The record-union., 1896-10-27
The Democratic Candidate Visits the
Home Of His College Days.
Makes Two Long Addresses and One
Brief One.
His Hearers, Mostly Composed of
Farmers, Very Enthusiastic in
Their Shouts for the Chicago NOm-
inee-Mr. Bryan to Deliver Many
More Speeches To-Day.

More Speeches To-Day.
JACKSONVILLE Ull), Oct G6-This
was not William j. Bryan's busy day
He spent most of it in the environment
OF old college association, and late in
the afternoon left the old educational
community Of Jacksonville, where, sur
rounded by many of those who knew
him as student years ago, he en-
joyed nearly two whole days of restful
Guiet-the pieasantest period since his
hard work of the campaign began
It is true that his Jacksonville visit in
cludes two long addresses and another
brief one, but the robust young nomi-
nee with his record of thirty speeches
in a single day did not consider such
slight effort as worthy of designation
as labor.
He became a boy again in the morn
ing as he sat with the students of his
alma mater in the college chapel. He
sang with them and then made some
interesting remarks defensive Of him
self with reference to insinuations that
his purposes in leading the political
agitation We're not the best. A thrust
at Major Mckinley was contained in
the few words he delivered to a dele
cation of visitors from the porch of
the house where he was a guest when
he said that a speech made from a
perch could not be considered undig-
nifed.
In the afternoon a great Democratic
rally was held in Jacksonville and Mr..
Bryan made two speeches to large
crowds, concluding his second in time
TO leave for Alton on the regular train,
to which his special car had been at
tached This Mississippi River town
had him for three hours tonight and
the silver people resident and visiting
heard two speeches. Shortly after 10
o'clock Mr.. Bryan left Alton in con-
tinuation of his journey. He is due to
reach Chicago tomorrow.
The streets Of Jacksonville began to
show evidences early this morning that
some special event was about to take
place in the pretty college town. We
hicles in v7tfc.a people had driven many
miles lined up along the curbs of the
principal streets, While the sidewalks
were crowded with eXcursionists. The
presence Of William j. Bryan and his
wife in the community where they
We're educated and spent the first few
years of their married life was the
magnet that attracted so many visit
ors, all of whom had come to see and
hear the candidate deliver a speech
on the public square in the afternoon.
Horsemen attired in red white and
blue sa.shes and decorations of SHIN
mering silver foil galloped about the
{ y, fe,a
early hour, and the occasional arrival
Of brass bands and free silver clubs
added to the excitement and interest
that pervaded the little city
Mr.. Bryan began his day in a very
pleasant way. Surrounded by stu
dents Of his alma mater he made an
address in the chapel Of the Illinois
State College in the forenoon, in which
he denied insinuations that he was not
actuated by an earnest belief in advo-
eating the free coinage of silver. and
maintained that he was anxious to do
the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der of people in the United States. The
little chapel was crowded No display
was attempted, the regular religious
exercises that We're practiced in Mr.
Bryan's time, and are still maintained.
being carried out in all their simplicity.
Mr.. and Mrs Bryan joined the students
| in singing America" and in the re-
sponses to the twenty-fifth Psalm
which preceded the introduction of the
candidate by DR.. j. +. Bradley. the
i President of the college.
When Mr.. Bryan concluded there was
| more great cheering, and again the stu
| dents broke forth when President Brad
! ley announced a holiday in honor of the
Democratic nominee The members OF
| the Sigmi Phi Society escorted Mr. and
Mrs. Bryan to their carriage. singing
their fraternity song, and sent another
| cheer after them as they We're driven
away.
The crowd at the public square began
/ to collect early, and at O'Clock, when
| Mr. and Mrs. Bryan arrived, about l.,
| UoO people were congregated closely
around the broad platform from which
the candidate spoke, while as many un-
able to hear gathered on the streets in
that vicinity. During the hour and a
/ quarter occupied by Mr. Bryan the en-
| thusiasm was frequent and prolonged
His audience was composed almost en-
tlrely OF FARMERS, and was undoubtedly
in sympathy with his expressed views.
views
Mr.. Bryan also spoke to an audience
of women at the opera house, where a
reception in honor of Mrs. BRYAN was
held.
In the course of his speech Mr.. Bryan
said: 1t is always pleasing to meet a
! large number of people in any part OF
the country, but it is especially crafty
\ ing to find so many willing 10 turn out
on this occasion when / came back tc
the city which was for many years my
home. 1t is gratifying to meet again
the friends whom l used to know, and
| to learn by their presence and their
words that the friendship then formed
is still here. l come back as the repre-
sentative of great principle, as the
champion of a great cause, as the can
| didate of those who believe that the
! American people are able to attend tc
| their own business" Great cheering
| After the exercises in the College
Chapel, Mr.. Bryan made little speech
to meeting from the porch Of the resi-
| dence of his host, DR.. r. K Jones. ir
which he said he had been accused of un.
dignified acts in going around the coun.
try to see the people, but certainly
there would be no criticism of him ir
making that speech as it was made from