Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-28
HE HAS MADE NO PROMISES
But the People Have Come to Him With
Suggestions.
BRYAN's SPEECH BEFORE LEAVING ERIE
His Wonderful Versatility Manifested in
His Four Efforts in That City-He
Arose Yesterday None the Worse
for Wednesdays Work.

Erie, Pa, Aug. 27.-William J. Bryan
made his fourth and last speech in Erie
this morning and shortly after left for
Buffalo, where his headquarters will be
for the rest of the week. The hard work
of yesterday did not show to any great
extent on the candidate when he appear
ed on the Reed house balcony this fore
noon and addressed a large crowd gath
cred there. His voice was somewhat
hoarse, but otherwise he appeared to
be in good condition. The three speeches
delivered by Mr.. Bryan in Erie last night
showed his versatility as an orator. He
talked money to all his audiences, but
couched the same ideas in different
phraseology at each place. In the course
of his speech at St.4Patricks auditorium
Mr.. Bryan said:
I'VE have got to take action. 1t is
either bimetallism or gold standard,
and it's future is in the hands of fate.
There is no other issue but money 1t
comes first All others are minor affairs.
They may be settled at any time. but the
question of money must be settled now.
What are we going to do? don't know
what the people think about it, but do
know if they want to help themselves
they will go to the polls and vote for sill
YER don't know what your politics are,
nor do care. / speak to you as citizens
of a great country, not as members of a
party. -'arties are useful, of course, but
they are instruments, not men. There Is
no reason why you should worship any
party. The republican party had
great opportunities at ST. Louis but they
were slaves to gold and had to bow their
heads to the organized syndicates, and
you must remember that these same syn
dicates protect the treasury. The repub-
lican party tells you to hope and wait.
But how long will you have to wait?
Do not let the republicans beguile you
about the future. The future is written
in blood, crushed out of you by gold.
(Applause.)
ut is not for amusement that we are
engaged in this contest. 1t is for you.
1t is going to be war, and If we lose this
time we are going right along and keep
up the war until we win. But, my
friends, we will not have to keep 1t up
long. Agitation of this question causes
trouble, and trouble causes agitation.
People do not get agitated for nothing.
There must be something back of 1t all.
Perhaps it is because a farmer who own
ed farm which was worth twenty years
ago $4,000 this year mortgages 1T for
$2500, and If he tries to sell it he will find
that he cannot get enough for it to pay
off the mortgage"
The audience addressed by Mr.. Bryan
from the balcony of the Reed house num-
bered 1000. He made one of his short
speeches and gained considerable ap-
plause for eulogistic references to Hon.
Joseph Sibley, the democratic candidate
for congress in this, the Twenty-sixth
Pennsylvania district.
After the speech Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan
held reception in the Reed house, which
was attended by nearly all those who
composed the audience in front of the
balcony The Lake Shore train, in which
Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan Travelled to Buffalo,
left Erie at 1888 p. m.
- Synopsis of His Speech.
Mr. Bryan, wearing on the lapel of his
coat the gold embroidered badge of the
Randall club of Pittsburg, came out on
the balcony of the hotel parlor at 1890
O'Clock. He began his speech with the
remark that he had several opportunities
last evening of speaking on the issues of
the campaign, and that he desired this
morning to leave one parting word
This" said he, +" is peculiar cam
paign. The people are engaged in this
fight because they believe that the tri-
umph of the principles represented by
the Chicago platform is an absolute ne
cessity to the welfare of our nation. 1t Is
not merely an attempt to secure the presi-
dency, or to divide the Offices among the
few people. Offices cut no figure in this
campaign. (Cheers) / believe my ex-
perience has been rather an unusual one.
The people who have come TO me have
come with suggestions as to what can be
done to win the cause. No one has come
to ask me for office In case am elect
ed. have not discussed patronage with
anybody. shall not discuss patronage
with ANYBODY during this campafcn.
(Cheers.) The man who. In the midst of
great battle stops to negotiate as TO
what position he shall assume when th=
battle is closed is unworthy to hold any
position in the land "a voice in the
crowd: CPeace on earth and GOODWILL tcS
men }
Nor are we satisfied with securing the
presidency The president alone Is pow
erless to secure legislation He does not
express his approval until the senate
and the house have Joined n meas
ure, and l appeal to you. II you are in
terested in the success of our cause.
to secure the senate and the house. as
well as the presidency. In favor OF this
reform This senate is practically Sc
cured. We have no fear but that the
senate which convenes on the 4th of
March next will be in favor of the free
and unlimited coinage OF gold and sill
yer Nat 4. the present legal ratio of
1e to / without waifing for the aid or
consent of any foreign nation But 1t is
necessary that we shall have the house
also The house today is in the hands
of the enemy, and we must take possess
sion Of the house in order to put any good
measure into operation. and beg OF you
in every congressional district in this
land to see to 1t that no man shall re-
ceive majority of votes IL you can help
1t unless he goes there to vote for the
money of the constitution from the first
day he takes his seat to the last day that
he occupies a1piace in the house.
(Cheers)
you have a candidate In this district
who Is one of the ablest, the most fear
less and the most eloquent advocates OF
the great cause His voice has been
heard all over this land, and You will be
guilty Of desertion os this cause unless
you make Joseph Sibey your member of
congress from the next 4th of March.
Now remember that this cause rests ON
you The candidates can do but little.
They cannot see all the people. They
have no time to address their arguments
to every voter. But we commission each
of you as aides In this great fight to 60