The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-29
BRYAN TALKS 70 STUDENTS
HE DELIVERS AN ADDRESS IN
THE CHAPEL OF HIS ALMA
MATER.
ANOTHER SPEECH 70 THE CITIZENS
4 Large Asscmblage, Some of Whom
We're Decorated With Yellow Rib
bons, Heard IIim-He Made
Two Speeches in Alton.

Jacksonville. ILL.,, Oct. 2G.-Perhaps the
noisicst demonstration that ever was
given any one within the walls of the chap
81 of the Illinois College was the one PAID
William j. Bryan this morning by the
students of his alma mater shortly after
10 o'clock, when he spoke to the students
of the college from which he graduated,
and the applause which greeted him seem
ed out of place in the room devoted to the
devotional exercises of the institution.
His address, while of II political nature
and a defense of the double standard the
ory of finance, was so Numerically given
that no student within his hearing could
take offensc ut it.
The same simple exercises in which he
partook for six years rs a student in the
college were gone through with this morn
ing.
DIR. John Bradley of the Illinois Col
lege presided over the meeting, and the
exercises were opened by the reading OF
the Scriptures by Dr. Bradley, responsive
reading of Il Bible lesson and prayer by
Dr. II. =. Carter, professor of natural
science.
Then DR.. Bradley gave a short intro
ductory address, saying that of the dis
tinguished alumni of Illinois College who
had reflected honor upon that institution,
that no one stands, and no one ever STOOD
in such public distinction as the guest OF
the morning. He said that with the du-
ties and engagements which pressed so
heavily upon the distinguished visitor, it
was noteworthy that he should pause and
turn aside for Il little while to visit the
scenes of his old associations and greet
his old friends and permit them to greer
him, and to lay his honors ut the feet OF
his alma mater. The applause which fol.
lowed the introduction was hearty and OF
long duration
After Mr.. Bryan's address Mr.. Bradley
announced that in honor of the presence
of the distinguished guest the students
would observe the rest of the day as Il
holiday, and he called upon the members
of the Sigma Thi to escort MIR. and Mrs:
Bryan to the carriage as class guard OF
honor through the grounds of the institu-
ton. The members of that fraternity
drew I'D in line and, singing their fraterni-
ty song, marched on either side of the
carriage, and when the vehicle containing
the guests had reached the gates the stu
dents babe the nominee and his wife God
speed, and supplemented the farewell
with long and loud college yells.
In his speech ut the college Mr.. Bryan
said:
"A man who fOrgets his mother loses
the respect of all good people, and SO a
man who leaves college and forgets his
alma mater can hardly expect to enjoy
the esteem of good people. 1t always
gives me great pleasure to come back to
Illinois College, because | remember the
days in which | spent two years in Whip
pie Academy and four years i'll college,
as not only among the most pleasant days
of my life, but as the most profitable days
of my life; and when | return to these
scenes flood of memories press upon
me. | remember that it was here, as a
young man, that | began to study the sub
ject of political economy, and it was I'M
der that great leader that we had in this
college for so many years, DR., Sturte-
want. that became first interested i'll the
great public questions of the day. re-
member his teachings as listened to him
ut that time, Il boy, and for many years
could find no better arguments in defense
of one of the questions before the public
than his book, which was Il text book III
| the college. And when another great
question came before the people and be.
gan to engage public thought, | wondered
| whether he he had covered that question
in his book, and whether his great MIND
had applied itself to the Fundamental
principles which underlie the question
which now arouses the thoughts of the
people. When | began to examine
found that in that book, | don't know
whether you use it now or not. but vol
did when | was in college, Economics, Of
the Science of Wealth. by DR.. Sturte
want. | found that in the book he haC
stated the great fundamental principles
which underlie the money question.
Il always go with pleasure before col
lege students, but | come with cspccia
pleasure before the students of this col
lcge. because. while n man in public lif
must expect to have his motives miscon
| StruCd and his purposes doubted, vet
know somewhat about how young mel
feel. and | believe that the young mel
will believe me when | tell them tina
my study of economic questions has BEEF
with one single purpose, and that ha
been to find out what solution of publ
questions was the best for the majorit.
of the people. Now we have difference
of opinion, and it is proper that Their
should be charity shown one to another
because you know none of us are infalli
bic. We are all apt to make mistakes
But | believe those who desire most t
ascertain the truth and who labor hard
est to find out what is best will com
the nearest to arriving at Il Just conclu
sion and that no one who desires to know
the truth, who desires the best that ca
be done, ever objects to hearing frol
one who may differ with him. Yo
know the truth does not exist in seclu
sion. Truth comes from the clash O
ideas, from the comparison of views
! Error is the only thing that fears publ
discussion. Truth has II power With
itself by which it propagateS itself. anC
after ALL there is nothing omnipoten
but truth. And now, while we diffe
, here as young men upon various que>
tons which arise. | know that You wi
agree with me when | say that in tn
long run that policy which proves to b
best is good to he adopted. and that thos
who attach themselves to Il righteou
cause are sure to triumph at last.
never get among young men without fee
l ing that | ought to impress upon thel
l Il lesson which was impressed upon m,
and that is when Il man believes tina
he is right he can afford to stand alon,
, He can afford to be called anything. b,
cause it is not what the people call tina
determines character 1t is what YOU al
Yourself
Mr.. Bryan then touched upon til
financial question and closed as follow.
Il want you. i'll the study of all que.
tons, not to take my views, because. a
| say. | may he wrong: don't take an,
| hody'S views. but try to find out whG