The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-16
TO OLD FRIENDS.
Bryan Speaks to His Old Salem
NeighbOrs.
Makes No Attempt to Discuss
Partisan Politics.
MANY PERSONS MOVED
Many in Audience Had to Wipe
Away Tears.
Mrs. Bryan Came Forward and
Was Cheereds
MANY PERSONS MOVED

Salem, Ill, July 16.-It was after p
m. before the rain ceased here yester-
day. Then the crowds came out from
the stores, taverns and other places of
shelter and again began to gather be
meath the trees in the court house yard.
The numerous country bands that had
come from the neighboring towns with
Bryan clubs began to play such tunes
as White Wings" Comrades"
marching Through GeOrgia" and
Dixie The hustle and excitement
that prevailed in the early morning
was renewed Bryan banners were
everywhere.
BY this time the number Of people
packed in the court house yard had in
creased until at least 5000 people were
there. Half a dozen bands were scat
tered about, all playing at once Al
though Governor Altgeld had been ad-
vertised to speak, he did not come. In
the afternoon word was received that
the governors health was such that he
could not come. He was greatly ex-
hausted after the Chicago convention,
and had not yet fully recovered.
At 2:15 it was announced that the
distinguished *'sOn of Salem" was APP
preaching. All the bands started in
afresh, and the crowd howled like mad.
This was kept up until Mr.. and Mrs.
Bryan were seated on the platform.
When quiet was restored the Rev F. 3.
Young of the M Z. church prayed for
the blessing of the God of Washington,
JEFFERSON, Jackson and Lincoln. Mr..
Bryan appeared before the audience
amid uproarious applause.
Mr. Bryan said: I have no DISPOSE
ton to talk politics today. Returning
to the scenes which surround my early
home, the memories Of other days
crowd out all thoughts of subjects upon
which we may differ I remember with
such grateful appreciation the kindly
feeling which has abounded, regardless
of church and party lines, that I shall
not say one word to divide upon any
subject, those who are assembled here
today.
This is the home of my birth, of my
boyhoOd and my early manhood. Three
blocks south I first saw the light Of day.
A mile to the northwest I lived until I
was %, and I shall never cease to be
grateful TO the parents who took me to
the farm and there allowed me 20 de-
velOp the physical strength that is
needed in The campaign which we have
to pass through. It was in this court
house that first gained the ambition
to be lawyer II was in this court
house that I made the first political
speech I ever tried to make It was in
=
for the first time on the Fourth of July.
1t was to this city and to the parental
roof that brought her who has prom
ised to share life's joys and sorrows
with me.
And all of these happy associations
arise today before me and leave me no
desire to think of other things. I can
not forget Salem. I canot forget those
whose kindly faces smiled upon me be-
fore fortune smiled. I cannot forget this
spot near by where reigns the silence
of the dead, where the ashes of the
father whose upright life has been an
inspiration and whose cOunsels linger-
ed in my ears when he was gone; the
spot where rest the ashes of a mother
as tender and true, as patient, as gen.
tie, as loving as God in His infinite
love ever gave to man. 7 cannot for
get this home nor these people. And
I can say no more today than to ex-
press in words, which, if not ella borate,
will be sincere, the deep and heartfelt
thanks for these tokens, these manifes-
fatiOns of good will.
There is an ideal plane in politics
and believe we stand upon it here to-
day. We differ in opinion. We differ
as to party politics. But we meet to-
day recognizing those differences and
yet each feeling a charity toward the
other. We are all imbued with the
same spirit. We all possess the same
ambition We are all living to carry
out the same great purpose. We want
a government of the people, by the peO-
pie and for the people and though we
differ as to the means of carrying it
out we can differ as honest citizens.
differing in Judgment and agreeing in
purpose. I thank the Republicans who
have assembled here. I thank the Pro-
hibitionists. I thank the POpulists as
much as I do the Democrats, because
at last my friends when these questions
which arise from time to time upon
the surface and disturb the thought
and agitate the people have passed
away we all agree in the great funda-
mental principles which underlie our
form of government.
we believe that all men were Gre
ated equal. not that they are equal in
talents or in virtues or in merits, but we
agree in this that wherever government
comes in contact with the citizen and
wherever the citizen touches govern
ment. all must stand equal before the
law. We agree that government can
be no respectOr of persons, and that its
strength, its matchless strength, must
be the protector OF the fortunes of the
great and the possessions of the poor,
and that it shall stand an impartial
arbiter between all of its citizens. We
must gree on this. We agree that there
are inalienable rights, the rights which
government did not give, rights which
government can not take away We all
agree that governments are instituted
to insure and preserve these rights, and
we agree that governments derive their
Just powers from the consent of the gov
erned. We know no divine right of
kings.
1.-THE people gathered here and in as
n a al
land, are the sovereign source of ali
mower. These citizens are the substan-