The Portland daily press., 1901-01-09
BRYAN SPEAKS.
Says Democratic Party Never Was i'm
Better Fighting Condition

Chicago, January S.-William j. Bryan
was the guest of honor at the annual
banquet of the Chicago Bryan League,
which was held tonight at the Sherman
House. In the course of his speech MIR.
Bryan said:
"This is the fifth consecutive jackson
Day BANQUET which 1 have celebrated
with this club, and l appreciate the
honor which the members have done
me In Giving my name to the club. l
take this opportunity, however, to ex-
press the hope that this club ana others
which have borne my name will substi-
tute for my name the name of some DEM
ocratio saint, or nome descriptive OF
principles rather than men.
~ am now a private citizen, with ex-
oellsnt propects of remaining such. In
tend TO continue actively in the discus
sion OF public questions and do not de-
sire to be embarrassed by being placed in
the attitude OF a oandidate.for any office.
sIhe Democratic party was never In
better fighting condition than 1t ID today
and 1 rejoice that in the course Of nature
/ have many years in which to partici-
pate In the amending struggle between
human rights and the usurpations OF
greed.
sit is not necessary to discuss the sub
ject of reorganization further than to
say that reorganization is an internal
remedy and that 1t cannot be applied
externally. Those who are within the
party lines have right to voice In this
making Of the platform and are entitled
to make suchx hange in the organization
or machinery OF the party as they please,
but honesty and good faith require that
any desired change shall be openly pro
posed and fairly presented.
"rhe defeat which the party recently
suffered ought not to discourage any one
who believes in the principles set forth
in the Kansas City platform for If these
1 principles We're right when the platform
was written, and when they were en-
dorsed by nearly six million AMI a half
OF voters, they are right still.
"rhe Democratic party has been de-
feated bsfore but defeat has neither des-
troyed Its hope nor its tansts. If any one
Is inclined to attribute recent defeats to
the platforms adopted or to the organiza-
tions In charge OF the fight-let him re-
member that the defeat OF 1886 came at
the close of an administration entirely
satisfactory to those who are most anx-
ious to re-organize the party and that the
defeat of 1924, which occurred under
similar administration was more disas-
trous than any that has taken place
since.
whether the money question will
figure prominently in future campaigns
will depend upon circumstances
'What is desired is a sufficient quanti-
ty of money to keep pace with the de-
mand for money.
'Monopolies will ultimately become so
hurtful that the Republicans Will no
longer be able to defend them. A coloni-
al policy when put into full operation
win prove so repugnant to American
principles that 1t must finally be repudi
ated by the American people.
"But If fate DEGREES a change In the
ideas and ideals of our nation and VS. are
to witness a return to the brute force
doctrines upon which empires rest, our
struggle will still have answered a pur-
pose and the work OF our party will live
in history and inspire others in future
pears. In defeat, those who support the
principle set forth In the deolara-
ton Of independence can take courage
from the heroism manifested by
those in South Africa. Cronje suffers
in loneliness on st. Helena, but his
name will live in poetry and song, when
the name of Roberts is forgotten and
Kruger viii wear a crown of deatnless
fame when kings and emperoIs are
known no more