The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-11
ONE TERM ENOUGH
MR. BRYAN,s FIRST ACT WAS TO
DECLINE A SECOND NoMINA-
TION.
MUCH PLEASED, OF COURSE,
BUT THINKS THERE ARE OTHERS
WHO ARE MORE DEsERV-
ING.
FLOOD OF MESSAGES POURED IN.
As Soon as the News Was known
TeIeerams of COngratulation
Began to Arrive

CHICAGO, July 10.-Mr. Bryan re-
ceived the announcement of his nomi-
nation with all the composure and
calmness of a man who had been used
to such things during a longer life
than his. His handsome black eyes
were perhaps slightly more dilated
than ordinarily when the associated
press bulletin carrying the nomination
message was handed to him. but
otherwise he manifested no change of
countenance or manner. He was at
the time sitting chatting with two
newspaper friends in his parlor at the
Clifton house
If" said he, this is true. I want to
do that which 1 have for some time
had in contemplation in this emer-
gency." He then turned to the parlor
table and with lead pencil wrote on a
scrap of soft paper supplied by one Of
his newspaper visitors, the following:
To the American People: In order that
may have no ambition but to discharge faith
fully the duties of the office, desire to an
nounce that if elected president, shall un-
der no circumstances be candidate for re-
election. w. J. Bryan.
Before he could complete his work
a number of persons desiring to extend
congratulations had arrived, but he
excused himself to them until he could
finish the message. He then shook
hands cordially with all present, and
Immediately hurried away to the bar
Der shop to be shaved.
The news had in the meantime be-
come generally known, and the rather
CONSTRUCTED lobby Of the Clifton was
completely filled by the time the bar
Der had allowed his distinguished Gus
toner to leave the tonsorial chair.
There were loud cheers and calls for
speech. Taking a stand on the
stairway, Mr.. Bryan said:
my friends: / assure you that l am
extremely grateful for the great COM
pliment which [ am assured has been
paid me by the Democratic national
convention. It. Of course, remains to
be seen whether the nomination is a
wise or unwise one. For my part, I
do not know. This, will Of course. be
determined by the contest which will
be decided at the polls next November,
when it will be known not only whether
1 shall be elected or defeated, but, i'm
measureably more important than that,
whether the cause of silver shall lose
or win. 1 will only add that l hope that
those who accept the views of the
Democratic platform which was yester-
day adopted, will lose no opportunity
to influence the result in the interest
of the doctrines therein inculcated.
thank you for this manifestation Of
your endorsement"
The brief speech was received with a
loud and generous burst of applause
and demand for an opportunity TO
shake hands with the new candidate.
An impromptu reception followed for
about twenty minutes at the foot of the
stairway.
The reception concluded, Mr.. Bryan
returned to his private room, where he
said to a reporter: There is nothing
/ care to say more than l have already
said in the brief statement, l have given
out in
REGARD TO A SECOND TERM.
l may add In explanation of this state
ment that it was not the result of a
sudden impulse, for l have had in mind
the propriety of making such an an
nouncement ever since / have regard
ed this nomination as a probability.
believe it to be a good principle The
presidency is the highest honor that
can be bestowed by this country upon
human being and the power of the
office is so great that there ought to be
no temptation to the man occupying
the office to use 1t for his own advance
ment.
My declaration is not unprecedented.
Mr.. Cleveland in his first letter of ac-
ceptance, set forth the objections to a
second term, in language so forcible
that it cannot be surpassed President
Hayes advocated an amendment to the
constitution making holders of the
presidential office ineligible for re-elec-
ton, and a similar amendment was
suggested by Andrew Jackson.
L desire also to express my deep ap-
probation for the kindness shown me
by other candidates and their friends.
ana to say that | consider my nomi-
nation is due to the peculiar circum-
stances which surround this campaign.
and not to any superior merit OF my
own. In fact, had the convention con-
Sldered who was most deserving the
honor would have fallen upon another.
L can only add that 1 so highly appre-
ciate the responsibility imposed by the
nomination that l have avoided max
Ing any pledges to any person
Mr.. Bryan said in reply tosquestions.
that he had not only made no plans
for the campaign, but that he had not
even determined when he would return
to his home in Nebraska. When asked
II he would make any speeches during
the campaign, he replied that hes0na d
had no opportunity to consider what he
would do and could not say sp9
While he was debating the above
statement, messages were arriying
every few minutes bearing words Of
generalization and assurance of sup
port. His immediate attention was
called to but few of them, but he APP
peared very much interested in all that
were read to him, expressing especial
qualification at brief message from
his old pastor
Since his arrival in the city, which
was some ten days ago, Mr. Bryan has
with his wife occupied quiet apart
ments at the Clifton House He re-
ceived the news of his nomination
while sitting in his bedroom, which
apartment is entirely barren of any
decoration. Mr.. Bryan was dressed
negligee. wearing a light black sack
coat, turned down collar and a striped
bow tie. He seemed at times quite
fatigued, and occasionally hesitated for
words.
Many baskets OF handsome flowers
were brought in by visitors who called
to pay their respects One lady pre-
scented an immense bunch of golden
rod, a flower which grows In great pro-
fusion in Mr.. Bryan's home state. AS
the day wore on the throng in the hotel
increased to such an extent, that 1t
DSN ally heSeeSaTy W eACluue the puDlic
from the parlor floor. delegation and
convention boomers crowding the hotel
In great numbers. Ultimately the
police were called in for the purpose of
keeping the crowd away. The hotel is
small one and the lobby and corridors
and Garlors were entirely inadequate
to the accommodation of the crowd
which sought admission
Mrs. Bryan was not present when
the news came. She occupied a plat