The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-16
Familiar Scenes Turned His
Thoughts to Home and
Kindred.
CHILDHOOD HOURS RECALLED.
obligations of the Government to the
People Described by the
Nebraskan.

SALEM, Ill, July 15.-Salem paid her
farewell to-day to William J. Bryan in a
grand demonstration that exceeded by far
the pyrotechnic reception given him on
MS arrival here on Monday night Yes
terday morning the preparations were
begun and the result was the trans
1ormatlon of the candidate birthplace
from an ordinary county seat to place of
Varlegated color and lavish decoration.
In front OF the old courthouse, where
Bryan made his maiden speech and where
MS father presided as Circuit Judge for
many years, platform had been erected
and was covered with red, white and blue
bunting and other establishment. In re-
spouse to a proclamation of Mayor Lakin
nearly every house floated the National
standard or some other adornment and
pictures OF Bryan were prominent in
the windows Of shops and private resi-
dences.
Business was suspended and the whole
town prepared itself for making the day
the greatest that Salem ever experienced.
Excursions were run by the railroads, and
people from nearly all the neighboring
villages and the surrounding country took
advantage of the opportunity afforded by
cheap rates to hear Bryan. A promise
that Governor Altgeld would also make
an address was another attraction. Four
bands had been engaged for the occasion,
and three that helped the Salem orchestra
to make music headed delegations from
nearby towns.
heavy wind and rain storm came at
noon, and for a while there was stam-
pede among the hundreds of visitors who
believed cyclone was imminent. The
rain ruined the decorations, and when it
ceased Salem presented bedraggled ap-
pearance. Courthouse Park was a mire
and the 1000 people who were crowded
into the square had very uncomfortable
standing-place.
A reception committee and several
bands escorted Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan from
Mrs. Bairds residence to the park. Their
appearance was the signal for hearty
cheers.
L. NJ. Kagy presided at the meeting,
and after prayer by F. B. Young, a
Methodist minister, he made a little
speech complimentary to Mr.. Bryan, who
had been his classmate at the Illinois
College. predicting Democratic victory in
November.
When the cheering had ceased Mr..
Bryan began spes king. When he referred
to his fathers and mothers recent death
there was much feeling in his tones. The
speech contained very little about politics,
and Mr.. Bryan expressly disclaimed any
intention of making political speeches.
He said:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: I
have no disposition 10 talk politics to-day.
shall leave all discussion of party questions to
those who shall follow. Returning to the
scenes which surround my home, the mem
cries of other days crowd out all thoughts of
other subjects on which we may agree or dis
agree. remember with grateful appreciation
the kindly feeling on church and party lines
when lived among you, and l shall not at
tempt to divide by party lines those who are
here to-day. This is the home of my birth and
early manhood. Three blocks south is nv
birthplace; q mile southwest is the home OF
my early boyhood. / shall never fail to be
grateful to my parents for taking me to the
farm where l gained the physical strength
that enabled me to stand the rigors of
political lite.
Mr.. Bryan referred to the sdiacent court
house as the place where he made his first
political speech, and to other places iden-
titled with his political career, and was
applauded when he added, at was here
that first brough: her who came to share
LIES joys and sorrows with me-" He
could not forget, he said, those whose
kindly faces smiled upon him before for
tune smiled. He referred to the nearby
graveyard and spoke feelingly of the dead
father and mother. 81 cannot forget this
place or these people," said the orator,
land l cannot to-day express in words all
that I feel.''
believe that there is an ideal plane In poll
tics and believe stand upon it to-day. We
meet recognizing the differences of feel
ing, but with charity toward each other We
are all imbued with the same spirit, all imbued
with the same ambitions all aiming to carry
out the same purposes. We want government
OF the people, for the people and by the people,
and If we differ as to the means we cannot
differ as honest citizens, but only in purpose
l thank the Republicans who are assembled
here, thank the Prohibitionists. thank the
Populists as much as l do the Democrats, be-
cause, my friends, when these questions which
rise to the surface and agitate people have
passed away we then understand those funda-
mental principles which underlie our Gov
eminent.
We all agree in this, that when the Govern
ment comes in contact with the citizen and
the cltlzen With the Government, we all stand
equal before the law. We agree that the Gov
eminent can be no respector Of person, and
that its strength, its matchless strength, must
be the protection of the fortunes Of the great
and the business OF the poor; that it shall
stand an impartial arbiter between its citizens.
We believe that governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the governed. We
know no divine right OF kings These citizens
are those upon whom rest the responsibilities
OF government, and while each strives in his
own way to bring the Government 10 be fit
expression of the people, we cannot agree on
those minor points which separate us.
1t was here received my first instructions
in Democracy. 1t was here 1 learned the
truth of the saying that clothes don't make
the man. But all who have the good of the
country at heart-all these stand on q COM
mon ground and all are citizens. TheseEare
the basic principles upon which rests the
greatest nation on earth. believe in the pro-
gress of the race. Talk not to me of crisis
through which we cannot pass or obstacles too
great to overcome. / know none such. A
patriotic people are ready TO meet every emer-
gency as it arises and as each generation rises
l believe it will be better fitted to perform the
work OF progress than the one before.
1t was here that learned freedom of con-