The herald., 1896-08-26
At ALBANY
Ten Thousand People Gather to Hear Great
Speech

ALBANY, N. Y, Aug. 25.-The second
day of William ]. Bryan's trip westward
from the seclusion of Red Hook was an
eventful one, crowded with Il variety
Of incidents of travel, including a pic
turesque reception at a summer hotel,
stirring speech to crowd of working
men at the town of Kingston and culmi-
mating in a great meeting at Albany,
where the candidate spoke to a crowd
estimated at from 1000 to 900 people,
packed in the city hall square under the
shadows of the state house.
Before this demonstration Mr. and
Mrs. Bryan sat tdown to a dinner with
Senator Hill and prominent Albany
Democrats at the senator's magnificent
home known as Wolfert's Roost, whth-
er they were driven directly,sfrom the
depot and where a strong lunged crowd
came near mobbing them on their ar
rival. Those who met the Democratic
candidate and his wife at Mr. Hills
much discussed dinner were: Supreme
Court Judge c. Cady Herrick and wife.
Louis w. Pratt, the collector of GUS
toms, and wife; Norton Chase. chair
man of the city Democratic committee.
~ hSoiiy Itt Nlr. BRYAN was
the guest of the New York senator and
although every participant in the dinner
averred that it was purely social af-
fair, their descriptions were taken with
grain of salt, it being the general i'm
preston that an understanding was
reached which will insure to Mr.. BRYAN
the support of the party organization in
thes tate.
Ihe crowd began to gather In the city
hall square two hours before the meet
ing, and when Mr.. Bryan faced them
the people were packed in solid masses
over several acres of pavement and sod,
with adventurous men clinging to the
branches of trees and climbing to tele-
graph and lamp posts. His appearance
as he stepped upon the fag-draped
platform, with. to him, the familiar
strains of Hail to the Chief clamorine in
MS ears, kindled fierce shout which
swelled into three cheers with hundreds
or hats and handkerchiefs in the air. He
was escorted by Messrs. Pratt, Recorder
Matthews. Postmaster Woods and Col
lector j. F. Mastersoa. Senator Hill was
not there
Mr.. Chase in introducing the orator
said:
MY Fellow Citizens: This is a. plain
meeting for the plain people. where there
Is no fuss and no feathers There is but
one man you wish to see, but one man
you wish to hear. I have the honor to
introduce him to you-the Democratic
candidate for president of the United
States, William j. Bryan of Nebraska.
(Pro1onged cheering.)
Mr. Bryan spok with more than his
customary oratorical force. and. consid-
erlng the size of the crowd, he was lis
tened to with most flattering attention
once the speech was marred by q small
Knot of Republicans, who interrupted
with struggling cheer for Mckinley
Before the speech was finished darkness
came on and red lights kindled on the
outskirts of the crowd threw a crimson
glare over the fiji Id of heads, and then
an alarm of fire just as the orator was
ending created a diversion
AT the close Of his speech Mr. Bryan
shook hands with the people who
climbed upon the platform. He was
driven to the station, preceded by a band
and crowds of citizens, who formed in
line and marched along cheering. Mr.
Bryan said, in part
Mr. Chairman and Fellow Citizens:
IN the presence of this immense audi
ence 1t is hardly necessary to announce
that the presidential campaign is open
Tor business. 1t gives me great pleasure
10 De permitted to address, even for a
snort time. the citizens of Albany and
us vicinity ] esteem it a privilege to be
apie to defend in your presence the poI-
lcies which believe will bring prosper
lty and happiness to the American neo-
pie. In this line of free government
people express themselves tbroupb |
party organizations. 1t is the only wav
In which we can give effective force to !
our convictions. Without party we fight |
without hope of success. Parties in their