The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-09-19
IN THE BLUE GRASS
SOUTHERN ENTHUSIASM Is FOR
WILLIAM j. BRYAN.
March Past the Speakers stand
In Double File.

Lexington, Sept 15-Kentucky hos
pitaiity and southern enthusiasm were
showeIed upon William ]. Bryan on
his trip in the blue grass region. The
greatest demonstration rendered him
in the south was at Lexington, whore
he addressed from $4,000 to 10000 peo-
pie at the fair grounds. A procession,
unique in character and impressive
to large degree, passed by him as
he was on the speakers stand. People
from the surrounding country got in
to Lexington early this morning, COW
ering the entire distance on horses.
While Mr.. Bryan was addressing the
audience, the horsemen were seen en-
tering the gates Of the fair grounds,
riding in double file and carrying
appropriate democratic campaign ban
ners. 1t took 25 minutes for the 10000
people to file past the nominee, and
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.
1t was nearly 3 o'clock when Mr.. Bry-
an arrived at the driving park. His
appearance was the signal for the
greatest applause He was introduced
to the audience by the Hon. c. J.
Bronston state senator and candidate
for congress.
Bryan's Address.
Mr.. Bryan opened his speech before the
vast audience with a few words of praise
of the far-famed Blue Grass region and
It's people. From the two campaign clubs
that had marched to the depot to receive
him the nominee accepted two handsome
silver badges. which he promised to
carry to his home and preserve.
Continuing, he asserted that the money
question was the overshadowing issue of
the campaign. and he then launched into
a discussion of the legislation of 1873
Ever since that year the American people
had been endeavoring to reinstate the
law that was at that time repealed but
at no time had they been able to pass
bill through both branches of congress.
They had been compelled time and again
( to promise. he declared, and each time
they had found that their enemies, in
stead of forcing a compromise. had com
menced the next day to undermine that
which they had compelled the people to
accept. The speaker added:
when the people succeeded in passing
through one house bill for free coinage
of silver. the other house insisted upon
an amendment that resulted in what was
known as the Bland act of 1878. 1t gave
| some relief to the people. 1t gave to hem
a short respite from the increased de-
preston that had been forced upon them
| by vicious legislation but no sooner was
| that law passed-and remember that even
that law was passed over the presidents
| veto-than the enemies of free coinage,
| who had compelled it's adoption began TO
work secretly for its repeal Then the sill
yer sentiment had grown, until in Febru
ary 1880. when there We're prospects of
| the passage of a free coinage law our
| friends again forced a compromise and
substituted the Sherman law for the free
! coinage of silver; and no sooner was the
| Sherman law passed than our opponents
| began to try to secure its repeal Sena-
| tor Sherman. in his book, recently pub
| lished, known as John Sherman's Recol-
| lections expressly states that he
! cured and favored that bill, in order TO
| prevent the passage of a free coinage
! law. ana that he was ready to vote for
its repeal the next day if that repeal
| could be secured without substituting
| free coinage. Great applause) | call
your attention TO these facts to show you
| that during these years. instead of meet
! ing open and frank and candid enemies
we have had to fight those who under
| the guise of being friends of free coin
age and friends of bimetallism, have by
! stealth sought to fasten the gold stand
ard upon the American people"
For the First time IA Direct Issue.
Mr.. Bryan asserted that in this cam
| raign, for the first time, the issue was
| direct, and in this campaign. for the first
| time, the gold standard managers had
| failed in their endeavors to write the
| platforms of both leading parties and to
conduct the campaign on other issues.
He then entered into u comparison of
| the republican and democratic platforms
THE majority did rule at Chicago and
wrote the platform that was democratic
| tApplause) For once the convention
took strong, open. unequivocal grounds
i'm favor of the immediate restoration of
| free coinage at the ratio of Is to l. And
| what was the result? Why, my friends
four months ago the republicans thought
| 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 cOnsciences
Of the people, then hope of the repubM-
can party was changed to dependency
| and despair
Here the procession began to pass by
| the stand. ana Mr. Bryan was interrupt
| ed for % minutes. When il had passed. he
| continued:
Fellow citizens. I have been interrupt
| ed i'm the midst of speeches before but I
can say to you that. of all, this is the
| most pleasant interruption of which l
have recollection / shall remember this
| speech, which was cut in two by the
most remarkable parade that it has ever
| been my good fortune to witness. They
bore banners which present notices
which make any further speaking UNI
| necessary. If We're to talk to you from
now until midnight, 1 could not more
than emphasize the notices which have
| PASSED i'm that proeaesfOn noticed one