The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-01-12
OMAHA CELEBRATES.
Three Hundred Covers at the Ban.
quet of the Jacksonian Club.
SPEECH MADE BY WILLIAM ]. BRYAN
The Money Question, Trusts aud Imperial
Ism Touched on-David Overmyer, of
Kansas, Responds to the Toast
"History Repeats Itself"

"History Repeats Itself"
Omaha, Neb., Jan. 0.-Jackson's day
was appropriately celebrated in
Omaha yesterday by the Jacksonian
club. Three separate functions were
down on the programme and each
was distinct and gratifying success.
The first was an informal reception
held at club headquarters in the after
noon at which w. j. Bryan, Congress
men Cormack of Tennessee, Over
meyer of Kansas, Weaver of Iowa
and several other democratic lights
were the guests. Mr.. Bryan was the
chief center of attraction and during
the two hours the reception lasted
several hundred democrats paid their
respects. At six o'clock dinner was
rendered Mr.. Bryan and few other
notables at the Omaha club.
At nine o'clock occurred the annual
banquet of the club in the parlors of
the Paxton hotel. Covers were laid for
800 and there were no vacant places
An elaborate menu was served and it
was near midnight before the speak
ing began. Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock,
editor of the Omaha Word-IIerald
and late candidate for United States
senator, OBLIGATED as toastmaster.
On the right sat Mr.. Bryan, the
guest of honor of the evening. The
room was profusely decorated with
flags and bunting and Jackson's por-
trait occupied a prominent place on
the walls. The only thing that
married the pleasure of the occasion
was the absence of Gov. Hogg, of
Texas, ~ho had accepted an invitation
TO be present, but who failed to put
in an appearance and at the last mo-
ment telegraphed Mr.. Bryan from st.
Louis that he had been detained.
The speech of the evening was
made by Mr. Bryan, in response to
the toast, Our Nation" As the we'll
known Lincoln man arose to respond
he was greeted with tumultuous APP
plause and when he resumed his seat
another ovation was given him. He
spoke in part as follows:
Those who studied the money question
in 1896 foresaw the danger threatened by
the gold standard and pointed out that
its permanent establishment would in
Volve us I'm every financial disturbance
for the most part blind to the warning.
What do we see now? Notwithstanding
the Increased production Of gold "A few
victories won by the Beers in South At
rica have alarmed the same bankers and
they are now fearing a panic unless Eng
land is Immediately successful. Their
financial interest in England's triumph
is so great that many of them have ST.
fenced their sympathy for a struggling
republic and are hoping for the extension
IA. - fHsalu
itation results from war between Eng
land and a little republic, what must we
expect If war ever breaks out between
two gold standard countries of the first
class? Without financial independence,
this nation cannot be Independent either
in its foreign or its domestic policy, and
yet the republican party is even now
preparing to chain America like a cap
tive to Europes golden chariot.
Those who studied the money question
I'm 1896 also foresaw that the retirement
of the greenbacks was part of the gold
standard plan. Many republicans secuted
at the idea and the president avoided
any mention of the matter in his letter
of acceptance. But now the scheme Is
being unfolded and the fnanciers are to
be empowered to expand or contract the
currency at their will and for their own
pecuniary advantage.
Those who studied the trust question
of 1896 foresaw that an administration
nopolies could not be relied upon to de-
stroy the trusts, but many who could
not be convinced by argument are now
being convinced by the growth and In
creased audaclty of the private monop-
oles.
Anyone who has read history or under
stands human nature knows that one
race cannot cross an ocean and domt-
nate another race without keeping an
army ever present to hold the conquered
race in subsection and yet the republican
leaders thought or pretended to think
that an imperial policy would be accepted
by the Filipnos with delight
The decision of the nation on the Phil
ippine question will be an epoch making
decision. We stand at the parting of the
ways and must choose between the doc
trine of republics and the doctrine OF
empire. At this supreme crisis in our
nations history, we may well recall the
words of Lowell:
Once to every man and nation comes the
moment to decide
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for
the good or evil side.
Some great cause, Gods new Messiah,
Offering each the bloom or blight.
Parts the goats upon the left hand and
the sheep upon the right;
And the choice goes by forever twiXt
that darkness and that light
Other speakers and responses were
as follows: "History Repeats Itself"
David Overmyer, of Kansas; "Democ-
racy's New Year." A. j. Weaver, of
Falls City, Neb.; "Imperialsm," Con-
gresham Carmack; "The Press" Will
lis J. Abbott, press agent of the ma
tional democratic committees; "The
JaclSsonian Club" w. o. Gilbert, of
Omaha.