The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-12-05

theory tndt some OF you were dSpiI~hb9
for office and expected my autograph. AS
1t is. 1 now come to you as private eiti-
zen, with nothing to receive from you but
good will, and nothing to give you but
gratitude. 1 only regret that L could not
have brought with me my better half TO
enjoy with me this welcome. For she has
shared with me all my trials and is en-
titled to the full half of all the honors
that may come to me. know that t IS
not your fault that she was not given
that title which we all speak of with rev.
erence-the first lady in the land; and yet
! feel and assure you that she did not
need that title because she has been the
first lady in the land for a number of
years"
Mr.. Bryan spoke at some length OF the
interest and influence Of women in poll
tics. and said:
II say deliberately and after mature re-
Election that the worst enemy this nation
has is not the rabble; it is the great men
who seek the aid of the government. The
worst enemies that this nation has are
found among those who would by cocer-
c.on and intimidation reap the unjust ad-
vantages which they have already Sc
cured. 1 come to say to you that my own
sympathies have been broadened by the
contest through which we have passed;
that ! have been educated by coming in
contact with the people as l never came
in contact with them before. L want to say
that the more intimate my acquaintance
has become the greater has become my
faith in the intelligence and patriotism of
the people. If 1 had had any doubt that
the people were competent to rule, all
doubt would have been removed as L came
among them and saw them working out
their own salvation.
Il have agitated a cause which I DE-
ieve to be just, and while to my mind
there seems no possible doubt of the ne
cessity of the restoration of bimetallism,
| yet 1 recognize that 1, like all others, may
be subject to mistake; but 1 love my
country so much, 1 love mankind so well,
that 1 shall rejoice if the result of this
campaign proves that 1 was wrong and
that my opponent was right. Because if
he can make this government better than
could have made it, then my children
and your children will enjoy that benefit.
If, on the other hand, experience proves
that the policies for which 1 stood are
best, then 1 have so much confidence in
the American people, that 1 believe that
those who have been against us will be
for us. and that in the end we shall reach
a settlement of every issue and an adjust
ment of every dispute, and the settlement
| that will be reached will be the best set
| Element for the American people 1 know
this, that If wrong does prevail, I shall be
happier to have done my part against it
than 1 could possibly have been had l
joined in it's fight And if we are right in
the positions we take, aye, if we believe
that we are right, there is nothing eft
for us but to fight on; and whether vic
tory comes next year or four years from
now or whether victory is forever de-
ferred, those who fight for what they be-
lieve is right are never vanquished; they
are simply doing the best that mortal can
do" cloud and continued applause)
Mr. Bryan spoke half an hour, being
frequently interrupted by applause from
the 20O0 women, who filled the rotunda
and balconies. AS a souvenir memo
randum book of Colorado in chased silver
was presented him, he having declined to
receive a valuable silver service. After
the speeches, the ladies filed past, shak-
ing hands with him.
Mr.. Bryan was given a carriage 1rive
about the city this afternoon. There were
several carriages in line, in the first be-
ing Mr. Bryan. Senator Teller, Governor
Mcintyre and Governor-elect Adams.
The drive was one continuous ovation
the streets being crowded. 1t had been
arranged that Mr.. Bryan should address
the people at different points along the
route. The first stop was made at the
corner of Sixteenth and Champa stroeIs
where a dense crowd was awaiting Mr.
Bryan He made a brief address, il
which he said:
Il think l have never seen a body q
voters rally so soon after campaign il
which they were defeated as they have
at this time, and 1 believe that 1 speal
within the limits of the truth when 1 sa!
that our people who fought so hard 70
free silver are as happy today in defeA
as are our enemies who were victorious
and l have yet to find the first person
who regards the defeat Of this year as
final defeat. The free silver people ar
satisfied that four years more of the gol
standard will convince those who hav
been deaf to the reason that they ar
wrong, and at the next election they vii
. be only too glad to rally around the ban
, ner about which you have been right.
am glad to come before the people of thi
d, state. because Colorado will have the dis
tinction of having cast the largest per
centage of her vote for one presidents
. candidate that any state has ever done
Vermont has boasted of the percentag
. which she gave to the republican cand
date, but l believe that in this campdig
Colorado has honored me with a large
percentage of the vote of the people Ina
any state has ever given before to an
L. 1 hnf