The record-union., 1896-07-16
Demonstration in Honor Of the Demo.
cratic Nominee at Salem, Illinois.
The City Gaily Decorated and Business
Suspended.
A Heavy Rain and Windstorm for a
Time Causes Stampede Among
the People Gathered in the Public
Square to Take Part in the Fes-
f:u;fsoc
tivitieS.

SALEM Qu), July 15-Salem paid
her farewell to-day to William j. Bryan
in a grand demonstration that exceeded
by far the pyrotechnic reception given
him on his arrival here Monday night.
Yesterday morning the preparations
were begun and the result was the
transformation of the candidates birth
place from an ordinary county seat to
a place Of variegated color and lavish
decoration.
In front of the old courthouse where
Bryan made his maiden speech, and
where his father presided as Circuit
Judge for many years, a platform had
been erected and was covered with red,
white and blue bunting and other en-
bellishments, In response to a procla-
nation of Mayor Lakin, nearly every
house flOated the national standard or
some other adornment and pictures of
Bryan We're prominent in the windows
Of shops and private residences
Business was suspended and the
whole town prepared itself for making
the day the greatest that Salem ever ex-
perienced. Excursions Were run by the
railroads and people from nearly all the
neighboring villages and the surround
ing country took advantage of the OPP
portunity afforded by cheap rates to
bear Bryan. A promise that Governor
Altgeld would also make an address
was another attraction. Four bands had
been engaged for the occasion and the
three who helped the Salem orchestra
to make music headed delegations from
nearby towns.
a heavy wind and rainstorm came at
noon, and for a while there was a stam-
pede among the hundreds of visitors,
who believed a cyclone was imminent
The rain ruined the decorations and
when it had ceased Salem presented a
bedraggled appearance. Courthouse
Park was mire when the rain was
over, and the 5000 people who were
crowded into the square had a very I'M
comfortable standing place.
A reception committee and several
bands escorted Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan
from Mrs. Baird's residence to the park
and their appearance was the signal for
hearty cheers. l.. NJ. Kagy presided at
the meeting, and after prayer by Rev.
+. 3. Young, a Methodist minister, Mr.
Bryan was introduced, saying in part:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I have no disposition to talk politics to-
day l shall leave all discussion of
party questions to those who shall fol-
low. Returning to the scenes which
surround my home the memories of
other days crowd out all thoughts of
other subjects ON which we may agree
or differ. l remember with grateful ap-
probation the kindly feeling ON church
and party lines when l lived among you,
and l shall not attempt to divide by
party lines those who are here to-day.
81 believe" said Mr.. Bryan, that
there is an ideal plane in politics, and 1
believe I stand upon it to-day. We meet
to-day recognizing the differences of
feeling, but with charity toward each
other. We are all imbued with the same
spirit, all imbued with the same ambi-
tions, all willing to carry out the same
purposes. We want government of the
people, for the people and by the peo-
pie, and while we differ as to the meth
DDS we cannot differ as honest citizens
When these questions that agitate peo-
pie have passed away we then under
stand those fundamental principles
which underlie good government.
1--WE believe that Governments derive
their fullest powers from the consent of
the governed; we know no divine right
of Kings. These citizens are those
upon whom rest the responsible
ties of government, and while
each strives in his own way to