The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-14
BRYAN AND CLEVELAND
SENT LETTERS, BUT THE
FORMERS WAS NOT READ
Neither the Ex-President Nor the
Nebraskan Attended the Iro-
quois Club Banquet.
GEN. MILES WAS THERE
And He Received an Ovation
When He Arose to Speak
Against Imperialism


bring success to the Democratic party in
the presidential campaign this fall were dis
cussed by prominent Democrats. represent
ing every part of the country, who attended
the Iroquois Club banquet at the Auditor
ium tonight in celebration of Jefferson
nrtnaay Iarld reform fn an antagSnii,Sm TO
and rigid economy in public expenditures
were some of the suggestions offered by the
speakers to bring about this result. fea-
ture OF the banquet was a letter from
Grover Cleveland. who had been invited to
attend, but was unable to be present. In
his letter, which was read TO the banquet
ers, Mr.. Cleveland advised all Democrats
to make close study of Jefferson's career
and ''patriotically seek the welfare of our
country through the ascendancy of safe and
a letter from w. j. Bryan was given out
TO the press, but ii was not read at the
banquet.
When Stephen S. Gregory. the toastmas-
ter of the evening, introduced Gen. Nelson
A. Miles. the 500 banqueters rose in a body
and greeted the former head of the United
states army with decided enthusiasm Gem
eral Miles, in his response to the toast,
Our Country" made forcible argument
against imperialism, and his words met the
approval of the audience. He said, in part:
ITO say nothing of the thousands of lives
that have been lost ruined in the con-
quest of the Philippines, we have expended
enough treasure drawn from the people of
this country TO have put water on every
quarter-sectiOn OF our arid land, thereby
benefiting millions of our home-bulders, or
to have built splendid system of good
roads over entire country. Yet we
find 100000 of Malays crowded into these
islands in an area not as large as the ter
ritory of New Mexico. a population greater
than that which now occupies the western
half of the United States.
Our flag was raised in glory over the
halls OF the Montezumas and lowered with
honor. Again IL was raised in glory over
the capital of the celestial empire and
lowered with honor 1t was raised in glory
over the Island of Cuba and now with
honor has given place to the banner OF the
last OF the seventeen republics that have
been established in the western hemisphere
copied alter our own and embracing 5,0O0,O 900
people.
Il rejoice that the most thoughtful and
humane of our fellow-countrymen are now
advocating granting the people of the
Philippine islands the blessings that we
have given TO those of Cuba; thereby estab-
fishing the first republic in the Orient.
When this just and generous act is accom-
plished the eight millions of inhabitants of
those islands will hail ii with unspeakable
joy and the great majority of the people
of this country will indorse the benevolent
act. Two hundred days would be sufficient
time in which TO accomplish that glorious
result.
1--WE need not cultivate an appetite for
the horizon when we have the best coun-
try on earth, with undeveloped resources
that will occupy our people for hundreds OF
years. In the northeast section of our coun-
try we find marvellous ingenuity, enter
prise and concentrated wealth, yet there
are more undeveloped resources and I'M
utilized wealth in the Southern and West
ern States than within the reach of the
people of any other country on earth. In
those States natural products can be de-
veloped that will make millions OF people
| happy and prosperous"
The next speaker introduced was United
States Senator Edward w. Carmack, of
tennessee, who took for his theme
Thomas Jefferson.
The Democratic party" was the subject
discussed by Adlai Stevenson. former Vice
| son pleaded for a united party and the
| adoption of living issues in the platform al
| the st. Louis convention.
| The next speaker was Gov. l.. r. Garyin
| OF Rhode Island. who responded TO the
| toast, Democratic Success
LETTER FROM MIR. CLEVELAND.
When Governor Garvin had finished
| Toastmaster Gregory read a letter from ex-
President Grover Cleveland. who expressed
deep regret at not being able to be present
| at the banquet. The letter follows:
| Princeton, n. j., March %, 1904.
| Mr.. Orva G.. Williams, Iroquois Club. Chi
| cago, ILL.,:
Dear Sir-I very much regret the neces-
| sity which compels me to decline your
| courteous invitation to attend the celebra-
| ton of Jefferson's birthday under the aus
| pices of the Iroquois Club. 1t is especially
| fitting at this time of confusion in politica
| ideas and msapprehensions as to the mean
| ing of true Democracy, that tthe character
| of the great eXemplar of Democracy should
| be fully appreciated and that his politica
| opinions should be better interpreted anC
| understood. His devotion to the interests
| of the people. his wise conservatism and his
| constant adherence to the public good, al
| ways the guiding star of his carer, com
mend his acts and his beliefs to the careful
| study of those who in these days, patriot
caily seek the welfare of our country
| through the ascendency of safe and sane
| Democracy.
Trusting that the celebration of tn,
| birthday of this great leader will prove Il
be both a source of pleasure and profit t.
those who participate. | am very truly
| yours, GROVER CLEVELAND"
The next speaker, Martin w. Littleton
| of New York, who took for his subject
| THE Empire State, the Hope of Democ
| racy," declared that if a platform alon,
the lines suggested by some of the othe
| speakers was adopted and Judge Alton b
Parker, of New York, selected as a leader
the Democratic party was bound to tri
umph in the coming election.
LETTER FROM Mr.. BRYAN
The following letter from William ]
Bryan was given out. but not read:
Lincoln, Neb. April T.
MIR. Andrew j. Ryan, Chicago:
My Dear Sir-I am just in receipt o
your invitation TO attend the twenty -thir,
annual banquet of the Iroquois Club, to b.
held on the 18th inst. L thank you for tn
not be able TO attend | trust, however
that those present Will take advantage o
| the occasion TO present TO the country tn
| importance of maintaining Democratic prin
ciples as they were set forth in the plat
forms of 1886 and 1900. The merger decision
shows how closely the Supreme Court i
| divided and how easy il is for those VIII
| sympathiZe with corporate wealth TO fin
| reasons for staying the hand of government
when IL attempts to rebuke those who ex
| plot the people. Under our Constitution
the President appoints judges and thos
who have watched the decisions in tn
Hayes-Tilden contest. in the income la
cases in the trust cases and in the cases i'm
volving the policy of the government in tn
Philippines cannot doubt that il is as i'm
portant TO have judges who sympa thiz
with the people as TO have judges learne
in the law.
s'In the present struggle between plutoc
racy and democracy the corpora tons ar
seeking To control the Supreme Court an
If they can do that the House of Repre-
sentatives. the Senate and the Presiden
are powerlesS to protect the people
trust that those who are honored with a
invitation To speak at your banquet wi
raise a note of warning against the al
tempt now being made by the money mag
mates 10 control the Democratic conventio
and to secure the nomination of a Demo
cratic candidate who will be obligated i
advance TO be true to the hopes of tn
Democratic masses. Very truly yours,
wv. = BRYAN"
After Mr. Littleton had finished lette
was read from the Hon. John 5. Williams
of Mississippi. Democratic leader of tn
national House of Representatives
National Morality the subject dis
1 Tr..ff tot tor oil,