The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-07

Des Moines, Iowa, April 2.-Three
hundred democrats attended the Jeffer-
sonian banquet. here tonight, and the
demand for tickets could not be met.
The attendance was representative of
democratic party throughout the state.
The principal speakers were William j.
Bryan and former Vice President Adlai
Stevenson. William Randolph Hearst,
of New York, who had been announced
as d speaker, sent a letter in which he
expressed his regrets.
Mr.. Stevenson gave his views as to
the proper policy of the democratic
party in the coming presidential CAM
paiSa. He said: In the approaching
struggle for political supremacy, appeal
Will be made more earnestly h ever
before to democrats to present an I'M
broken front. An appeal to all. regard
less of past party afilia ions who con-
denim favOritism in legislation; that
fav0ritiSm which enriJ nes the few at
the expense of the mLny; to all who,
by wise legislation ..ouId curb the
power of the trust, nat constant me-
mace to honest bust ess enterprise and
TO popular goVernm, Mt; to all who con-
denim e~XtraVagant and wasteful expen-
dItures of the pubic money; to all who
condemn the lat ! day policy of for
elgn conquest, a a word to all who
would restore { : safe and economical
methods in go rnment, established by
the ounders : the republic
Responding } the toast Democracy"
Mr.. Bryan Joke in part as follows:
Will this banquet has not been ad-
Nanced as harmony banquet 1t is
much NOR in the interest of armon
than higE priced banquets. which are
held for ne purpose of securing a Sc
lect audience for the men who have
not recently appeared on the stump In
behalf of the democratic party. Aar-
mOny Ike happiness, is not secured by
seeking for it; it comes as the reward
OF right doing. Harmony IS a thing
TO be felt, not a thing to be talked
about The mere mention of harmony.
suggests differences that need recon-
Citation and the vociferouS talk about
harmony among those who disturbed It.
left the party and lent their influence
10 the enemy, naturally recalls the ls-
Sues that created the disturbance and
naturally suggests the inquiry whether
the ~prodigals have repented or demand
repentance of the party.
The difference, which existed on the
money question, still exists. for while
the republicans are Boosting that the
money question is settled, none Is
tight in the great financial centers and
the fnanciers of this country are re-
sorting to extraordinary methods to get
enough money into circulation to carry
on business.
ON the trust question the same line
OF cleavage appears. The men who
threatened a panic if silver was re-
stored, now threaten a panic If the
trusts are disturbed and the trust mag
mates are casting about for a demo-
cratic candidate so much like a repub-
lican that trusts can rest easy, no mat
ter which candidate is elected.
REORGANIZATION means retreat. and
retreat. decentralization and disaster.
From The low stand point of expedience,
retreat could not be justified. The
party pOlled a million more votes in
support of the Chicago and Kansas City
platforms han were polled by Mr..
-A~ even bO1OAC Ills pOlltLNSll
crimes were exposed.
What would be the result today II
The standard were put in the hands Of
men known to be unfaithful to demo-
cratic principles or even in the hands
Of those that are known to be faithful?
But there is a sOrdiness about the ar
Suments made by the r~eorganizers,
which GU hit 10 disgust any we'll lean
lrE or high minded citizen. 1t is really
insulting TO a man to intimate that he
thinks il is more important that we get
control of the administration. than that
We administer power in accordance with
democratic principles and in the inter
est Of people ar large.
To say that a right principle must
be dropped because the party has suffer
ed defeat in support of the principle.
is as ridiculous as it is coward
~ The democratic party has
been defeated more often on
the tariff issue than any other issue.
and yet that is the trade issue that the
re~organizers would make the para
mount one. The trust question was an
issue both in 1896 and 1900 and there is
as much reason for declaring that the
elections indicated private m~onopolies.
as 20 say that they vindicated the gold
standard. In 1900. the trust question
was more discussed than the money
question. and yet the people who want
10 drop the money question, pretend
10 feel an interest in the trust question.
Imperialism was the paramount issue
in 1900 n overshadowed all others and