The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-27
WHERE BOY BRYAN
WENT TO SCHOOL
The Cs,didate Is Heartily Welcomed al
Illinois State College.
STUDENTS ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC
Interesting Exercises Held in Honor
ofthe Visit of the Champion Of Free
SiIver..Bryan's Address to Stu.
dents.. Good Advice to Young Men.
The Opportunities Offered for Ad.
vanccment.

The Opportunities Offered for Ad.
vanccment.
Jacksonville. ILL.,, Oct 26.-The streets
of Jacksonville began to show evil
dences early this morning that some
especial event was about to take place
in the pretty college town. Vehicles
in which people had driven many miles
lined up along the curbS of the prln-
cipal streets. while the sidewalks were
crowded with eXcursionists. The pres
cnce of William j. Bryan and his wife
in the community where they were
educated and spent the first few years
of their married life was the magnet
that attracted so many visitors, all OF
whom had come to see and near the
candidate deliver a speech on the pub
lie subject In the afternoon. Horse
men, attired in red, white and blue
sashes and decorations of shimmering
silver foil. galloped about the shaded
thoroughfares of Jacksonville from an
early hour and the occasional noise of
brass bands and silver clubs added to
the excitement and interest that per-
vaded the little city.
Mr.. Bryan began his day In very
pleasant way Surrounded by students
of his alma mater he made an address
in the chapel of the Illinois State col
lege in the forenoon. in which he de-
MED insinuations that he was not ac-
tuated by earnest belief in advocat-
ing the free coinage of silver and main
tanned that he was anxious to do the
greatest good to the greatest number
of people in the United States. The
little chapel was crowded. No dis
play was attempted. the regular re-
ligiOus exercises that We're practiced in
Mr.. Bryan's time and are still MAIN
tained being carried on In all their
simplicity.
Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Joined the stu
dents in singing America" and In
the responses to the Twenty-tifth
Psalm. which preceded the intro
duction of the candidate. by DR.. j.
l.. Bradley, the president of the college.
The boys forgot their surroundings in
Aeir desire to do honor to the distin-
guished alumnus and cheered with a
will as Mr.. Bryan rose.
MIR. BRYAN's REMARKS.
Mr.. Bryan in addressing the students
said in part:
Il want you young men to realize
that when you have received great ad-
Vantages, great responsibilities go
with those advantages and that yO!l
have no right, as citizens in land like
this. to keep in darkness upon any
public question; nor have you right
to listen to any persuasions except the
persuasions which come from your con-
science and your judgment. l appre-
ciate the advantages of living in q
country like this. You may have had
people tell you that my ideas were an
tagonistic to our form of government
and to law and order But 1
want you to believe me when l say
that there is not person in this coun-
try who loves our institutions more
than l do, or who feels deeper in
terest In their perpetuation. And
what young man has the right to prize
our institutions more than / have? In
what other country is it possible for a
young man to accomplish as much as
he can accomplish in this country? In
what other country Is it possible for a
young man with nothing to commend
him except HIS interest in the cause, to
be selected by those who believe in
Lin to carry out their ideas.
Il so much prize the advantages of a
country like this that I want to keep
dealing out as our fathers intended I
vant it to rest secure upon the foun-
dations which the laid, so that it will
guarantee rights to every citizen and
give special privileges and advantages
to no citizen. ] want 1t still to be so
that the child of the humblest citizen
OF this land may be able to aspire to
anv office to which his abilities or his
ideas, or his labor and his integrity fit
MN. And 1t Is because that / realize
l think as l do, some of the influences
which in society are tending to close
the door of opportunity for young
men that l have felt the Indignation
that / have expressed against great
aggregations of wealth which have in
man! instances trampled upon the
rights of weaker members Of society,
ana have attempted, by the power
which they can command, to drive out
competition, and then prey upon So
ciety after it has been rendered help
less and lies at their mercy.
FAITH IN HIS OWN TEACHINGS.
Il read in the papers that in various
institutions Of learning they are nearly
all against me. My friends, If 1 should
read In the papers that there was not
college professor. not businessman,
not man prominent in society who
believed in what 1 am teaching, I
would believe in it, would still teach
1t. When l hear people say the
trouble with the masses of the people
is that they don't work hard enough,
! recall what the Bible tells us, that
Pharoah when he heard the complaint
that came up from his people said the
same thing. He said: "They are idle.
that is what troubles them; make
them make more bricks, and make
them furnish the straw" l know too
that all the great reforms of society
have come up from the common peo-
pie; not down from those who were
well-tO-dO, or who were so surrounded
that they did not feel the needs of the
people. l remember that the Bible tells
us that when one young man was in
QuirinS what he ought to do and was
told to sell what he had and give to
the poor. he went away sorrowing be-
cause he had great possessions. I
know that great possessions some time
so monopolize PERSONS thoughts, so
occupy his time, that he has not time
10 give to those needs of society which
are felt and realized by those who
suffer. I want you, in the study of all
institutions, not to take my views
because, as I say, I may be wrong
not to take anybody's views, but to try
to find out what Is best for the people,
and be satisfied that you can only lift
yourself by lifting up those who are
about YOU"
A HOLIDAY ANNOUNCED.
When Mr.. Bryan concluded, there
were more cheering again and the
students broke forth when President
Leanley announced q holiday in hon.
or of the Democratic nominee. The
members Of the Sigma Phi society es-
corted Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan to their
carriage, singing their fraternity song
and sent another cheer after them as
they were driven away.
The crowd at the public square be-
gan to collect early and at 2 o'clock
when Mr. and Mrs. Bryan arrived,
about 1900 people were congregated
closely around the broad platform,
from which the candidate spoke while
as many unable to hear, gathered on
the streets in that vicinity. During
the hour and quarter occupied by
Mr. Rryop tho ,,oc g..