The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-16

the meantime become generally known
and the rather CONSTRUCTED lobby OF the
Clifton House was completely filled by
the time the barber allowed his distin-
guished customer to leave the tonsorial
chair. There were loud cheers and calls
for a speech when he appeared in the
corridor of the hotel. Taking stand on
the stairway, Mr.. Bryan said:
MY friends. | assure you that / am
extremely grateful for the great cOmpll-
mcnt which | am assured has been paid
me by the Democratic national conven-
ton. OF course it remains to be seen
whether the nomination is wise or I'M
wise one. For my part | do not know.
This will, of course he determined by
the contest which will be decided at the
polls next November. when it will be
known not only whether | shall be elect
ed or defeated, but, UNNECESSARILY more
important that, whether the cause of sill
yer shall lose or win. i will only add
that hope those who accept the views
Of the Democratic platform, which was
yesterday adopted. will lose no opportu-
nifty to influence the result in the inter-
est of the doctrines therein inculcated.
thank you for this manifestation of
| your endorsement
| The speech was received with a loud
and vicious burst of applause and a de-
| mand for an opportunity 10 shake hands
with the new candidate. An impromptu
reception followed for about twenty min
utcs at the foot of the stairway. The re-
ccption concluded, Mr.. Bryan returned
to his private room, where he said to an
| Associated Press reporter:
"Thcrc is nothing | care to say more
than | have already said in the brief
statement | have given out in regard to
| Il second term. | may make the eXpla-
| nation that it was not the result of Il
sudden impulse. for | have had in mind
the propricty of making such an an
nouncement ever since | have regarded
| this nomination as Il probability.
Il believe it to be n good principle.
The presidency is the highest honor that
can be bestowed by the country upon a
human being. and the power of the office
is so great that there ought to be no
temptation to the man occupying the of
| flee to use it for his own advancement.
My declaration is not unprecedented.
Mr.. Cleveland, in his first letter of ac-
| ccptance, set forth the objection to Il
second term in language so fOrccfu that
| it can not be surpassed. Mr.. Hayes of
| fercd an amendment to the constitution
| making presidents ineligible for re-elec-
| ton and similar amendment was Of
| fercd by Andrew Jackson.
Il desire to express my deep apprecia-
candidates and their friends and also to
| say that | consider my nomination is due
to the peculiar circumstances which sur
| round this campaign and not to any SUI
pcrlor merit of my own. in fact. had
| the convention considered who was
most deserving the honor would have
| fallen upon another.
81 can only add that so highly appre-
ciatc the responsibility imposed by the
nomination that | have avoided making
| any pledges to any person.
Mr., Bryan said i'll reply to questions
| that he had not only made no plans for
the campaign, but that he had not even
determined when he would return to his
| home in Nebraska When asked if he
would make any speeches during the
opportunity to consider what he would
do and could not say.
While he was debating the above
statement messages Were arriving every
| few minutes bearing words of congratu-
| lation and assurance of support. His
| immediate attention was called to but
| few Of them, but he appeared very much
interested in all that was read to him, eX-
pressing special ratification at a brief
message from his old pastor
! Since his arrival in this city, which
was some ten days ago, Mr.. Bryan has,
with his wife, occupied quiet apartments
at the Clifton House Many baskets of
| handsome flowers were brought in this
afternoon by visitors who called to pay
| their respects. One lady presented an
immense bunch of golden rod. flower
which grows in great profuson in Mr..
| Bryan's home state.
| AS the day wore on the throng in the
| hotel increased to such an extent that it
/ became necessary to exclude the public
from the parlor floor, delegates and con-
vention boomers crowding the house in
great numbers. Ultimately the police
were called in for the purpose of keeping
the crowd away. The hotel is small
| one and the lobby, corridors and parlors
were entirely inadequate to the accommo-
dation of the crowd which sought adj
mission.
Mrs. Bryan was not present when the
news came. She occupied n platform
seat in the convention and did not leave
| the hall until the recess was taken She
reached the Clifton and found Mr.. Bry
an engaged with many callers, and mere
ly saidi
well, Will, you are nominated"
| During the evening the ladies of the
Clifton organized an impromptu recep-
1tion, and Mrs. Bryan was presented to
| tncm. Sle received lHeln Wltn Simple
grace and in a genial manner that capti-
waited all.
Kansas sent assurances of 10000 ma
iority. Tennessee promised similar
majority, and Texas assured him of 1OO,-
600
There We're also several messages from
Minnesota. Illinois. Iowa, Indiana and
Michigan assuring Mr.. Bryan of the cleo
toral votes of those states.
| Grand Sachem Weller of the lroquOis
League of California promised California
by 10000 votes.
| There were many assurances of Pop
ulist support from western states, both
at st. Louis convention and at the polls
! Chairman Breidcnthal of Kansas sent
congratulations and pronounced the Dem
ocratic convention the most patriotic of
recent years.
| Many messages came from New York.
Massachusetts. New Jersey. Pcnnsylva-
MIA and some from Vermont and New
Hampshire.
| \ Philadelphia Democrat said: ''Sil-
yer Democrats are enthusiastic and send
congratulations.
| \ Boston man announced that lie had
engaged Boston common for Il reception
to Hon. George Fred Williams. who had
supported Mr.. Bryan's nomination..
BRYAN OPENS THE CAMPAIGN.