The herald., 1896-07-11
BRYAN RECEIVES THE NEWS
Prompt Pledge to the Performance of
Duty
With That End 10 View He Will Under No
Circumstances Be Candidate for
Re-election

CHICAGO, July 10-Mr Bryan re-
ceived the announcement of his nomina-
tion with all the composure and calm
ness of man who had been used to such
things during longer life than his. His
handsome black eyes were perhaps
slightly more dilated than ordinarily
when the Associated Press carrying the
he maYifesteha N5sd hinge OF "tbeTY,iSe
ance or manner. He was at the time
sitting chatting with two newspaper
friends of his in the parlor at the Cliff
ton house.
If" said he, this is true, want to
do that which have for some time had
in contemplation in this emergency"
He then turned to the parlor table
and with lead pencil wrote on a scrap
of soft paper supplied by one of his
newspaper visitors, the following:
ITO the American People: In order
that may have no ambition but to dis
charge faithfully the duties of the office,
/ desire to announce that if elected
president l shall under no circumstances
be candidate for reelection.
(Signed.) "W. j. BRYAN.
Before he could complete this work
number of persons desiring to extend
CONGRATULATIONS had arrived, but he eX-
| cused himself to them until he could
| finish the message. He then shook hands
cordially with all present and immedi-
ately hurried away to the barber shop
| to be shaved.
The news in the meantime had become
generally known and the rather con-
! stricted lobby of the Clifton was com
pletely filled by the time the barber
had allowed his distinguished customer
to leave the tonsorial chair. There were
cheers and calls for speech when he
appeared in the corridor of the hotel.
| Taking a stand on the stairway, Mr..
Bryan said:
| My Friends: 7 assure you am eX-
tremely grateful for the great compli-
| ment which am assured has been paid
| me by the Democratic national conVen-
ton 1t of course remains to be seen
| whether the nomination is wise or un-
wise one. For my part do not know.
This will, of course, be determined by
the contest which will be decided at the
polls next November when 1t will be
known not only whether l shall be elect
ed or defeated, but immeasurably more
|
of silver Shall lose or win. l will only
add that 1 hope those who accept the
views of the Democratic platform which
was yesterday adpoted will lose no op
portunity to influence the result IN th'
interest of the doctrines therein incui
Gated. ] thank you for this manlIesta
ton of your endorsement.
The brief speech was received with
loud and generous burst of applause an'
demand for an opportunity 10 shaK
hands with the new candidate. An I'm
promptu reception followed for abon
twenty minutes at the foot of the stair
way. The reception concluded, MI
Bryan returned to his private room
where he said to an Associated Press re
porter:
There is nothing care to say NOR
than l have said in the BRIEF statemen
have given out in regard to secon
term [ may add in explanation OF thi
|, statement that it was not the result c
q sudden impulse, for have had In min
; the propriety of making such an an
nouncement ever since have regarde
this nomination as probability. DC
lieve it to be a good principle. The pres
| 1Qency IS the nlSnest hoHoi that e"ii
bestowed by this country on human pe
ing and the power OF the once Is
great that there ought to be no tempts
l ton to the man occupying the office
t use it for his own advancement. M
!, declaration is not unprecedented. M
Cleveland in his first letter of accep
j, anc set forth the objections to secon
e term in language so forcible that it cal
t not be surpassed. President Hayes az
l vocated an amendment tn the constitl