The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-27
BIG DEMONSTRATION AT ERIE.
Bryan Speaks to Three Audiences of
Nearly 5000 Each.

Erie, Pa, Aug. 2I.-William J. Bryan
made speeches yesterday in three cities
of two states-Syracuse and Rochester,
n. Y. and Erie, Pa. The days dem
OnStratiOn eliminated in Erie, where the
meeting of $50 OF the Democratic sOcie-
ties OF pennsylvania made the pres
ence of the candidate particularly cp-
perfume Here Mr.. Bryan made three
stirring speeches to as many different
audiences in the evening, being driven
quickly from one hall TO another.
The first meeting was at Maenner-
Choir hall, which held $500 persons, TO
whom Mr. Bryan appealed to study the
issues of the campaign and vote their
convictions. His second appearance
was on the stage of the Auditorium.
where he had an audience equally as
large.
Outside of the Erie Opera House
thousands more had embed for a
glimpse of the candidate and inside
were assembled the delegates to the
meeting OF the Democratic societies.
When the people were admitted they
filed the house in five minutes and the
doors were closed upon hundreds. The
entrance of the presidential candidate
upon the arm of ex-Congressman
Joseph c. Sibley inspired a wild scene
of enthusiasm which lasted several
minutes and Mrs. Bryan's appearance
in d box with Mrs. Sibley produced
more enthusiasm.
This was the principal speech. Mr..
Bryan said:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
men: esteem it a great privilege to
be permitted tonight to meet with the
members assembled here from all over
the state, because know what this
means.
I know by inspiration that they give
the enthusiasm which will be carried
back by those who go forward to pros
ecute the work of this campaign. In
my judgment we are entering upon
campaign which will be memorable in
the history of this country. not only
hapal1 NJ f0Frn1Ta6-f6af
would be enough TO make it an epoch in
the history of natiOnS-but there are
other reasons. This campaign demon
StrateS as no campaign has done with
in the last generation the capacity of
the people for government. (CfTeat
applause and cheers.)
"a voice: "A Daniel come to judg-
ment. Hurrah for Daniel.'D CAP
Mr.. Bryan: rs there a man in all
this land who doubts that the Ameri-
can people can rise o the requirements
of any emergency If SO. I bid him cast
his eyes upon seventy millions of peo-
PIE thinking out their salvation. CAP
plause.)
rs there man who believes that the
age of OratOry is gone? l point him to
every great principle in this nations
history. where he will find a modern
Demosthenes. OratOry will live so long
as there are causes which appeal to the
human heart. (Applause-) OratOry is
the speech of person, one who knows
what he is talking about and means
what he says, and in this campaign you
will find the orator everywhere. Come
to my state and 1 will show you a
banker ana q money lender who will go
forth to preach the gospel of bimeta1-
lism as he never preached any other
gospel in his life Great applause and
cheers.) I will show you a briefless
barrister who, armed with the right,
will meet the attorney of the corpora
tions and crush him before any audi
ence (Great applauSe-) I will show
you the business man who never came
from behind his counter before, but feel
ing that the welfare of his family, the
welfare of posterity, depends upon the
settlement of this cause, he can come
from his store and rise before an audi
ence and make a speech that can not
be answered by any man who would
fasten shaclles upon the seventy mil
lions of freemen. Great applause.)
I will take you to the railroad shops
and viii show you men who know more
about the money question than the
president of the road knows about the
road. (Applause.) I will take you to
a carpenter who. as he works at his
bench will revolve in his mind the
issues and come nearer hnd1ng out
what is an honest dollar than the man
who represents a syndicate and bows
to the dictation of Lombard street All.
come with me to the farm and I VIII
show you the man who follows the ploW
and who has studied this money Ques-
ton and knows as gold goes up his
wheat comes down. and you cannot an
swer the logic of that argument at all.
A prominent writer came to this coun-
try q good many years ago and wrote a
book about democracy in America, and
he said every citizen over here was a
public speaker. and he said one of them
could not talk five minutes without get
ting excited and saying, Ladies and
gentlemen" If he thought that then,
what would he think if he came here
today.
You cannot drive the tariff question
into the campaign with a pile driver
1t is not more taxes the people want
It is more money to pay the taxes they
already have today I want you to
go home and take with you the deter