The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-04-18
HARMONY BANQUETs.

Abject Gloom Penetrates to Democratic Love-Feasts.
 It is frequent device at banquets of
 semi-social and semi-business nature to introduce prestidigitator or a
 comic artist" or even a full vaude- vile performance, to relieve the guests from the burden of conversation and impart an aspect of cheer to the occa- sion. Something of this kind is griev- ously needed at the democratic harmo- ny banquets, of which a fresh series has been instituted. Surely a compe- tent comic artist would have been welcomed at the harmony banquet in the Bronx Monday evening at almost any stage of the proceedings. It was held nominally to honor the memory of Jefferson, but the speeches and letters of regret sounded as it were a funeral of the democratic party. MT. Cleve- land, in a letter of more than usual ponderosity, expressed the view that in time of diversity and defeat the ex- ample and teaching of Jefferson l should lead to a careful comparison of party doctrine with party practice, to the end that if misfortune has followed a departure in organization conduct from the trend of true democracy, it may be discussed and return be made to the right path"
 The Introduction at this point of a skilful juggler or of a good comic ar- tist who could sing MT. Dooley' or Nancy Brown or We Ramble Up and Down." would have been an un- speakable boon to the assemblage They had come together for festival, not to meritate on 'adversity and de- feat" Yet instead of a diversion of any kind they had to listen, after this message of gloom from MT. Cleveland, to scarcely more cheerful epistle from David B. Hill, in which he expressed the opinion that if the party would turn it's back upon the past, cease squabbling and adopt a brand new set of issues, it would take steps which would render our nominations more
 
 mission that at present its nominations are "mere empty honors" was as tact ful and inspiriting as the "adversity and defeat" observation of Mir. Cleve- land. A full orchestra, with a selec- tion calling for fortissimo in the brass, might have been introduced at this point with great effect. But instead of that, the chairman dropped upon the depressed assemblage third letter, this time from MT. Bryan, which con- cluded with the hope that the ban quet will inspire those present to imi- tate Jefferson in a fight for the appli- cation of democratic principles of gov- ernment without compromise with plu- tocracy or concessions to time-servers or patronage seekers That was, as the boy said, ''the blow that killed fla ther." Several of the guests, depressed beyond endurance, emitted groans and misses, and others cried in various ways for help" Surely the opening for a trained vaudeville troupe, with a con- tingent of high kickers, at this point was very fine.
 But what happened? Why, incredi- ble as it may seem, the chairman arose and introduced Edward M. Shepard! All the doors were closed and the win dows were well guarded. There was simply no escape So, as Br'er Rabbit did in one of his moments of tribula- tion, they ''sot and tuck it.'' Shepard had no more mercy on them than Cleveland and Hill and Bryan had shown. He warned them not to make the mistake of underestimating the popularity of the Low administration, pointing out with clearness and modes ty that while it was far inferior to the one which he would have given them had he not been defeated by the com bined speeches of Jerome and Devery, it still had merits and was not to be overthrown easily. With this cheering opening he passed through state to na- tional politics and spoke of the presi- | dent as man spelling for a fight" adding: Truly, the love of war and warlike things tends to make a man or nation play the part of a bully or to sympathize with the bully The sym pathy of Roosevelt is with the rulers of l empires" Roosevelt as consorter with kings and emperors was touch 1 of pure humor, but the guests were in l a condition of hopeless gloom by the 1 time Shepard said this to them which l rendered them as incapable of perceiv- | ing the joke as was Shepard himself.
 The final stroke of the evening was administered by Frank Campbell, l chairman of the democratic state com 1 mittee. who contributed to the harmo- ny of the occasion by saying that if | MT. Bryan had given his personal in- 1 dorsement to MT. Coler in the last cam 1 paign, as he was asked to by a special | emissary who was sent all the way to l Lincoln, Neb., for the purpose, Mr l Coler would have been elected. All ! that MT. Bryan was willing to say was l that ''it was a good ticket, but a poor 1 platform" And yet that socialistic | coal ownership plan was in the plat form! That is proof positive, in MT. l Campbelis mind, that Bryan was i "treacherous' to the party. Mir. Camp | bell has kept this damnable fact secret l till now, and only reveals it because he is about to retire from politics. Music | by full and very large brass band at | this point would have relieved the feel l ings of all present, but as there. was nothing of inc kind tbe assep,hlooa