The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-16
IN SPITE OF RAIN.
Immense Crowds Of Kentuck1-
ians Listen to Bryan.
Procession of Mounted Farmers
Passes Before Him.
DEFINES ANARCHISTS.
Bryan Says Those Who Are
Calling That Name
Are More Dangerous Than
Those They Characterize

Lexington, KY, Sept. 16.-KentuclIy
hospitality and southern enthusiasm
were showered upon William J. Bryan
yesterday in his trip In the blue grass
region. The greatest demonstration
rendered him in the south was at Lex
ington where he addressed from $4,000
to %, 600 people at the fair grounds. A
procession, unique in it's character, and
impressive to a large degree, passed
before him as he was on the speaker
stand. The farmers Of the surrounding
country got into Lexington early in the
morning, and came in typical south
ern way, riding the entire distance on
horses. While Mr.. Bryan was address
ing the audience, the hOrSemen were
seen entering the gates of the fair
ground, riding in double file and carry
ing appropriate Democratic campaign
banners. 1t took Is minutes for the 20
600 persons to file past the nominee anG
every one Of these tried to Guido his
neighbor in yelling and cheering.
Mr.. Bryan spoke. to the farmers and
it was a speech intended for farmers.
It was nearly O'Clock when Mr.. Bryan
arrived at the driving park. His ap-
pearance was the signal for the great
est applause. He was introduced to
state Senator and candidate for con-
gress.
MT. Bryan opened his speech before
the vast audience with a few words of
praise of the far-famed blue grass re-
giOn and its people. From the two cam
paign clubs that had marched to the
depot to receive him the nominee ac-
CepteQ two handsome badges which ne
promised to carry to his home and pre-
serve. Continuing his speech, he as
serted that the money question was the
overshadOwing issue of the campaign,
and he then launched into q discussion
of the legislation of 1878. Ever since
that year. he asserted, the American
people had been endeavOring to rein
"a rh7aa1 zavr hot
pealed, but at no time had they been
able to pass bill through both branch
es OF congress They had been COM
PEELED, time and time again, to cOmprO-
mise. he declared, and each time they
had found that their enemies. after
forcing q compromise, had commenced
the next day to undermine that which
they had compelled the people to ac-
cept The speaker added:
When the people succeeded in pass
ing through one house q bill for the free
coinage of silver, the other house in
sisted upon an amendment that result
ed in what was known as the Bland act
OF 1878. 1t gave some relief to the peO-
pie 1t gave to them a short respite
from the increased depression that had
been forced upon them by various leg
islatuTes. but no sooner was that law
passed, and remember that even that
law passed over the presidents veto
had compelled its adoption began to
work secretly for its repeal Then when
EflE SILVER sentiment nEQ grown until
IN February, 1880, there were prospects
Of the passage of q free coinage law,
our friends again forced 3 compromise
and substituted the Sherman law for
the free coinage of silver; and no soon
err was the Sherman law passed than
our opponents began to try to secure
its repeal Senator Sherman in his
book, recently published, known as
John Sherman's recOllections expressly
states that he secured and favored that
bill in order to prevent the passage of
a free coinage law, and that he was
ready to vote for its repeal the next day
If that repeal could be secured, without
substituting free coinage. (Great ap-
plauSe.) I call your attention to these
facts to show you that during all these
years, instead OF making open and
frank and candid enemies. we have had
to fight those who. under the guise of
being friends Of free coinage, the friends
Of bimetallism have, by stealth sought
to fasten the gold standard upon the
American people" Great applause.)
Mr.. Bryan asserted in this cam
paign, for the first time, the issue was
direct, and that in this campaign, for
the first time, the gold standard mana
gers had failed in their endeavOrs to
write the platforms of both Of the lead
ing parties and to conduct the cam
paign on other issues. He then enter
ed into a comparison of the Republican
and Democratic platforms. The one, he
said. was written at St. Louis by the
gold standard leaders, but the other
convention, at Chicago, they had been
unable to control. and the majority of
the people had there been able to de-
clare their will.
Here Mr.. Bryan was stopped as the
rain began to fall in torrents. A large
proportion of his audience remained
however. and when the downpOur be
gan to subside. there were cries Of go
on; go on; don't stop"
He said: We'll. my friends, let me
say that the majority did rule at Chi
cago, and we wrote the platform that
was Democratic. (Great applause
For once the convention took strong
open, uneQuivOcal grounds in favor of
the immediate restoration of free coin
age of silver at the ratio of Is to 1. CAP.
plause.)
And what was the result? Why. my
friends, four months ago the Republi-
cans thought that all they had to do
was to nominate their candidate and
election was. sure. but just as soon as
the Chicago platform was written as
soon as the Democratic party appealed
to the hearts and COnscfe0ces Of the
people. then hope of the Republican
party was changed to dependency and
despair Tremendous applause.)
Here the procession began to pass by
the stand and Mr.. Bryan was inter
rupted for 25 minutes. When 1t had
passed he continued:
Fellow Citizens, I have been inter
rupted in the midst of speeches be
fore. but can say to you that of all
this IS the most pleasant interruption
OF which I have recollection. (AD-
plause.) I shall remember this speech
which was cut in two by the most re-
markable parade which it has ever been
my good fortune to witness. CAD
plause) They bore banners which
present notices which make any further
speaking unnecessary. If I were to
talk to you from now until night
could not more than emphasize the
notices which they have passed in pro-
cession before you. (Applause.)
i noticed one motto drawn with let
tiers not altogether according to the
latest patterns, but it presented a SEN
timent that ought to find a Judgement
In the memories of all, that is: High
money; low times (Applause.)
Il challenge you to ind Ia any Of the