The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-03

DETROIT. May 2-The fourth annual
banquet of the Mohawk Club was neld in
the Auditorium tonight. More than 1900
guests were seated at the tables. The
hall was layishly decorated with the flags
OF all nations. The speakers were William
J. Bryan William Sulzer Of New York;
John J. Lentz. J. Hamilton Lewis, and
George P. Hummer. and Thomas A. Bark
with presided.
J. Hamilton Lewis made a faceuous
opening and then explained that the
minority party was always the most effect
i've agency of reform. Mr. Sulzer spoke
on the imperative issues of the coming
campaign. His advocacy of the election
of Senators by the people was warmly
approved Among other things, he said:
The creed of the Democratic party to-
day is the Chicago platform. The Democ
racy will take 10 step backward in regard
to its principles. We have tested them in
the loyalty of American manhood. end
vicdicsted them in the crucial fire Of $500,
geo of honest. incorruptible and intelligent
voters. and in our next National Conven-
ton we viii not apologize for our righteous
NOuNitllOIS OF SURRENDER our 1uuudutnldi
principles. The people know we are right
and they will sustain us if we are true
to ourselves. aud go forward without fall
tering. We have struggled too long 20 give
up now On the morning of victory we will
not haul down our flag
Il believe in the fundamental principles
of the Democratic party. | believe in
sticking to our party. l am not a bo.ter. /
stand squarely on the Chicago platform,
and have no apologies TO offer for my sup
port of William J. Bryan or for my 10y
atty to the principles enunciated in that
magnificent document. In my Judgment. 1t
is the best platform the Democratic party
ever adopted, and, notwithstanding ali
that has been said against it, l believe the
day is not far distant when every princi-
pie enunciated in it win be enacted into
law. In the next Democratic National
Convention the question will not be, what
shall we take from it, but what shall we
add to it,
Colonel Bryan was introduced at II
O'Clock and continued to speak until long
after midnight. He declared emphatically
for free coinage at 16 to l. asserting
with emphasis that the money plank of the
Chicago Platform would be reaffirmed His
most thrilling and impassioned declama-
tory passage was in speaking of the Phil
ippines.
Republicans" he shouted, Il dare you
to put price on human life. If you want
TO buy trade with blood, towards, buy it
with your own blood"
Mr. Bryan devoted his address to dis
cussion of three questions viz money.
trusts, and Imperialism. His arguments
on the money question and the trusts were
in line with his recent speeches. He de-
voted considerable time TO militarism,
pointing out that large army was the
natural and necessary accompaniment of
an imperialistic pcAcy. He said:
The same spirit Of Imperialism which
leads the Republicans to wage a war of
conquest in the Philippines for the extern
sion Of trade will. if it is approved by the
American people, lead to aggression. The
Republican party does not dare to outline
policy for dealing with the Filipinos
Why this uncertainty? Because the Re-
publican leaders know that Imperialism is
contrary to our history. our form of gov
ernment. and our welfare. and therefore
they are afraid to take the people into their
confidence.
The Porto Rican tariff bill. however.
diseloses the trend OF Republican ideas
Scarcely had the movement in favor of
free trade with Porto Rico been put on foot
before a power arose-a power behind the
throne. 1t was more potent than the plain
higher than the highest of consideration Of
justice and good faith; it was more per-
suasiye than the pleading Of the Porto
Riesns, it was more powerful than the
recommendations of the Governor General
of Porto Rico. This power coerced the
Chairman of the Committee on Ways and
Means; coerced the Republican, House.
coerced the Republican Senate, and coerced
a Republican President
This unseen power was able to sepa-
rate the flag from the Constitution, and
commit the Republican party to the doc
tTine that a President holding Office under
a Constitution is not bound by it, that a
Congress created by a Constitution is not
restrained by it,
The rule OF a despot is abhorrent to
every American, and yet the Republican
party asserts a doctrine which means des-
potism for the Filipinos. | cannot doubt
that in this great crisis the plain people
will remain true to the doctrine Of self /
government and administer such a rebuke
to the Republican party that no party
will hereafter dare TO trample upon tie /
Declaration Of Independence"