The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-28
DEMOCRATS AT BANQUET.
TOwne Spoke on 1.-The Democracy
of the West"


New York, April 27.--The annual din
ner Of the Brooklyn Democratic Club
to commemorate the anniversary of
the birth of James Monroe, and which
had been spoken of as a harmony"
dinner was held at the Germania Club
rooms tonight. There were about $50
persons present. Herman A. Metz,
president of the club, presided, and
those at the guests table included Hon.
Charles A Towne of Minnesota and
Hon. James l.. Slayden of Texas.
Mr.. 'Towne responded to the toast,
The Democracy of the West" saying
in part:
ITO restore the ancient landmarks of
the constitution, to wrest from pri-
waite interest the control of the govern
ment and bring the people to their own
again, is not this a programme In
which all genuine Democrats can
unite? And If man honestly Join in
such cause, is he not a Democrat?
Speaking for myself, as a man who adj
vocated before hundreds of thousands
OF citizens in many states the prin-
ciples of the Democratic platforms of
1896 and 1900, and who believed in
those principles then and believes in
them now as applicable to the same
conditions, / am very frank to declare
any SOAAfiCb1On ltidL DOln JuSllCt anu
expediency demand that no greater
test of a mans Democracy should be
required to-day than his belief in and
readiness to labor for the principles
that are at stake to-day. If a man is
sincerely with me now l have not the
right either to deny him the glory of
fighting nor TO deprive myself of his
assistance In our common cause on
the ground that we were not agreed
upon former occasion.
Let me not be misunderstood; do
not mean that a mans attitude in 1896
and 1900 is nothing to be inquired
about. 1t Is possible that he may then
have been a profound believer in the
great fundamental principles of De-
mocracy, but that he may have with
held his support from the party from
either honest doubt that the particular
policies advocated would subserve
those principles or from sincere con-
viction that they would not. On the
other hand, either beliefs or sympa-
thies adverse to the general doctrines
of the party may have caused him to
make of these particular policies an
excuse or pretenSe for inactivity or
open aid to the Republican programme.
In the former case / maintain that a
man, if he is not in harmony with
Democratic purposes. has a right to a
seat at the counsel table and place
in the fighting lines. In the latter
case, contend just as stoutly, he
should neither expect nor receive the
treatment of friend and ally His
place is among the ranks of the enc
my.
ITO those Democrats, therefore, who
were not with the party in 1896 or 1900,
let us say: Are you sincerely with us
newT If they answer Yes. let US OK
anime the record of those campaigns
only as bearing upon their good faith.
II satisfied with that / shall be glad
for Affy part to keep step with you
and them to the music OF the constitq-
tion and the Declaration OF Independ-
ence until the principles of both are
once again the recognized and honorcd
bulwarks of the republic"
Congressman James L. Slayden of
Texas spoke of the ever faithful
Democracy of the South. He cited the
fact that five times in the last thirty
five years Texas had given It's electoral
vote for citizens of New York, land
if you and the other Northern Demo-
Gratis say so, we stand ready to vote
for another New Yorker next year
No matter who may be nominated in
1904, we will not weep, nor sulk nor
bolt"
Democracy as steadfast as that of
the South" Mr.. Slayden said, does
not need reorganization. l don't think
we want reorganization anywhere.
What we need is recruits"
Mr.. Slayden said, 1.-The Republican
administration reeks with scandal and
stinks with corruption. Carpetbagism
in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip
pines has done what carpetbagism has
never failed to do-from Give and
Hastings down to Wood and Rathbone
lit has brought disgrace and scan
dal"
Letters and kilograms of regret at
their inability to be present were re-
ceived from Gov. A. J. Montague of
Virginia; Hon. w. A. Jones, congress-
man from the Monroe district in Vir-
ginia and Hon. Richard Olney of Mass
achusetts