The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-08-20
A GREAT DEMOCRATIC RALLY.
BRYAN NOTIFIED.
The Democratic Candidates Receive
n Grand Ovation in New York.


|
The Democratic Candidates Receive
n Grand Ovation in New York.
! William j. Bryan and Arthur Scwall
were formally notified Wednesday,
night that they were the choice OF the
Democratic party for the highest Offices
in the gift of the people Of the United
| States.
Whatever might bo the political in
| clinatiOns of any person who attended
| this grand ratification OF the Democ-
| racy at the spacious Madison Square
garden, he must have been pcrmeat Il
with the blindest prejudice not to have
been thrilled by the excitement and
the enthusiasm which prevailed during
the entire time the notification ccrc-
monies lasted. The presence Of so
stupcndOuS q crowd Of human beings
WAS in itself an eloquent tribute t) the
Importance attached to the occasion !:
and such crowd it was! Men and
women poured into the vast auditorium
through many inlets. Thoy came in
drovcs, in sections and in orderly
marching step. Tho opening Of the
doors was followed by a hurrying, scp.
rying rush Of feet, and in they came,
shouting, jumping, showing, pushing,
available to 500 an3 hear all ,llt wa.
to be seen and heard. After Il while
the in rress became more orderly ana
the entrance of the audience settled
down into q constant inflow OF human
beings.
At o'clock the doors were thrown
open, and despite the efforts of the po-
lice to restrain them the crowds on
every side made desperate rushes for
the entrances. In the struggles many
women tainted and had to be carried
away. The police finally began to use
their clubs in an effort to restore or
der.
There was little decoration in the
hall. The speakers rostrum was sim
ply covered with the drapcry OF an
American standard, while the gallery
spaces, Immediately behind it. were
decorated more elaboratcly, but with
the same material. That was all with
the exception Of two gigantic portraits
of William J. Bryan and Arthur Sew
all, one on each side Of them Seats
on the platform Immediately in the
rear Of the rOstrum had been reserved
for members Of the National commit
tee, members of the notification com
mittce and few distinguished Demo
Gratis. ln>tho boxes surrounding the
o.. IN
Congressman and Mrs. Bland, Senator
Blackb burn Of Kentucky, Congressman
Sulzer Of New York, General Bond of
Maryland, and many others.
Richard i. Bland entered the garden
at 40. With him was Mrs. Bland.
but they came in so quietly and unos-
tentatiously that no ono noticed their
entrance. Just prior TO that time the
audience had been growing inpatient.
An emotional silvoritc gave vent to his
feelings by calling for three cheers for
Bryan, and they were given with IL will.
The members OF the notification com
mittce had entered without exciting
any demonstration. Then came the
Arthur Sewall the ice-presidcntial
candidate, who occupied place second
| only to the Ncbra skan in to.night's
proceedings. He was recognized by
only few, and the vast aiority Of
the audience did not understand the
sporadic cheers in the audience and
the handclapping on the stand.
But it was when the young wife o.
the young Nebraska nominee entered
the box reserved for the use Of hcrscl
and her friends that the asscmblagc lc
itself loose for the first time. All mer
arc anxious to do honor to Il woman
and the fan waving beings who thrOng
ed the garden were only two willing tt
went up from lloor and gallery ant
platform, and the dark skinned little
woman opened her eyes in surprise
and thon won't ahead, calmly settling
herself in her scat in the box nearest
and to the right Of the rostrum. But
the cheering continued and men got
upon their chairs and waved hats and
fans in their desire to do honor to the
wife Of the Democratic candidate. WO-
men, too, rose and joined in the shout
ing, and soon it looked as il the whole
audience was on its feet yelling with
might and main. Mrs. Bryan rose to
more intense. She bowed again and
again, and still they chccrcd. Through
it ali she looked cool and calm, just as
she appeared on that exciting day at
Chicago when the Bryan whirlwind
swept all before it and brought about
the circumstances that made her SO
prominent q parsonage. Finally the
cheering ceased, and Mrs. Bryan began
welding broad palm-lcaf and sur
vcycd the audience. She WAS attired
simply in IL waist Of light grey silk,
crossed with black bars, and Il dark
skirt. a little black jet turban, adorn-
cd Will WniLc dlBfcIJc, was on HcI
hoad. Mrs. Bryan had entered the hall
on the arm Of WIN. l.. ST. John. Mrs.
St. John could not attend on account OF
illness, and the wife Of Governor Stone
; came in her place. In the box with
Mrs. Bryan were Mr.. and MRS. Bland,
Mrs Stone, Mrs. Macy OF New York,
and Clark Howell editor OF the Allan
ta Constitution.
It was Just o'clock when the prin-
.. cipal actor Of the evening entered.
MIR. Bryan had reached the garden in
company with his wife and Mr.St.J ohm,
but had remained below until they
were seated. They had been conveyed
!, to the Twenty street entrance,
from which the police had kept back
the crowd, and the arrival OF the can,
didatc was not known to the struggling
masses around the other doors. Bui
when he stepped on the stand and was
recognized by many in the audience, &
great cheer went up.
"Bryan, Bryan, Bryan" was the