Birmingham state herald., 1896-10-27
AT JACKSONVILLE
He Renews His Youth in the Shades of
 Alma Mater.

Alma Mater.
 Jacksonville H., Oct. 26.---The streets of Jacksonville began to show evidence early this morning that some especial event was about to take place in the pret- ty college town. Vehicles in which peo- pie had driven many miles lined up along the curbs of the principal streets, while the sidewalks were crowded with excur- Sionists.
 The presence of William J. Bryan and his wife in the community, where they were educated and spent the first few years of their married life, was the mag net that attracted so many visitors, all or whom had come to see and hear the can didate deliver speech on the public square in the afternoon. Horsemen at- tired in red, white and blue sashes and decorations of shimmering silver foil gall loped about the shaded thoroughfares of Jacksonville from an early hour, and the occasional arrival of brass bands and free silver clubs added to the excitement and interest that pervaded the little city.
 Mr. Bryan began his day in a very pleasant way. Surrounded by students of his alma mater, he made an address in the chapel of the Illinois State college in the forenoon, in which he denied insinua- tions that he was not actuated by earn est belief in advocating the free coinage of silver, and maintained that he was anxious to do the greatest good to the greatest number of people in the United States. The little chapel was crowded. No display was attempted the regular re- ligious exercises that were practiced in MT. Bryans time and are still main tained being carried out in all their sim plicity. MT. and Mrs Bryan joined the students in singing Americas" and in the responses to the Twenty fifth psalm, which preceded thesintroduction of the candidate by Dr. J. F. Bradley, the presi- dent of the college. The boys forgot their surroundings in the desire to do honor to the distinguished visitor and cheered with a will as MT. Bryan arose.
 The candidatetbegan by a reference. to Dr. Sturdevant, who had been a professor at the college when he was student there and said that when he began to study the money question he found that pr. Sturdevant, in his book Economies, or the Science of Wealth" had stated the fundamental principle which underlies it.
 q always go with pleasure before col lege students" he continued, but I came with especial pleasure before the students of this college, because, while man in public life must expect to have his mo- tives misconstrued and his purposes doubted yet I know something about how young men feel, and believe that young men will believe me when I tell them that my study or economic queS- tions has been with
 ONE SINGLE PURPOSE,
 and that has been to find out what solu- tion of public questions were best for the majority of the people. Now, we have differences of opinion, and it is proper that there should be charity shown one another, because you know none or us are infallible; we are all apt to make mis- takes. But believe that those who de sire most to ascertain the truth and who labor hardest to find out what is best will come the nearest to arriving at a just conclusion, and that no one who de- sires to know the truth. who desires to do the best that can be done. ever objects to hearing from one who may differ from him.
 You know truth does not exist in se- clusion, but comes from the clash of ideas. from the comparison of views. Err TOT Is the only thing that fears public discussion. Truth has a power within itself by which it propagates itself, and. after all, there Is nothing omnipotent but truth. And. while we differ here, as young men, upon various questions which arise, know that you will agree with me when say that in the long run that policy which proves to be best is going to be adopted, and that those who attacl themselves to righteous cause are sure