The herald., 1896-07-16
BRYAN SPEAKS At SALEM
To His Old Friends and
Neighbors
There WAS NO LICK OF AUDIENCE
Enthusiasm Boiled Up and Ran
Over
OLD MEMORIES REVIVED
Incline the Orator to Talk Of Other
Things Than Politics
Feeling Reference to Other Days Moves Is
Audience to Tears
Second Heeting Held at Night and 0rsaH
Crowds Listen to Ofatory
Which Both Charms
and Cenvinces

SALEM ILL.,, July 15.-It wasl we'll on
toward the middle of the forenoon when
Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan breakfasted. Both
were tired out last night. They drove
from Odin to Salem In a carriage on their
return from Centralia, andiit was mid
night when they reached the home of
Mrs. Bryan's sister. Mrs. Baird. AS
soon as they finished breakfast they be-
gan to receive calls from friends and
relatives, who had come in I'd attend
the demonstration. 1t was entirely in
formal. Any one so desiring could walk
into the house and grasp the nominees
and his wife's hands.
1t was after l p. m. before the rain
ceased Then the crowds came out of
the stores and taverns and other places
of shelter and again began toi gather
beneath the trees in the court house
yard The numerous country bands
that had come in from the neighboring
towns with Bryan clubs began tot play
such inspiring tunes as White Wings,
Comrades. Marching Through Georgia
and Dixie. The hustle and excitement
that prevailed in the early morning were
renewed. Bryan banners were every
where. BY this time the number of peo-
pie packed in the court house yard had
increased. until at least 5000 people were
present. A dozen bands were scattered
about, all playing at once.
Although Gov. Altgeld had been ad-
vertised to speak. he did not come. This
| afternoon word was received; that the
governors health was such that he could
| ra IA
| after the Chicago convention and has
| not yet fully recovered.
AT 2:15 p. m. 1t was announced that the
distinguished sor Of Salem was ap-
preaching. All the bands started in
afresh and the crowd howled like mad.
This was kept up until Mr.. and Mrs.
Bryan were seated on the platform
When quiet was restored the Rev. F. B.
Young Of the Methodist church, prayed
for the blessing Of the God Of Washing
ton, Jefferson, Jackson and Lincoln.
After the usual preliminaries Mr.. Bry-
an was presented to the audience amid
uproarious applause.
During the course of his remarks Mr..
Bryan said:
II have no disposition to talk politics
today. Returning to the scenes which
surround my early home, the memories
of other days crowd out ALI thoughts
of subjects upon which we may differ.
remember with such grateful apprecia-
tion the kindly feeling which has
abounded, regardless of church and
party lines, that shall not say one word
to divide upon any subject those who are
assembled here today. This is the home
of my birth, of my boyhood and my
early manhood. Three blocks south
first saw the light of day. A mile to the
northeast 1 lived until I was three. and
1 shall never cease to be greatful to the
parents who took me to the farm and
there allowed me to develop the physical
strength that is needed in the campaigns
through which we have to pass. 1t was
in this court house that first gained the
ambition to be lawyer. 1t was in this
court house that made the first politi-
cal speech 1 ever tried to make. 1t was
in the fair grounds near here that spoke
for the first time on the Fourth of July.
1t was to this city and to this parental
| roof that brought her who has promised
to share life's joys and sorrows with me.
And all of these happy associations
arise before me and leave me no desire
to think of other things. cannot forget
| Salem. 1 cannot forget those whose
kindly faces smiled upon me before For
| tune smiled. I cannot forget the spot
near by the silence of the dead, where
the ashes Of a father whose upright life
has been an inspiration and whose coun-
sells fingered in my ears when he was
gone; the spot where rest the ashes Of
a mother as tender and true. as patient.
as gentle, as loving as God IL ~
ite love ever gave to man. 1 cannot for
get this home nor these people. And
can say no more today than to express
inwords which. If not elaborate, will be
sincere, the deep and heartfelt thanks
for these tokens, these manifestations
Of good will.
There is an ideal plane in politics,
and I believe we stand upon it here to-
| day We differ in opinion; we differ as
to the party politics. but we meet today
| recognizing those differences and yet
feeling charity toward each other. We
are all imbued with the same spii1t We
all possess the same ambition. We are
| all living to carry out the same great
purpose. We want government of the
people, by the people and for the people,
| and. though we differ as to the means
of carrying it out, we can confer as hon.
est citizens, differing in Judgment and
| agreeing in purpose.
Il thank the Republicans who have
assembled here. I thank the Prohibi-
tionists. I thank the Prohibitionists as
much as do the Democrats. because
at last. my friends. when these Quso-l