The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-04-17
Hailed as Leader When He
Arises at Midnight at Brook
Ivn Democratic Reunion
JOHN ". TOML|NSON AND
OTHER NOTABLES SPEAK
AIabaman Is introduced as Represents
ing the South and Receives an
ovation-Speaks On Public
Opinion and Law.

New York, April 16.-With William ].
Bryan as the chief attraction the democ-
racy of Brooklyn tonight, in observ-
ance of the anniversary of the birth of
Thomas Jefferson, engaged in an enthusi-
astic democratic reunion and demonstra-
ton The function was the annual din
ner of the Brooklyn Democratic club.
Mr.. Bryan, who concluded day of Wig
orous action, which embraced four public
addresses, was given splendid reception,
and delivered a characteristic discourse,
taking for his subject, Thomas Jeffer-
son.
Mr. Bryan attended the early courses
of the dinner and then hurried away to
give two lectures in other parts of Brook
lyn to return later in the evening as the
last speaker at the post prandial exer-
cises.
Besides Mr.. Bryan the speakers in
cuded E. NJ. Shepard of New York, G.
Fred Williams of Massachusetts. former
Governor Tyler of Virginia, Col. John
w Tomlnson of Birmingham, Governor
Warf1eld of Maryland, Augustus Thomas,
the playwright, and Congressman Ollie
James of kentucky. Other guests were
James H. Blount of Georgia, United
States judge of the Philippines; Charles
f. Murphy, leader of Tammany organ
ization. and Lewis Nixon one of the dem-
ocratic leaders in New York
In extending the welcome to the guests
Mr.. Shepard paid tribute to Mr. Bryan,
whom he welcomed with the words that
the Brooklyn Democratic cig then and
there declared IT'S strong and loyal hope
that Mr.. Bryan would lead the party in
1908"
Cheers followed Mr.. shepard's an
nouncement.
Mr.. Williams of Massachusetts dis
cussed the question of the government
ownership of railroads. He said:
II see no escape from the conclusion
that if government ownership is right, it
should be adopted now; if regulation is
wrong, it should not be attempted at ALL"
But Mr. Williams believed that regula-
ton was not right not possible and not
expedient.
Mr. Tomlinson, who was introduced as
representing the south, received an ova-
ton at the conclusion of his speech, be-
ing frequently applauded. He spoke on
the subject of public Opinion and Law"
but took occasion to speak of democratic
prospects, concluding that democratic
principles and policies were growing so
rapidly in popular favor that some of the
republicans felt that the President, who
had adopted some of them, was their only
hope. But that this hope now was gone
since the President in his letters to Har-
riman has admitted knowledge at least
of the raising of large election contribu-
ton funds
Mr. Tomlinson further said the repub-
licans are more divided than at any time
Ill. y, ,iF1 to
gether with the fact that Tilden had been
defrauded out of the presidency, contrib
uted to the election of a democratic Pres
ident and while republicans are now at
war democrats are at peace more than
ever before. In response to the toast he
spoke in part as follows:
.'Mr Toastmaster and Gentlemen-I de-
sire to thank the officials and members
of the Brooklyn Democratic club for the
honor of being a guest when assembled
TO celebrate the birth of Thomas Jefer-
son. / do not feel an entire stranger, as
] have had the pleasure of meeting many
of you on other occasions; in tho demo-
cratic national convention at Kansas city
] served on the committee on platform
with Judge Van Wyck; in that campaign
] made several speeches in New York.
one with your candidate for governor at
the Academy of Music in Brooklyn, and
! assure you l am glad to be with you
on this OCCASION
s'In regard to the toast to which I am
called on to respond. Public Opinion and
Law the influence of public opinion has
always been felt more or less in all coun-
tries: II is tracable everywhere along the
pages of the worlds history; no despotic
power has ever stood before it; some
times it is mild as the summer zephyr.
then again 1t rises to all the grandeur of
the storm; but at all times especially In
the United States. 1t is the master of
servants who tremble before it,
Change In Spirit.
I'm his book on Law and Public Opin-
ion in England, MIR. Dicey attributes the
reform laws there largely to the increas-
ing influence of the individual and the
advancement OF democratic opinion; and
Mr. Bryce, the present ambassador from
that country, in his American Common
wealth., discusses the effect of public
opinion on the laws of this country, espe-
cially our constitution, which he claims
has changed in the spirit with which men
regard it, and therefore in its own spirit.
And Judge Cooley, the eminent Amer
lean authority, along the same line like
wise bows to its influence on organic law,
when he says: We may think we have
the constitution all before us, but for
practical purposes it is what the govern
ment in its several departments. and the
people in the exercise of their duties as
citizens recognize and respect as such,
= nothing else
You hear 1t frequently said that our
constitution should be changed so as to fit
new conditions. The constitution itself
proyides for its own amendment. And
llnaucstionably it should be amended in
some of it's provisions, but not in one of
its principles. Conditions may but prin-
cples never change. The principles of
free government are the same now as
. when the constitution was adopted.
But the trouble is that the innovations
\ 1t Washington which have been made, or
contemplated, involve a serious departure
principle The colonial policy, denied
recent presidential campaigns, but now
nted and defended, Is antagonistic to
principle of a republican form Of