The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-14
GOING ON
EASTWARD.
Bryan PursueS His Course Tow
ard ''The Enemy's Country
Agaim-His Speech at Mt. YER
non, Illinois.
BRYAN ISINTRODUCED
By Judge SempIe a Republican
Member
Of the Appellate Court Whom
He Compliments.

Mt. Vernon, Ill, Sept. 14.-Between
5000 and 1000 people packed themselves
in the court house square at Mt. Yer
non this morning waiting for the COM
rng of the three time nominee.
The ever present band did its level
best and the Bryan club, dressed in
white duck suits, preserved a line from
the car to the platform from which Mr..
Bryan spoke. AS Bryan was intro
duced by Judge SempIe of the appellate
court, he announced he had always
been a Republican himself till this year.
Mr.. Bryan said: Ladies and Cen
tlemen: I appreciate the fact that this
meeting is presided over by one who
until this campaign has been a Re
publican. I also appreciate the fact
that while our opponents may say to me
that I am young and lacking in public
experience, that they cannot bring the
charge against a member of the appel
late court whose judgment and heart
have helped him to espouse the cause
of the people. (Applause.)
"I am glad that from day to day we
are finding recruits to our cause, from
those whose position in public life raise
them above the slander of those who
apply the name of anarchist or disturb-
er of the public peace to those who
raise their hands against the encroach-
ments of syndicates and corporations.
(Applause.) A few months ago, I was
ip your midst, then as a private citizen,
simply representing cause which was
near to my heart and when I told you
that the brand of my Democracy was
different from the brand which was be
ing presented by the administration,
your city was advertised by those who
tried to make it appear that I denied
that I was a Democrat. (Applause.)
My friends, those of you who were
here, knew that I not only did not de-
clare myself not a Democrat. but that I
have always declared myself a better
Democrat than any man (AppIause) who
sought to undo what Jefferson and
Jackson did for the American people.
(Great applause.) Since that meeting
great events have taken place; since
we met here last March, the Republi-
can party met in national convention at
St. Louis and did what no party in this
nation ever did before, declared that
the financial policy of this country
should depend, not upon what the Amer
lean people desired, but upon what for
eign nations, in their compassion would
allow the American people to have.
(ApplaUse) The Republican platform
does not say that the gold standard is
a good thing. It's substance declares
that a double standard is better than a
single gold standard, because that plat
form pledges the Republican party to
get rid of the gold standard and sub
stitute the bimetalIic (Applause) when?
Not when our people need it.
mot when our people need it. Not
when our people desire it, but as soon
as the leading commercial nations of
the world will join with US in doing it.
(Applause)
I ask you, my friends, to study that
platform we'll, because we may fairly
assume that man elected upon a plat
form will carry out that platform.
When does this Republican party say
we shall have bimetallism. 1t does not
state the time. How long does it say
that we must maintain the gold stand
ard? For one year? It does not limit
it to one year or four years. Now, my
friends, far as that platform goes,
it declares that whether the American
people like the gold standard or not,
whether they suffer from it or not, they
must maintain it forever, for nations
insist upon our keeping it. Great ap-
plause.) I am willing to submit the
question to the American people. Gap
pIause and cries of That's right.)