The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-07-24
W. j. BRYAN'S SPEECH
.NEBRAskAN suSTAlNs HIS REPuTA-
TiON AS AN ORATOR.

Wild Cheers Interrupted Him at Almost
Every Period-His Arguments For the
Platform and How They Were Received.
A Remarkable Demonstration.
''The Silver Knight of the West, ;
William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska,
set the convention on fire with speech
which will be declaimed by the coming
generation of schoolboy orators It was
followed by demonstration which
never will be forgotten by the 10000
people who witnessed it and partici-
pated therein
UP to this time the convention had
not been dull for want of effective ora
tory. The fearful and pleading Colonel
Fellows of New York, the fiery and i'm
pulsive Blackburn of Kentucky, the
forceful and aggressive Altgeld of Hi
nois, and such famous orators as Hill,
Russell, Waller and White had scored
their triumph and added new leaves to
their laurel wreaths. But when COM
pared to the impassioned oratory of the
"Black Eagle of Nebraska newly
named "Ihe Silver Knight of the
West, the efforts We're tame.
A reputation as an orator may prove
either an advantage Or handicap to its
possessor. From such man the list
ener expects much. Woe is in store for
such an orator if his effort fails to meet
the sanguine expectations of the auditor,
and triumph is sure if he reaches the
heralded heights which have been prom
lsed. Bryan established reputation as
an orator in the scattered hamlets on the
Nebraska plains, and it waited him into
congress. In one term he set new
mark for congressional eloquence. Now
he has set another new mark.
Nr. Bryan's Ovation
There was some applause when Mr..
Bryan took the platform, but it did not
equal in fervor the reception accorded
Senator Hill. Senator Hill was given a
storm of applause before he spoke and
Bryan a cyclone of enthusiasm when he
had concluded. The audience had not
yet got the taste of Tillman out of its
mouth and regarded the Nebraska ora
tor with some suspicion. 1t must be
understood that the great majority of
the audience secured admission at the
hands of the gold standard minority
and was not in consonance with the
sentiments uttered by Mr.. Bryan. This
makes his triumph all the more com
plete. When quiet had been restored
by the chairman, Mr.. Bryan spoke as
follows:
MR.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF
THIS CONVENTION: would be pres u1nptll-
Gus, indeed, to present myself against the
distinguished gentleman to whom you
have listened, if this We're but a meas ur-
ing of ability, but this is not contest Of
persons. The humblest citizen in all the
land. when clad in armor of righteous
cause, is stronger than all the whole hosts Of
error that they Can bting. l come to
speak to you in defense of cause as holy
as the cause of liberty, the cause of hui
manity. cloud applause)
When this debate is concluded, mo-
ton will be made to lay upon the table a
resolution offered in commendation of the
administration, and also resolution in
condemnation of the administration.
shall objecu to bringing this question
down to the level of persons The indi-
vidual is but an atom he is BON, he acts,
this has been contest of principles.
Never before in the history of this country
has there been witnessed such /. contest as
that through which we have just passed.
Never before in the history Of American
politics has a great issue been fought out
as has this issue by the voters themselves
The Fight For Silver.
On the 4th of March 1895, few Demo-
Gratis, most of them members of congress,
issued an address 10 the Democrats Of the
nation, asserting the money question was
the paramount issue of the hour; assert
ing also the right of the majority of the
Democratic party TO control the position
of the party on this paramount issue and
concluding with che request that all be-
levers in the free coinage of silver In the
Democratic party should organize, take
Democratic party. Three months later,
at Memphis, an organization was per-
fected and silver Democrats went forth
openly and boldly and courageously pro-
claiming their belief, and declaring that If
successful, they would crysralize in plat
made, and then began the conflict with q
zeal approaching the zeal which inspired
the crusaders who followed Peter the
Hermit. Our silver Democrats went forth
from victory unto victory until they are
assembling now, not to discuss, not to de-
bate, but to enter upon the Judgment
rendered by the plain people OF this coun-
try. (Applause) In this contest. brother
has been arrayed against bro, her, and
father against son. The warmesu ties Of
love and acquaintance and association
have been disregarded. Old leaders have
been cast aside X hen they refused to give
expression to the sentiments of those
whom they would lead. and new leaders
have sprung up to give direction to this
cause of truth (Cheers.) Thus has the
contest been waged, and we have as
sembled here under as binding and solemn
instructions as were ever fastened upon