Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-26
THE DEMOCRATIC SLOGAN.

Thanks to the improved conditions ir
this country since the last democratic
administration went out of power, the
political descendants of Thomas Jeffer-
son can now enjoy banquets With i'm
punity. A few years ago a democratic
political banquet was unheard of, for
there was very little to eat during the
reign of Grover Cleveland. Aside from an
occasional celebration of Jackson's or
of preventing the democratic party from
forgetting it's own existence. the men,
bers of that organization We're too busy
hustling for grub, and explaining how it
all happened, to hold political %banquets,
In those days the republicans were
holly criticised whenever a prominent
member Of that party was entertained at
table by his admirers. Less than two
years ago President Mckinley was vigor-
ously abused for attending what was
termed a political banquet rendered
UN lIS lIieIlCS anu dulIllIcIS LII lIE Guy
of New York.
But that is all over now. A perfect
mania for b~anquets seems to ave seized
the democracy. and these days it is cost
ing several prominent democrats very
little for board. Like the schoolma'ams
of half a century ago they are boarding
apa,1rS Tho Io+ccH rof;.iaa1 hop1,,a+ /
given by the democracy, and which was
supposed to have a slogan for 1900 on it's
bill of fare, was held last night in st.
Louis.
AS usual, Mr.. Bryan was the principal
speaker. According to the reports of the
Associated Press he devoted himself al
most exclusively to the question Of trusts.
The silver question was practically al
lowed to go by default, the report saying:
"Mr. Bryan, although he devoted the
greater part of his address to the trusts,
touched briefly upon the silver question,
declaring that it was an issue that must
be met" AS the banquet was widely adj
vertised as the occasion upon which the
issues of 1900 were to be set forth for the
guidance of the common herd who can
not afford to eat democratic quail on
toast, it is significant to say the least
that Mr.. Bryan only touched briefly
upon the silver question:
Not long since the gentleman declared
that the leading issue in 1900 would be
the. question that was uppermost in the
minds of the people, making a graceful
retreat from his old time assertion that
bimetallism woul remain the paramount
issue until it was settled and settled
right. His banquet address last night
still further emphasizes the fact that he
does not look Upon the rehabilitation OF
the white metal as likely to become q
leading issue in 1900.
1t is unfortunate for Mr.. Bryan. and
the friends of the silver cause, that he
did not have the courage to place the
question of bimetallism in the fore front
inasmuch as his speech was to become
Auc hey iiote VI lAe uelllOcIdcy III Inc
forthcoming national campaign. Te
practically ignore free coinage under
such conditions was to offer the olive
branch of a compromise to the gold wing
of that party, and place the white meta
permanently in the background. Mr.
Bryan lost his opportunity to strike an
effective blow for silver. He chose rather
to dismiss that issue with a passing refer
ence, and doubtless would have ignored
1t altogether had he not feared the charge
of political Inconsistency.
There have been no lack of signs fo1
Some time indicating a disposition on the
part of the late silver leader to gradually
relax his hold on the silver question. m
I'll II would slip gracefully through his
fingeEs and leave him in a position to
make terms with the eastern wing of his
party. He was very like the young man
who had a tail hold on a vicious colt.
which dragged him through the brambie
bushes until he was severely laeerated.
When reprimanded by his father for not
letting go, the young man replied: dad,