The record-union., 1896-10-06
speaks to an Audience of Fifteen
Thousand People.
Says He Would be Willing to Resign
His Nomination for President in
Favor of Any Person Who Could
Better Carry the Cause of Bimetal.
liSm to Success.


). Bryan reached Memphis at 71O
O'Clock this morning from ST. Louis ac-
companied by the members of the Mem
phis Reception Committee and Senator
elect II. u. Money of Mississippi, Rep
resentative John Allen of Mississippi
and Representative Benton Mcmillan of
Tennessee.
All through the night crowds of peo-
PIE had gathered about the train at it's
stopping places and cheered for the can
didate, who did not appear. Several
hundred people cheered as Bryan
reached the Popular street station here
this morning, and he was also greeted
with enthusiasm along the streets on his
way to Peabody Hotel, where he had
breakfast.
The visit of Mr.. Bryan was made the
occasion of a general holiday. Busi-
ness houses closed their doors, and even
the banks suspended for the day. AT
dO:3O Mr.. Bryan, under escort of the
Nicely Zouaves, reached Overton Tract,
a big open field where he found crowd
estimated at $4,000. AS he mounted the
covered platform erected in the center
of the field, the old rebel yell was heard
on all sides. Senator Harris presented
Mr.. Bryan, who said in part:
IL
than a year ago that this fight which is
being waged now was begun-that is,
it was in this city that those in favor
of the gold standard met to begin work
of capturing the two great political par
ties, and it was here, a few days after
ward, that the silver forces gathered to
begin the organization of the campaign.
Therefore, at this time, when the cam
paign has progressed so far that we are
able to form some estimate of the result
i am glad to come again to the city
which has been known in history be-
cause of the fight commenced here.
You will remember that when we met
at that time there was a discussion as
TO the ways and means of consolidating
the silver sentiments. Various plans
We're suggested, and we met in that con-
vention and decided to attempt first to
carry all the political parties to free
coinage, and if we failed in that then to
find some way to consolidate the vote
of those in favor Of free silver. re-
member that l was in doubt as to the
means that might be found, and | ex-
pressed my doubt as to the means, and
yet my confidence as to the result I ex-
pressed by quoting from one of the Sun
uay-schOol congresses: 1t may not be
my way: it may not be thy way; but in
His own way the Lord will provide. :"
(Cheering)
Mr. Bryan then spoke eulogistically of
the service to bimetallism contributed
by f. w. Carmack, candidate for Con-
gress against Josiah Patterson, the
present incumbent, who is a gold Demo-
crat but supporting the Chicago ticket.
and continued:
L am grateful to those who have
been earnest in conviction, earnest
enough in their desire to restore the
standard coinage Of the Constitution.
While / appreciate the honor which has
been conferred upon me, not only in the
nomination by own party, but by the
additional nomination of two other par
ties (cheers), l say to you here, my
friends, that my interest in the cause or
bimetallism is so deep that / would
without a moments hesitation resign
my nomination in favor of any person
in this country who can better carry
this cause to victory. tCheers) 1t is
not a time to listen to personal ambl-
1fons: it is not a time when we are TO
consider the temporary effect of this
election upon party organization. 1t
is a time when we are to consider the
effect Of the gold standard If perpetu-
pted on party organizations, not in this
country alone, but on all mankind.
MY friends. / want to impress upon
vour minds another thing: 1t is not only
necessary that we shall elect a Presi-
dent and Vice President in favor OF free
coinage. but it is necessary that there
shall he a Congress in favor of free
coinage. If you are earnest in your de-
sire for bimetallism, you must show
that earnestness by doing anything
necessary to be done to elect Congress
,,en Senators and President. If we
are right in the position we have taken;
20 Tho Democratic party is right in its
,1a+fo,rn then the man who does not
+ond unon that platform, no matter
1o1v good a Democrat he may have been
before is no Democrat now zap
, And no man can claim TO be
= friend of mine who says he wants TO
~,oo4 mo beoause / am regular NOM
,nee and then go down there ana tie
honde and make me powerless
fArn1ausal Therefore. my candidacy
I. ~ ax,arv American citizen VINO
believes in the right of the people OF
,hts co,,r+,v to govern themselves, re-
rardIess of the aid or consent OF any
nation
II am not appealing to any senti-
ments hostile to foreigners but say
to you. nv friends, that that nation
does not deserved to be called nation
which accepts financial policy READY
made from another country Our op-
nonents saw that the tariff question i
the important issue in this campaign
7 tell them that until they put pro-
hibitive tariff on foreign hnhiicieis
won't talk tariff with them tAppiause'
But until we have vindicated the flsh'
of this people to legislate for theih-
selves on every issue, they cannot drive
tariff into this people with pie
driver"
Mr.. Bryan then spoke on the lines OF
his well-kn0wn argument. beginning
..The Republican platform does not say
the gold standard is a good thing He
talked about a rising dollar and a iail-
ing dollar, and about not wanting q