The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-07-16
WORDSOF MAN
The Impressive Speech Of ". ]. Bryan
at the Home Of His Birth.
WELCOMED BY HIS FRIENDS
He Doesn't Plunge Into Politics
and Roast the Opposition. But
talks Good Common sense
to a Host OF Admirers.

Salem. ILL.,, July l5.-Mr. Bryan's right
arm Is almost paralyzed to-day. The
unaccusptomed strain of handshaking.
in which he has been vigorously engag-
ed. Is beginning to be felt by him. The
great brawny farmers in this region
have a fashion of shaking hands with
a vigor that causes men of less muscu-
lar power to vince. Shortly after
O'Clock the people 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 inspir-
ing tunes as white Wings" "Com-
rades," Marching Thro' Georgia" and
Dixie" Bryan banners were every
where. BY this time the number of
people packed In the court house yard
had increased until at least 5000 people
were there. Half a dozen bands were
scattered about. all playing at once.
At 2:15 o'clock 1t was announced that
the distinguished son of Salem" was
approaching. All the bands played,
and the crowd howled like mad. This
was kept up until Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan
were seated on the platform. When
quiet was restored. Rev. B. F. Young
of the NJ e. church prayed for the
blessing of the God of Washington, JEFF
ferson. Jackson and Lincoln. After the
usual preliminaries. Bryan was present.
ed to the audience amid uproarious ap-
plause.
During the course Of his remarks,
Bryan said: II have no disposition to
talk politics to-day. 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. remember with such grate-
ful appreciation Of the kindly feeling
which has abounded. regardless Of
church and party lines, that shall not
| say one word to divide. upon any sub
| ject, those who are assembled here to-
day. This Is the home of my birth, my
boyhood and my early manhood. Three
blocks south / first saw the light Of
day. A mile to the northwest I lived
until l was %, and shall never cease
to be grateful to the parents who took
| me to the farm and there allowed me
to develop the physical strength that is
needed In the campaigns through which
we have to pass. II was in this court
house that I first gained the ambition
| to be q lawyer. 1t was In this court
house that I made the first political
speech I ever tried to make. It was in
the fair grounds near here that spoke
| for the first time on the Fourth Of July.
1t was to this city and to this parental
roof that brought her who has prom
ised to share life's Joys and sorrows
with me. And all Of those happy asso-
Citations arise to-day before me and
leave me no desire to think of other
things. cannot forget Salem. I can
not forget those whose kindly faces
smiled upon me before fortune smiled.
I cannot forget the spot near by. the
silence of the dead. where the ashes OF
the father whose upright life has been
an inspiration and whose counsels ling
cred 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. I cannot foget this
home nor these people. And / can say
no more to-day than to express in
| words, IL not elaborate, will be sim
cere, the deep and heartfelt thanks for
these tokens, these manifestations Of
good will.
There is an ideal plane in politics
and I believe we stand upon II here to-
day. We differ in opinion, We differ as
to party politics. but We meet to-day
recognizing those differences and yet
feeling charity towards each other. We
all possess the same ambition. We are
all living to carry out the same great
purpose. and though we differ as to the
means Of carrying II out. We can differ
as honest citizens differing in judgment
and agreeing in purpose. / thank the
republicans who have assembled here.
thank the prohibitionists; thank the
prohibitionists as much as I do the
democrats, because, at least, my
friends, when these questions which
arise from time to time upon the sur
face and disturb the thought and agi-
tate the people have passed away. we
all agree in these great fundamental
principles which underlie our form OF
government. We believe that all men
were created equal. not that they are
equal In talents or virtues. or In merits,
but I'VE all agree In this. that wherever
government comes In contact with the
citizens and wherever the citizen touch
before the law.
I'VE agree that government can be
no respecter 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 II shall stand an impartial ar
bitter between Ill of It's citizens We
must agree on this. We agree that
there are 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. The people gathered here and
in assemblages like this all over this
broad land are the sovereign source of
all power. All who have the good OF
their country at heart. It matters not
what their station in life. what their
ancestry. what their surroundings, all
these stand upon common ground and
all are citizens. II was here that
learned that principle that must go
hand in hand with broad democracy,
the freedom of conscience that every
man has a right to worship God ac-
cording to the dictates OF his own con-
science and that no government like
ours can attempt TO dictate how a man
shall serve or worship his God
These are the basic principles upon
which has been reared the greatest ma
tion known In history. | am believer
in the progress OF the race Talk not
to me about crises through which we
cannot pass. Tell me not Of dangers
that will not be overthrown. obstacles