The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-14
CANVASS OPENED IN A SPEECH TO
THE PEOPLE OF CHAM
PAIGN.
GREAT ISSUES AT STAKE.
MONEY PROBLEM THE MOST VITAL
EVER SUBMITTED TO THE
PEOPLE.
AN OVATION AT HIS NATIVE HOME
Candidate Named at Chicago the
Guest of the Village That Gave
Him Birth.

SALEM, ILL.,, July 13.-There was no
ostentation or display made by w. J.
Bryan, the Democratic presidential
nominee, on his trip to-day from Chi
cago to this. the town Of his nativity.
He bought tickets for himself and wife
at the Illinois Central depot and there
was no special car provided. The man
upon whom the Democratic party
thrust the greatest honor within its
power, rode in Pullman coach on a
regular train, and every passenger on
board the train had access to the car.
and nearly every one Of them came
back and shook hands with Mr.. Bryan
and his wife and expressed to them
their good wishes and; congratulations.
There was no demonstration at the
Park Row depot when Mr.. Bryan and
his wife left Chicago, Mr.. and Mrs.
Bryan rode to the depot in a cab, q
few minutes before time for the
train to depart. A few people recog-
nized Mr.. Bryan and exercised the
privilege to all citizens, In the case of
candidates or public officers, by shak-
ing his hand
The first stop after leaving Chicago
was at Kankakee. Fully 10000 citi-
zens had assembled around the depot
and were eagerly waiting for a chance
to catch glimpse Of the Democratic
nominee. The state insane asylum
band was there and as the train pulled
in the band was playing ..The Star
Spangled Banner" There was a. gen..
eral rush from all sides, as every one
seemed determined to grasp the Demo-
cratic leaders hand. The train only
stopped five minutes, but in that time
Mr.. Bryan was a decidedly busy man
Just before the train started there
were cries of speech, from all parts
Of the crowd, and some enthusiastic
individuals carried huge dry goods
box over the heads of the people, upon
which they intended to place Mr.. Bryan
that he might talk to them all. But
before they reached him the conductor
called "all aboard" and the train pulled
out. Mrs. Bryan was an interested
spectator Of all that went on the de-
pot platform.
The little town Of Paxton was the
next stop, and as Mr.. Bryan alighted
from the car, a Stalwart veteran with
long gray hair and flowing white
beard, pressed his way to the front and
grasped the presidential candidate. by
the hand. II knew it would come to
this some day Bilr' he said in a gruff
voice. II knew your father before you
were born, and / have watched you
from the time you used to kick UP the
dust in the streets Of Salem with your
bare feet and have always said that
you would be great man one day."
The people at Rantoul were given
but three minutes in which to shake
hands with the new leader of the Demo-
cratic party. The town only boasts Of
thousand inhabitants and at least
two-thirds Of them, men, women and
children, were at the depot to greet Mr..
Bryan and he was
ENTHUSIASTICAL CHEERED
AS Mr.. Bryan boarded the train he
turned about on the platform in re-
sponse to loud calls for a speech He
raised both hands and instantly there
was silence. IF you will only vote
next November as industriously as
you shout now I will be sure to be
elected" The bell on the engine be-
gan to clang, the train moved away
and the assembled citizens roared with
delight
Champaign gave the greatest demon
stratton Of the trip. The streets were
blocked with vehicles and people. in
every direction from the depot. There
was a military band and nearly every
one of the thousands of people, who
had come to do honor to the Demo-
cratic nominee, carried a flag A COM
mittee, representing. the citizens Of
Champaign county and city, was at
the depot to meet the. distinguished
man from Nebraska. Mr.. and Mrs.
Bryan were escorted to temporary
platform which had been erected on a
floor which stood on q side track. It
was draped with bunting and flowers.
There was. an ovation of handclapping
and cheers when Mr. Bryan stepped
to the front Of the platform. He was
introduced to the throng Of citizens by
Col. j. S. Wolf, venerable old gentle
man bearing strong resemblance to
Gladstone. When quiet was restored
Mr.. Bryan said:
Il believe have not visited this city
since about 1879. Cries of Good boy
Bryan" and great applause.) In that
year l was student at the Illinois
college and we had a contest; 1 think
an intercollegiate contest was had in
this city at your college and it was my
good fortune to be present and to meet
some of your people, and that Is the
last time, and 1 believe the first time
that I have ever been here or passed
through here.
II am not going to make a political
speech this afternoon. I just have
been talking some at Chicago and I
am kind of between speeches / am
glad to have an occasion to talk to you
for while and I am gratified to see
that so many people, by their presence
have shown their interest in this cam
paign. In my judgment 1t is the
MOST IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN
through which this country has passed
In time of peace during our existence
as nation. (Applause.1 A campaign
in which great issues are to be settled.
issues which affect every man, woman
and child in the nation. And 1 beg Of
you that you shall realize and appre-
ciate the important part which you
bear in this campaign.
This is the greatest nation on the
earth. 1t is in advance, in my humble
judgment, in all that makes a nation
great; in advance of all nations that
live or have lived in those great things.
and the opportunities which people find
here have their highest and best de-
velopmentS. We have the best form
of government, and we have the most
perfect form of government because il
is a government which can be lust as
good as people desire 1T to be. No gov
ernment can be better than the people
desire. If our government is good, il
our laws are just, it Is because we
make them ourselves. L have conf
dence in the intelligence and in the
patriotism of the great common people
of this country (app1ause.) The only
trouble that we have Is, that people are
so often Indifferent to their duties as