The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-29
MIR. BRYAN's SALEM SPEECH.
Delivered in 1892 Before the Literary
Societies of Roanoke College.

L
the visit he paid to Salem four years ago
in order to deliver the annual address be
fore the literary societies of Roanoke Col
lege. 1t is probably due to that visit and
to the magnificent Grafton he delivered on
that occasion that the people of Salem
generally and the free silver Democrats
especially, are expressing their general
satisfaction at the nomination of the
young Nebraskan.
Mr.. Bryan chose the subject of his ora
ton, young Men in Politics. and the
whole speech was an eloquent appeal from
II young man in politics - other young
men to make their lives tel, in their day
and nation for the purity OF political life
and the advancement of just and wise
legislation. Mr.. Bryan said that he had
selected this subject because there was
widespread heresy concerning it. There
was a general impression that politics
was degrading This impression, how.
ever, was false. Politics is noble
science, and needs for its study noble,
true and earnest young men. In the
home the young man should he trained
for the contest, not taught TO avoid it,
1t used to be the pride of the Roman
matrons that they We're able to raise
strong and courageous offspring for the
battlefield. SO to-day, with American
mothers as in their old age with locks
whitened by the SHOWS of many winters.
they await the inevitable summons from
the other shore, it should be their glory
and their pride that they have been able
to train for their country, brave, manly
sons who could enter politics without CON
tamination, and engage in public service
without decentralization.
In the course of his speech Mr. Bryan,
after speaking of Websters famous def
milton of eloquence, recounted certain re-
quirements essential for the highest out
bursts of eloquence that forcibly reminds
one of his late passionate and inspiring
appeal by which he electrified the Demo
cratic convention and carried it. as it
were, by storm.
Given the statesman with the clear
conception, the high purpose, the firm
resolve and the dauntless spirit; given II
cause that is just and an occasion for
speech, and eloquence will blossom forth
in every age and in every cline
a nasty review was made of the main
problem of the interest before the coun-
try at the time. In regard to the finan-
clal question, there We're only a few
words The subject of money. its
kinds, its volume, its substitutes. CON
Germs the whole people, 1t is a problem
which must he met and solved mt once. -
The words beuokened broad statesman-
ShiP 'tttp SiuuN from an I'm partial
view, and are in striking contrast to the
speeches of a number of college orators in
the last few years who have taken advan-
tage OF every opportunity 10 air their own
personal views, or With partisans zeal
have argued the maintenance of the sim
gle gold standard
After making the statement that no.
where Is experience more useful than in
political life, the speaker went ON To
enumerate striking instances of men who
by entering politics young have gained
that experience early and had deserved
the applause and gratitude of the nation
John Randolph of Roanoke, Patrick
Henry, Thomas Jefferson. Alexander
Hamilton, Clay, Webster. Calhoun.
Sherman, Blaine, Carlisle and Randall
We're mentioned as men who had entered
politics young and We're worthy of the
emulation OF young men to-day
Mr. Bryan said il was the duty of every
man to take an interest in politics and TO
share i'll the election of officers.
1.-Two things are essential in political
success. FIRST, the man must be pre-
pared for the emergency and second, the
emergency must come. To the young
man who has education without affecta-
ton, deep convictions without offensive
blgotry, hrmness without obstinacv. con
fidence without cgotism. self resnec,
without arrogance. humility without
servlhty, courage without bravado tact
without cunning, honesty without cant.
earnestness without impaticnce. puritv
without prudery, who loves his fellow
men, Is friend of the whole D-onl,
rather than of class. devoted 10 Lis
country's good and not in haste to be
rich: who,can bear success without bcint,
spolled' ana defeat without being dis
heartehed; who has capacity for hard
work and Il genius for truth: who i
willing to he a private at all times and
worthy to be n commander at any time. To
such one the field of politics offers on
portunities for incacuable usefulness as
well as for the qualification of every
worthy ambition.'
The magnificent Grafton closed with .
pathetic appeal TO young men to climi-
nate sectional differences and sectional
preIudices from the nations politics
The young men who are in politics to-
day and those who are to hereafter enter
1t are of post belum birth 1t becomes
their solemn duty to bind up those
wounds which were opened in the time of
sorrow; when our hilisides and our plains
were STAINED with the blood Of our
bravest sons, and when throughout the
land in.their ..lonely homes mothers and
wives and sisters wept for those who
would return no more. Young men to.
gether, sons of Federals and sons of Con-
Iederates, must he ready to march hand
In hand, shoulder to shoulder in the
great work of restoring harmony. love
and fraternity throughout the land. =
10 one who has given expression To
heartfelt sentiments such as these the
Southern people can a ford to entrust the
keeping of their rights and of their liber-
ties The whole South should rally
10 or urJ