The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-06-26
BRYAN TALKS NOW.
dis Remarks on CleyeIand's Speech
at Harmony Dinner
OVATION T0A FORMER DEMOCRAT
Some Structures on the Democracy
OF rIr. Clevs land - 4 Characteristic
Talk By Ncbsaskan.


of VIM. J. Bryan from the harmony
dinner in New York is pretty we'll ex-
planned by a statement given out by
Mr. Bryan, commenting on the dinner.
At the outset, Mr. Bryan says there is
no such thing as Democratic harmony
where former President Cleveland Is
concerned. He says:
The banquet given on the evening
of June 10Th, by the Tilden Club, OF
New York. was advertised as 'har-
mony' meeting, but it turned out to be
what might have been expected of such
a gathering, an ovation to the chief
guests, former Democrat, Grover Cleve-
land. There can be no such thing as
harmony between men like him and
those who believe in Democratic prin-
ciples and he is frank enough to say so.
He spent no time looking for middle
ground upon which to gather together
discordant elements. He boldly called
upon the members Of the party to
abandon their convictions and accept
the construction which he placed upon
Democratic principles. He even taunt-
ed the party with being sort Of prodi-
gal son, and invited it to give up Its
diet of husks and return to its fathers
house.
He spoke of his retirement from
political activity and said: Perhaps
there are those who would define my
position as one Of Punishment instead
OF retirement. Against this l shall not
enter protest. 1t is sufficient for me
in either case that l have followed in
matters of difference within ouf~ party
the teachings and counsel OF the great
Democrat, in whose name party peace
and harmony are tonight invoked. No
confession of party sin should there
tore be expected of me. have none to
make nor do l crave political absolu-
don'
"He not only boasted of his course
but put his brand upon those who sat
At meat with him. Having asserted that
his Democratic faith compelled him to
leave the party (or resulted in his ban
ishment), he described the banqueters
as sharing in that faith.
"Iie is not only defiant, but he in
sists that party success can be secured
only by an open and avowed return to
his ideas. Harmony is to be secured,
not by the suppression of differences,
but by the elimination of those who
differ from him"
MIR. Bryan says he will print in his
paper Mr.. Clevelands speech, Ito show
that the organizers do not want har-
mcny, but control, and that their con-
troll means the abandonment of the par
tvs position, and a return to the poll
cies and practices Of Mr.. Cleveland's
second administration"
He continues: He (Cleveland) Sc
cured his nomination in 1892 by Sc
cret bargain with the financiers; his
committee collected from the corpora
tions and spent the largest campaign
fund the party ever had; he filled his
cabinent wirl corporation agents and
placed railroad attorneys on Ae United
States bench to look after the interests
of their former clients. He turned the
Treasury over to Wall street syndi-
cate and the financial member OF his
family went from Washington to be-
! come the private attorney of tle man,
who forced CD the Treasury Depart
ment to sell him government bonds at
1O5 and then resold them at 112. He
tried to prevent the adoption Of the in
come tax proposition and refused to
sign the only tariff reform measure
passed since the war, and while thun-
dering against the trusts in his mes
sages, did even less than Knox has
done to interfere with their high
handed methods.
His administration, instead Of be-
ing a fountain Of Democracy, sending
forth pure and refreshing streams, be-
came a stagnant pool from whose wa
ters foul vaports arose-poisonous tc
those who fingered near. Having de-
bauched his party, he was offended by
its effort to reform and gave comfort
to the enemy, Virginius killed his
daughter to save her chastity; Cleve-
land stabbed his party to prevent its
return to the paths of virtue.
"And now, still gloating over his po-
litical crimes, he invites the party to
return to him and apologize for the
contempt which it has expressed for
him. Will it? Not until the principles
of Jefferson are forgotten and the
works OF Jackson cease to inspire.
"If We are to have reorganization,
Cleveland himself should accept the
presidential nomination. 1t will do
him; his reinstatement would be poetic
Justice to him and retribution to those
whose Democratic conscience revolted
against his un-Democratic conduct. OF
course, he would get no Democratic
votes, but, being closer to plutocracy
than any Republican likely to be nomi-
mated, he might divide the enemy, and
-.