The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-24
BRYAN IN WASHINGTON.

William j. Bryan Visftcd Washihs'o" ias O
Saturday, spoke at Capitol Park to about S,ooo
people, and had to stop on account oil a sudden
violent rain and wind storm. notwithstanding
this the Democratic and PopuIist clubs turned
out i'm large numbers with brass bands ana
things. and yelled themselves hoarse before
their coq aent candidate had opened his mouth.
Bryan arrived in the afternoon, and was met
by part oil special committee OF local poll
cians-J. F. Kelley, Lawrence Gardner, h. H..
Biscoe. Col. VIM. Dickson. j. Z. Willard, and
James l.. Norris. Quite crowd was at the
depot the curiosity to see this man being great.
After dinner lie was conducted to the PARK,
where a graRdstand was crowded Win peopie
and numerous others stood on the grouhu.
The park easily held all who attended. "hiio
waiting for Bryan the bands played, the DIG
Democrats spoke and the President, Col. >. VI.
Berret, read list of 30 or 40 Vice Presdehts Oh
the meeting Every Free Silver Democrat
who could get his name on that list dld SO.
Then Bryan arrived, and everybody who dld
not come purely out OF curiosity yelled win All
his lungs. Bryan's speech was mainly OIL tho
platform, picking out tho features IRON WHICH
he could make application 10 District matters.
Referring to that part saying, we are OPP
posed 10 life tenure in the public services, nc
said:
My friends we are in favor Of the Civil
Service reforms that mean something. ana not
a Civil Service law that permits the frcsiaeht
to suspend the Civil Service law until ne CAN
get his friends into Office and permits another
President to extend the service just as ne Is
going cut TO keep his friends III. lAppiause. ]
We believe in appointments based upon merit,
and such method of appointment rs will opeii
the Offices 10 those OF ascertained btness.
TApplause.1 We are III favor Of fixed terms OF
office in the civil department OF the Govern
ment We want it SO that when man gets IN
he will know how long he is going to stay, and
when he is going out"
As there were a great many present who were
Democratic Department clerks, the part about
"eoing out" not relished, ana someone
suggested that Bryan was making bid for the
votes of those who were out Of Office and wanted
to get in. =,
BRYAN criticized Secretary Carlisle, and said
that according to the doctrine laid down by
his recent public letter, one cannot stop the
drain of gold from the Treasury until all the
silver dollars and silver certificates are retired
and nolhing left but gold as the money OF this
country.
IL denounce the policy as more cruel and
beartless than political dom matte of a foreign
power" said the candidate. = would rather.
as some one has said. would rather put our
Army in the hands Of n foreign General, or our
Navy in command of a foreign Admiral, Than
to put the Treasury Department in the hands
of a Secretary who would barter 1t away. l
would resist such financial policy Win rs
much carncstness rs / would resist the progress
of an invading army coming to attack our
homes.
docs the Administration know now that
when il starts to redeem silver dollars in gold
that it will start another endless chain that
will drain the Treasury indefinitely. and in
crease the bonded debt without limit until they
retire all the silver dollars and substitute bonds
in their place? If they do not know, my friends.
they must confess themselves ignorant of the
finances of this country, and If they do know.
and will not tell the people. then we have a
right to distrast their caBdor and frankness
when they deal with the people of this conn-
try"
Bryan left the city on evening train after
the exercises at the park had been broken up
by the rain.