The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-21
BRYAN HOT SHOT
Fired at Perry Belmont In a
Letter
Declining Invitation to Attend
a Democratic Banquet.
GETS BACK AT HIM
For Saying That the Welfare
of the Nation
Would Be Endangered by the
Silver Mans Election.

Chattanooga, Tenn, March CIV. J.
Bryan has given out the following cor
respondence to the Associated Press,
having been notified that it had been
made public by Mr.. Belmont. Mr.. Bry-
an stated that he had nothing to say
about the matter, but that the CORES
pondence spoke for itself:
Champaign, ILL.,, March 16, 1899.
''Hon. Perry Belmont, President Demo-
cratic Club, New York.
Dear Sir: 1 received few days ago
the following telegram:
New York March 5.-Hon. w J.
Bryan, Lincoln, Neb.: In arranging
the toasts and responses at the banquet
of the Democratic club on Jefferson'S
birthday, April 13, the committee is
most DESTROYS, if your engagements will
permit your attendance, to have you Sc
Iect such subject as you prefer to dis
cuss in your own way, within the limits
so far all speeches of twenty minutes.
Please wire reply. (Signed.)
PERRY BELMONT. Pres.
RICHARD CROKER, Chairman
upon my return to Nebraska I sent
you the following inquiry:
Lincoln, Neb., March 10.
"'Hon. Perry Belmont, Democratic
Club, New York:
&" Invitation received. Remembering
that you openly repudiated the Demo-
cratic platform in the last campaign, L
desire to know, before answering invi-
tation, whether you have, since the
election, publicly announced your con-
version to the principles set forth in
that platform. (Signed.)
WILLIAM ]. BRYAN
ct have just received your reply:
1.-The invitation extended to you is
on behalf of the Democratic club. In
dividual opinions have not been consid-
cred in issuing the invitations to cele-
brate the birthday of Thomas Jefferson.
(Signed) PERRY BELMONT.
ct might plead a previous enga cement
as a reason for declining, but that
would be equivalent to saying that 1
would come but for the engagement;
but frankness compels me to add an
other reason. I appreciate the compli-
ment which the Democratic club pays
me in extending an invitation, but do
not understand how individual opinions
can be ignored a a political gathering.
| You are the president of the club and
represent the club before the public.
Your position upon public questions was
well known in 1885 and your telegram
indicates that your position has not
changed. My position upon public
questions is also well known. The an
great that we can not with propriety
join in a political banquet given in
honor of Democracy's patron saint.
Jefferson stood for certain well de-
d
correct reflection of his ideas, 1 fear
that my voice would sound a discOrd-
ant note at your banquet. If on the
other hand, the Chicago platform ap-
plies Gas 1 believe it does) Jeffersonian
principles to present conditions, then
your conspicuous presence at the JEFF
! fersonian banquet would not honor the
memory of the worlds greatest Demo-
crat.
DO not misunderstood me. You may
be right and L may be wrong, but take
it for granted that we are equally con-
ScientiouS and 1 trust that 1 may not
! show myself less courageous than you.
You proclaimed to your fellow citizens
! in 1896 that my election upon Demo-
cratic platform would endanger the ma
| TONS welfare; you will pardon me If
| suggest that a banquet presided over
! by you will injure rather than aid the
! Democratic party. 1 believe in harmon
! izing personal differences, but differen-
| ces in principle can not be harmonized
| and, in my judgment, no party ad-
! vantage is to be derived from political
| communion between Jeffersonian Demo-
| Gratis who stand upon the Chicago plat
! form and the Republican allies who
| masquerade as Democrats between
! campaigns in order to give more poten-
| cy to their betrayal of Democratic prin-
| ciples on election day. Yours truly,
| wv. ]. BRYAN"