
ls fellows
in arranging no toasts and re-
spOnses at LnU banquet OF the Demo
cratic club XII Jtilcrson's birthday,
April l3, the committee are most de-
sirous, If your engagements will per
nit your attendance, to have you select
sucIi subject "a yon prefer to discuss in
your uwn way within the limit set for
all speeches CT 20 minutes. Pleas.
wire reply"
70 which Mr.. Bryan, on his return
Nebraska several days aftcrward, sent
the following reply:
" Invitation received. Remembers
ing that you openly repudiutcd the
Democratic platform in the last cam.
paign, desire to know, before an
awcring Invitation, whether you have
since the election, publicly announced
your conversion to the principles set
forth IN that PLATFORM
Mr.. Belmont thcreupon made the
| following explanation:
| The invitation extended to you is
or behalf OF the Democratic club. In
dividual opinions have not been CON
Sidcrcd in issuing the invitations to
celebrate the birthday Of Thomas JEFF
| fcrsOn."
Mr.. Bryan replied to this telegram
at length from Chattanooga, Tenn,
where he gave the correspondence to
the Associated Press, as follows:
| might plead a previous engage.
mcnt as IL reason for declining, but
that would be equivalent to saying
that | would come save tho engage
ment, but frankncss compcls me to ado
another reason. | appreciate tho
compliment which the Democratic
club pays me in extending an invita-
tlon, but 40 not understand how in.
dividual opinions can be ignored at a
political gathering. You arc the pres
sldcnt OF the club and represent the
club before tho public. Your position
| upon the public questions wa, we'll
known in 1896 and your telegram indi.
Gates that your position has not been
changed. My position upon public
questions is also well known. The
antagonism between our opinions is so
| great that we cannot with prOpricty
join in IL political banquet given in
honor CT DcmocrhCy's patron saint
Jefferson stood for certain we'll de
fined principles. II your views arc /.
correct reflection Of mis- ideas, fear
that my voice would sound Is discOrd-
ant note at your banquet.
II, on the other hand, the Chicago
platform applies (as b, licvc it does
Jciicrsonian principles to present con
dltlons, then your conspicuous prcscnc!
at the JtncrsOnian banquet would not
honor the memory Of the worId'=
greatest Democrat.
DO not misunderstood me. You MAJ
be right and ! may be wrong, but !
take it for granted that " g are equally
conscientious and | trust that | NAV
not show myself less courageous than
you. You proclaimed TO your fellow
cltIZcns in 1896 that my election upon
" DcmOcr& icplatfOcm would cndangcr
The nations welfare: you will pardon
me il | suggest that Is banquet, pre-,
sided over ry you, will injurc raLh"H
than aid the Democratic party. be
lIcvc in harm0nizing personal diifcr-
cnccs, but differences in principle can
not be harmOnizod, and, in my judg.
mcnl, party advantage is not to be dc
rivcl from political communion be
} tween JcilCrsOnan Democrats wht
stand upon the Chicago platform anC
to" Ncpu JliCan allies who ma 4ucrad(
1 ,.5 Demo r ttS between campaigns il
order to give more potency TO their be
: trayal OF Democratic principles on
Q election day. Yours truly,
: WM. j. BRYAN.
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