The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-23
BRYAN REACHES LINCOLN.
SHOUTS OF FIFTY THOUSAND
PEOPLE GREETED HIM ON
HIS ARRIVAL.
PURELY NON-PART|SAN RECEPTION.
Entire Populace Joined in Honoring a
Fellow Townsman-A1r. Bryan De
liyered Short Address-From
Kansas City to Lincoln.

shouts of $4,000 people, William j. Bry-
an. the Democratic nomineefor president
entered this, the capital city of Nebraska,
this evening. 1t was an ovation the like
of which the people of this part of the
country never before witnessed. Half
the population of the city, men, women
and children, welcomed him at the de-
pot. 1t was a non-partisan reception,
for both Democrats and Republicans par
ticipated in it. AS far as the eye could
reach were the thrOnged streets, crowd
ed windows and enthusiastic shouters on
the roofs of the houses. There We're bands
of music, men carrying banners with mot
toes complimentary to the Democratic
leader and flags and bunting hanging
from the fronts of the business houses
and dwellings. Even the newsbOys cry
ing the evening papers wore Bryan caps,
and thousands of people blew their horns
or rang cOwbells. All this enthusiastic
display occurred in spite of the fact that
the sky was overcast with dull, heavy
clouds and a drizzling rain was falling.
All day long excursions have been arriv
ing from the surrounding country, and
tonight the whole town is in a turmoil of
enthusiastic delight.
From the time Mr.. Bryan and his fam
lily left Kansas City until they reached
| home there was Il continued ovation.
| At Kansas City Judge o. Nj. Spencer.
general counsel for the Burlington, had
his private car attached to the train. He
was accompanied by his wife and baby
boy, and they did much to make it
pleasant for the Democratic nominee and
his family. AS soon as Mr.. Bryan and
his family alighted from the train they
were driven to their home, where friends
and neighbors had prepared feast for
them. The house had been deliberately
decorated with flags and the lawn was
| filled with electric lights. They were
then escorted by bands to the state house,
where they received the capital citizens.
| Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan stood beneath the
dome, and thousands of enthusiastic citi-
zens passed through from north to south
and were presented to them. When the
platform erected at the north end of the
state house, where he addressed what is
said to have been the largest congrega-
| ton of people ever assembled at Lincoln.
His speech was short, for there was
most unpleasant drizzling rain falling.
There was no Introductory speech, for
Mr.. Bryan was among his own people
and needed none. When he came for
ward he was received with tremendous
applause. Mr.. Bryan said:
Ladies' and Gentlemen-I am proud
tonight to be able to say to those who
are assembled here, These are our neigh
bors. l beg TO express to Republicans,
Democrats, Populists, ProhibitiOnists and
all parties the gratitude which we feel
for this magnificent compliment. L say
we for she who has shared my strug-
| clos lnsnryns tbn fn1l Sbnrn Of oil hon
Ors that may come to me. This scene
tonight recalls the day nine years ago
| this month, when, by accident rather than
| by design, | set foot for the first time
within the limits of the city of Lincoln.
| remember the day, because | fell in
love with the town and resolved to make
| it my future home. | came to you a stran-
ger in a strange land, and yet no people
have ever treated Il stranger more kind
ly than you have treated me. But |
desire to express tonight not only our
grateful appreciation of all the kindness.
social and POLITICAL that you have shown
us, but to give you the assurance that if
by the suffrages of my countrymen | for
Il short time occupy the most honorable
position within the gift of the people, |
shall return to the people who first took
me in their arms. This shall be my home
when earthly honors have passed away
and | shall mingle my ashes with the dust |
of this great state. | see here the faces of |
those with hearts as honest as | hope my
own heart is who differ with me on all |
ile issues of the day, but l am so glad
that love can leap across party lines and |
abide in the holy friendship. with those
whose Judgment go apart. | thank the |
mayor of this great city for the charity |
which he has shown me today. | thank |
those of all parties who have been willing |
for the moment to forget the differences |
that exist between us and join in cele- |
brating the fact that at last a nominal |
ton for the presidency has crossed the |
Missouri river. We are glad the Prohi- |
bition party came to our city for its can
didate, and if the great Republican party |
had selected a. Nebraska man for the |
head of that ticket l would nave led you
in doing honor to him regardless of what |
his opinions might have been. | am glad |
that the states of this Union, west, east
and SOUTH will have their attention turn
ed towards this great Prairie state and to-
wards this capital city. We believe my
friends, that when our fellow citizens in |
other sections of the land shall become
acquainted with the people of this state
and the people of this nation, that they
will he brought nearer to us and that |
1t will be tie to bind us in love for the
greatest nation on Gods footstool today.
Permit me now to bid you ALL in be-
half of my wife and myself, goodnight"
At the conclusion of his address the
crowd sent up shout that fairly made
the house tremble. Cheer after cheer
went up and the enthusiastic pOpulace
was fairly mad in its efforts to demon
Strate its admiration.
Upon their return home after the dem
onstration ut the state house. Mr.. and |
Mrs. Bryan held Il reception at their
home in honor of the visiting members