The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-12
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRACY.
Speakers nj Club Dinner la Brook
Iyn Urge nifty.

NEW YORK. Feb. 1i.--In the name and
party. the National Civic Club OF Brook
| lyu gave dinner last night. Edward NJ.
Shepard was the chief promoter. Mr..
Bryan was invited. but he asked to be ex-
cused So did George Fred Williams.
Joseph W. Bailey OF Texas. Claude Swan
son of Virginia. Hugh Dinsmore of Arkan-
sas. and Grover Cleveland of Princeton.
Mr.. Shepard. in his speech. urged the
necessity Of united opposition TO the pres
ent Administration. OF Mr.. Bryan he
said:
I'VE owe a debt to the statesman who
last night addressed the citizens of this
borough and to other statesmen, agreeing
with him or differing. that he has put
these questions before us clearly and elo-
quently- For us tonight there remains
different part of the same duty. and that
is to lay stress upon those great and fun
damental propositions upon which Demo-
Gratis. whether West or East, or North or
South. may agree. With mutual respect
for opinions that are sincere and patriotic.
even IL we cannot share them with pa
tient recognition of their difficulty. we are
here to meet upon a recognized. tradi-
tional. and abiding platform of Democ
racy''
MIR. Shepard closed by introducing Rep
resentative James d. Richardson OF Ten
nessee. Mr.. Richardson got a warm re-
ception. He began by declaring that the
Republican party was iucurably mad; mad
not with learning. but with much power.
He denounced the present scheme of leg.
islation for Porto Rico and concluded by
saying:
Il ask If it is not time for all liberty
loving Democrats and. indeed. all pa
triotic persons OF all parties. to link to-
gether their fortunes in a common cause.
and by united and heroic effort overthrow
the reckless and ruthless men who have
usurped power -ri hurl them to defeat.
that our country may be redeemed and
re-enacted?"
Mr.. Richardson was followed by Repre-
sentative De Almond Of Missouri, who.
near the end Of his speech. said:
1T is my sober and deliberate judg
ment that the rsceding from the position
We took on the money question in 1886.
the dropping of the declaration on that
question made in 1896 from the platform
of 1900. would result in n hopeless disrUp
tion of the party"
The other chief speaker of the evening
was former Judge Van Wyek. who de-
nounced the pending HayPauncefote
Treaty and laid down this platform:
'To make the Democracy triumphant
we have only to convince the people that
it will give--first honesty and economy in
the administration of the Government:
second. taxation for the payment of the
Legitimate expenses and Liabilities Of the
Government and not for gratuties: third.
the repeal of laws lending the taxing (
powers to monopolies; fourth. enactment /
of equitable tariff laws; fifth. that quasi (
public corporations must be made to I'M I
partially subserve the interests OF the /
public: sixth. the general business OF the /
country must be protected against the
dangerous Influence OF mOnopo!ies fostered /
by unjust laws: seventh. that such sure /
protection shall be extended TO the prop /
erty rights of all as will invite and de-
serve the confidence of the general busi- !
ness interests of the country; eighth. the /
equitable restraint of such mammoth 4
trusts which desSoy competition ninth,
that American citizens shall be treated 1
Justly and fairly in every part of American
territory and last, that our country shall
keep clear Of entangling alliances with all
nations