The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-09
SILVER
ALLEGIANCE.
VIM. J. Bryan Verbally Accepts
The Nomination
Of the Silver Party Made At St.
Louis.
A LARGE AUDIENCE
Present At the Nebraska Capt.
toll Grounds
To Hear His Speech Which Is
Brief.


welcome which the Lincoln people and
large constituencies from other parts
of Nebracka gave Mr.. Bryan on his
home coming developed last evening in
a great demonstration by the national
silver party. From the time Mr.. Bryan
reached this city at IL o'clock until the
tired crowds retired from the streets
at a late hour there was parading
through the streets of the capital city
by the local and visiting campaign
clubs nearly all the brass bands in
front. There was an escort procession
from the Burlington depot to Mr.. Bry-
ans residence, another procession that
accompanied the candidate to a mass
meeting in the state house grounds
in the afternoon and third and greatest
the notification ceremonies
Men in white duck uniforms carry
ing fam beaux formed a picturesque
part OF the display. These were mem
bers of silver clubs from Lincoln and
elsewhere in the state. Nearly If not
quite a thousand mounted men were in
line with the silver capped organization,
who fired off sky rockets and roman
candles as they proceeded from the
square along the principal streets to
the state house All the members of
the notification committee who came to
Lincoln to attend the ceremonies were
seated on the platform erected in the
north front of the capitol building
when Mr.. Bryan arrived. They were
suffering greatly from the annoyance
caused by small gnats brought by the
brilliant glare Of the large electric
lamps hanging over head. Several
were obliged to leave the stand being
unable to bear longer the myriads OF
insects. With the arrival of the torch
light procession the crowd gathered
about the capitol was increased ten
fold. 1t seemed many times larger
than the audience Of 5000 that listened
to Mr.. Bryan In the afternoon. Norris
Humphrey presided at the meeting and
introduced George Groot of Ohio, dele
gated to notify Mr.. Bryan of his noni-
nation.
It was 10 o'clock before Mr.. Groot's
long address was concluded.
Mr.. Bryan was Immediately present
ed and made a short speech as follows:
Mr.. Groot, chairman and other mem
bers from the notification committee
of the silver party: 1 beg to reply at
this time without the formality of a
letter The platform adopted by the
silver party contains but one plank, and
that plank, the plank upon the silver
question, is Identical in substance with
the silver plank of the Chicago plat
form.
LAS I have already discussed that
plank at length, it will not be neces-
sary to enter into an extended discus
sion at this time. beg to answer the
committee that I accept the nomina-
ton rendered on behalf of the party,
in the spirit in which the nomination
was presented. I can appreciate the
feeling which animated those men as
sembled in that convention. can APP
preciate the hesitation with which
those assembled there turned their
backs upon the party with which they
had been associated.
I know something of the strength of
party ties because 1 was in pO-
sition where I looked forward to a
possibility of like elton on my own part.
T can appreciate the depth of the con-
viction that led them to place the in
terests of their country above the well
fare of their party. More than a year
ago, when we were engaged in a strug-
gle to bring the Democratic party to
an endorsement of free coinage the
question was put to me whether in case
of failure, would support the Demo-
cratic nominee if he were a gold
standard advocate, running upon a
gold standard platform never be-
leved that such action was proba BILE
in the Democratic party then, but when
those who questioned me were not
content with probabilities, and asked
again, whether, in that event, I would
support the nominee, I said, as you
will remember that under no circum-
stances would my vote be given to a
man who would, in the executive office
use his influence to fasten the gold
standard upon the American people.
I stood where the members of that con
vention stood and like them would
rather have the approval of my con
science than the approval of all the
world. My convictions upon this sub
ject are not shallow convictions. may
be in erT'or-I do not claim infallibility
but I believe the gold standard is a
conspiracy against the human race.
I would no sooner join the ranks Of
those whose purpose it is to fasten that
upon the American people than to en-
list in an army that was marching to at
tack my home and destroy my family
I say therefore 1 can appreciate the
spirit which animated those who have
just rendered me this second nominal
ton. I pledge them if elected they
never shall have cause to accuse me
of being false to the platform My
friends when I declared 1 would not
support a gold platform was stand
ing upon the record of the Democratic
party.
The Republican platform of 1888 de-
nounced the Democratic administration
for having attempted to degrade sill
YER Ana in 1891, on the 18th day of
February in Memorial hail, at Toledo
Ohio, at the Lincoln day banquet, the
present candidate for president upon
the Republican ticket used the words
which I shall now read to you. I have
found these words published in a To
ledo paper and as they have been pub
Hshed without correction, we may say
they were correctly reported II he
hereafter denies the correctness of this
report shall hasten to do him justice