The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-30
a 80 eREAT oHANeE


newspapers has forgotten the manner
in which the press Of this city de-
scribed the first appearance of Mr.. Bry-
an on a public platform in this part Of
the country. When he spoke in the
Madison Square Garden in this city the
opposition newspapers made a COM
bined and resolute effort to hold him
up to ridicule. Their columns were
filled with assertions either that the
audience was not large or that it was
an unruly mob, and some of them tried
to convince their readers that after Mr..
Bryan had spoken for half an hour his
listeners consisted chiefly of insensate
benches. The attitude of the Mckinley
supporters showed that they had de-
termined not to take Mr.. Bryan's can
vass for the presidency seriously, and
that they hoped. to damage his pros
poets by using the sharp shafts of ridi-
cule.
Mr.. Bryan left his substantial argu-
ment behind him and the people had
time to digest it. So had the news
papers. Meanwhile the candidate con-
tinued on the even tenor of his way,
pouring out the treasures Of a we'll
stored mind, brilliant in its conceptions
and resistless in it's logic, to hundreds
of thousands of eager listeners in var
ious parts of the country. 1t became
evident to the most superficial observer
and to the most prejudiced partisan of
the opposition that the new light was
not to be shifted out by the breath of
he
Greater New York, and in Brooklyn on
Wednesday night addressed immense
throngs of enthusiastic hearers.
The attitude of the papers yesterday
morning presented an interesting
study. Those who had come to scott
remained to pray. They were wonder
ing what they should do to be saved.
They no longer went out hoping to see
a reed shaken by the wind. They rec
ognized in Mr.. Bryan a force that was
not to be checked with smile. and
they treated him with respectful con
sideratfon. It is interesting to con
trast with the tone of the reports of the
Madison Square Garden meeting that
of a few extracts from yesterdays ac-
counts:
Right royalty indeed did Kings coun-
ty receive VIM J Bryan last night
Four thousand persons crowded into
the Academy of Music to greet him;
10000 more surged madly against
stone wall of blue coats without Vain
ly they sought entrance. 1t was q tr1-
umph for the masses of BrOOklyn's De
mOcracy; it was a triumph for Bryan.
World.
Mr.. Bryan's first speech was at the
Academy Of Music under the manage
ment of the Kings county Democratic
organization.
The place was packed to the root, and
an hour before the candidate appeared
the police had closed the doors to pre-
vent OVercrOWding. About 1000 peO-
pie were at this meeting. The great
crowd which gathered in the streets
about the academy unable to enter the
building centered about q small plat
form which had been erected near by,
and Mr. Bryan addressed the people as
soon as he could reach the spot after
his indoor speech. Various estimates
were made of the crowd, good judges
putting it at 5000.
The CleTmOnt Avenue rink was pack
ed before 8 o'clock. It was nearly II
o'clock when he made his appearance.
The vast audience recognized him as
he stepped upon the stage and immedi-
ately there was scene Of wild enthu-
siasm. Small American flags had been
distributed, and they were wildly
waved.
People jumped on chairs, pushed their
neighbOrs, and there was great confus-
ion. Those on the stage crowded around
Mr.. Bryan. and it was left to him to
restore order, for the chairman made
no attempt in that direction. The dem
onstratiOn lasted over five minutes
Times
The speakers welcome when he
arose to speak was all that the vainest
of men could have asked It was sew
eTal minutes before he could gain a
hearing. He made several futile starts
and several times gave way to the
persistence of his noisy admirers.
One who had heard MI Bryan read
his speech last August in Madison
Square Garden could not last night
have withheld from him the verdict
that he is ten fold more fOrceful with
out a manuscript.
He suffered somewhat from hOarse-
ness when he began and his manner
was marred by the class meeting sing
song which in Madison Square Garden
killed the effect of his entire address,
but he threw off his encumbrance like
a cloak as he proceeded into the body
of his speech and for the first time
showed an eastern audience the Sc
cret of his hold upon the people of the
west.-Herald
1t was an audience that would have
nerVed the poorest speaker to a super
la-tive effort, and it nerved Br. Bryan
to a pitch that retrieved his short com
ing when here before at the notification
meeting in Madison Square Garden.
The POpOcratic candidate was in good
voice and in the best of spirits. He re-
peatedly compelled his auditors to smile
at his filings at the British and more
particularly at the bond syndicates.
AS for the academy, that was crowd
ed to the dome at $50. There was no
attempt at decorating. and save for
the picture of the two candidates,
there was no cOloring in the house. AS
q substitute for this, the management
had supplied every one with small
American flags and the scene when s.
600 flags were waved in the air was in
spring, even though in the cause of re-
DIldiatiOn and fatiSm.-Ad Advertiser
BRYAN was carried to the platform,
and for five minutes the cheering and
stamping of feet made an uprOar which
even he could not still. When at last
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