Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-17
A Crisp Autumn Day.

Benton HarDOr, M1cn., OcI. 1b.-1ne
raw atmosphere of the morning had be-
come more intense in its rawness when
Mr.. Bryan got off his special train at
Bangor to talk to about 1900 people here.
A five-minute stop was made, but during
that brief halt both the national candi-
date and Charles R. Sigh, democratic
union silver nominee for governor, who,
with other well-known Michigan politi-
clans previously mentioned in these dis
patches, is accompanying Mr. Bryan
through the state, made brief addresses.
Arriving at Hartford at $40 o'clock, Mr.
Bryan found an enthusiastic audience. A
banner overhead attracted his notice, and
indicating it, he said:
my friends, l like your motto, Free
silver and financial independence There
can be no financial independence until
the American people recognize their own
ability to attend to their own business
without interference or without the con-
sent of any nation on earth. When | tell
you that we must legislate for ourselves
/ am not appealing to any mock senti-
ment. In our society the family is the
unit and the family must be self-sup-
porting. In the sisterhood OF nations the
nation Is the unit, and the nation must
legislate for itself. If the creditor ma
tions of the world have a right to use
their influence to make money dear, be-
cause they collect money from us, have
we not right to use our influence to stop
1t and protect our people from the rob-
berry that has been practiced?".
When the Bryan special pulled away
from Watervleit at 9:35, after five min
ute stop, 1t left behind a delighted young
school mistress and her flock of pupils.
The train stopped near the school house,
and the teacher and youngsters came
rushing out to see the nominee. Mrs.
Bryan noticed the girls and sent big
bouquet of flowers to the teacher, and
the audience of several hundred people
addressed by Mr. Bryan there did not
cheer louder as the train resumed it's
journey than the boys and girls from the
school house.
A score of people only were at st. Joe
when the special arrived there Some
body said that the whole town had gone
over to Benton Harbor to hear Mr.. Bryan
there, so the train pulled out again after
a stop of minute.
Five Thousand People.
had gathered in front Of the Hotel Ben
ton. at Benton Harbor, to hear Mr.. Bryan
deliver fifteen minute speech. His train
reached Benton Harbor at 1920 a. M, and
started on for Niles a 1910 His audience
was enthusiastic and the cheering was
hearty and prolonged when r. /. Jarvis,
candidate for congress presented him.
The text of Mr. Bryans speech was a
paragraph in a local paper quoting "a
leading man" of the town as follows: ''If
silver wins this fall 1t will be one of the
greatest disasters that ever befell the
D.
nearly $4,000 loaned in this country to
farmers. In many instances payments
have been met, but for few years have
been compelled to extend the time, and I
am willing to do SO under our present
financial basis, but If silver wins this fall
I will do what every other man will do
with his money, demand immediate pay
ment. I admit I may lose some of the in
terest but l have at least three years to
save myself and during that time I will
in, N n,ortOapa have
"My friends, said Mr.. Bryan. II want
to denounce the money lender who at
tempts to use his mortgages to intimi-
date American citizens. and ] say that
that man does not deserve to live in a
land where men are free and have a right
to liberty. (Applause). When you admit
that it is necessary to go to the money
lender and obtain his consent before you
can pass law. then you have passed
from a democracy to plutocracy. and
liberty, as we have understood It, has
fled from this nation I want you to IN
derstand that those men, knowing that
they cannot appeal to reason attempt to
appeal to force: these men knowing that
their arguments do not appeal to judg
ment, attempt to
Appeal to the Fears of Men.
In this campaign, my friends, we have
arrayed against US every enemy of socie-.
ty and every man who seeks to make
slaves of those with whom he deals. !
um Sldu tncy are DOI Oh OuI Slut am
glad have not the support of man who
Intends to foreclose his mortgages II men
do not vote as he wants them to. ZAP
plause). would rather remain humble
private citizen than to hold the most ex-
alted office in this land il l had to re-
ceive my commission from men who
know as little about the genius Of our In
Htitutions as the money lender whose Ian
guage have quoted. (Appiause).
MY friends. this clipping was sent TO
me by man who had always been q re-
publican; man who owed mortgage
of $1,000 on farm which used to be worth
$4,000, and who stated in his letter that
under the gold standard he expected to
have to give up his farm because, under
q gold standard, farmers cannot pay
their mortgages. and simply have to lose
what they have invested and turn their
land over to the man who loans his money
and uses his mortgage to intlmidate
American citizens. say received this