The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-19
Thousands Crowd the Audito'
rum to See the Orator
From Nebraska.
PLEADS FOR FREE COINAGE.
Boasts Of Being the Candidate of
Three Parties, but Valves
That C aim for Votes.

RICHMOND, VA, Sept. 18.--In all his
career William J. Bryan never received
greeting so enthusiastic, so wildly demon
strative as that given him by Richmond
tonight. Not even the reception at
Columbus and Toledo, although they
were greater by far in the attendance,
could compare in frantic excess of partisan
emotion to the manner IN which the great
audience that heard him tonight gave
him welcome. The candidate was whiried
away from the station to the residence of
]. Taylor Ellison, chairman of the State
Democracy, where they gave him some
thing to eat and allowed him to recover
little from the effects of the heat
Then he was driven to the great audito-
rum of the State Exposition building. 1t
is said that there are 10000 seats on the
floor, several thousand more in the gal
leries and that the capacity with every
seat occupied. every bit of aisle space
filed, is fully 5000
Estimates as to crowds differ widely
among those who see them, but tonight
there was something by which the Audi
forum gathering might be measured, and
Will e few there were willing to say that
less than $4,000 people were present quite
audience mum bered more than 10000.
1t was late when Mr.. Bryan arrived.
He bIinked his eyes as he entered the big
hall from the rear of the stage, for all but
four Jets of the electric light globes had
gone out and the first impression of one
in entering was that of semi-darkness.
And SO it happened that William ]. Bryan
received his most demonstrative greeting
since his nomination from an audience of
whom only half could hardly see his face
and figure.
The Auditorium was packed 10 its ut
most when the Democratic nominee ar
rived. Not another soul could push his
perspiring form within many feet of an
entrance.
Mr.. Bryan came on the stage leaning on
the arm of ]. Taylor Ellison. He was
known in an instant. One mighty shout
went up and then grew in volume, and
kept growing until things began to get
uncomfortable with those of sensitive
ears. The applause lasted ten minutes.
Senator Daniel rose to introduce Mr..
Bryan, but at sight of his well-known
countenance the crowd went wild, wilder
even than it had when Mr.. Bryan came
upon the scene. Soon it became quiet
enough for the nominee to be heard, but
all through his address there were shouts
of approval, partly suppressed cheering
and much disorder that made it hard for
his words to reach all in the hall. He said
in part:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: It
gratifes me much TO find in the capital city of
this great State so marked an evidence of the
interest which people are taking in this cam
paign. do not come to instruct on the ques-
ton Of finance. 1t would be useless TO add
anything to that which has already been said
by the distinguished Senator who has brought
10 the investigation OF the money question
that ability which he carried into ali his work,
and who adds TO ability eloquence TO present,
and to defend Democracy rs it was taught by
the fathers. [Applausel To such State rep
Resented by John w. Daniel [applausel no
apostle OF bimetallism need come to aid the
work OF instruction. am not here as cam
paigner. l am simply passing through the
State, because l would never have come to
Virginia with any thought that my presence
here was necessary TO determine the vote of
this State. [Applausel
/ am the nominee of three conventions, but
do not appeal to the voter on the ground
that was nominated by his party. ! have
higher claim TO your suffrage than party ties
can give me. appeal TO you the only can
didate for the Presidency who believes the
American people can have a financial policy
OF their own. [Applause.l II there is a man
who respects party regularity he need not
complain of the manner of my nomination.
The Democratic convention which met at
chicago represented the voters OF thar party
more truly than any convention which has
been held in recent years. That convention
was regularly called by the regular authori-
ties and delegates were chosen in every State
In the regular manner. And more than that,
the issue joined between the friends of free
coinage and its enemies was fought out before
the people themselves, the highest tribunal
known under our form of Government ZAP
plause.l The voter, not the bosses, ran the
Chicago convention. [Applause.l And / am
proud TO be the nominee OF the convention
which gave expression to the hopes the as
pirattons OF the common people OF the Demo-
o9 RI
But with all this claim to regular ty do not
ask single Democrat to vote for my election
II, In his judgment, he believes that my cleo
ton would injure his country. How cen you
tell whether man is honest wnen he tells
you that the election OF the Chicago ticket
would lnJure his country. Any who
thinks my election would injure this country
can prove it in just one way, and that is by
voting for the Republican candidate and thus
insure my defeat. (Appause.1 Don't tell us
that your conscience would permit you to vote
the Democratic ticket and then for boiling
ticket. The Bible tells us of the man who hid
his talent in the earth and who was con-
demned because he had neglected to improve
his opportunity. Iwant to say TO you that the
ballot is given to the citizen a sacred trust,
10 De used according to his judgment and his
conscience, and that man in the hour of
peril has a moral right to throw his vote ayay
Why is 1t that some Democrats or some peo-
pie who used TO be Democrats spend the day
in telling how the election of the Chicago
ticket would ruin this country, and then re-
fuse to cast their votes for the only man who
can defeat the Chicago nomination? [Cheers /
Will tell you why. II is because they have
not the courage TO bear the odium OF being
Republicans [Great cheering.l We are en-
gagged in great struggle, one of the greatest
struggles which the people of this country
we're ever engaged in time of peace. 1t is a
struggle betweeni democracy on the one side
and plutocracy on the other, and there is no
middle ground for any man to stand upon
loud cheeriDg.1 Those who are not for us
are against US. We would have more respect
for them If they were honest enough to 20
where they belong. tCheersl / believe we
shall win now. But whether we win now or
not we have begun a warfare against the gold
standard, which shall continue until the gold
standard is driven from our shores back to
England. [CheeTs1 We have been opposed
10 the importation of criminals and paupers
from abroad, and we shall oppose the importa-
ton of a financial system which is criminal
and which makes paupers wherever it goes.
The Republican platform at st. Louis de-
clares not that the gold standard is good, but
that II must be maintained. How long? Un-
til the American people are tired OF it? No,
they are tired OF it now Until the people de-
sire to get rid of it2 No, they desire to get rid
of it now. How long? Why, we must maintain
ii until foreign nations desire us to get rid OF