The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-26
BRYAN TO
STUDENTS.
Visits Again the College Where
He Was Educated.
Received With Enthusiasm By
Students Of Illinois College.
SPEAKS TO YOUNG MEN
Greeted By Members of His
College Fraternity
And Given the College Yell on
His Departure.

Jacksonville. III. oct. 26.-Perhaps
the noisiest demonstration that was
ever given any one within the walls of
the chapel of the Illinois college was
the one paid William jennings Bryan
this morning by the students of his
alma mater. Shortly after 10 O'Clock
he spoke to the students Of the college
from which he graduated and the ap-
plause which greeted him seemed out
Of place in the room devoted to the
devotional exercises of the institution.
His address. While of a political nature
and a defense of the double standard
theory of finance, was So diplomatically
given that no student within his hear
ing could take offense at it. The same
simple exercises in which he took part
for SIX years as a student in the col
lege were gone through with this morn
ing DR.. John T.. Bradley, the presi-
dent of the Illinois college presided
over the meeting and the exercises
We're opened By the reading of the
Scriptures by DR.. Bradley, responsive
reading of a Bible lesson ana prayer by
Dr. It. p Carter. professor of natural
science Then DR.. Bradley gave a
short Introductory address, saying that
Of the distinguished alumni Of Illinois
college who had reflected honor upon
that institution. that no one stands and
no one ever stood in such public dis
tlnctlQn as the guest of the morning.
He said that with the duties and en-
gagements which press so heavily upon
the distinguished visitor it was note
worthy that he should pause and turn
aside for little While to visit the
scene of his old associations and greet
his old friends and permit them to
greet him and to lay his honors at the
feet of his alma mater.
The applause which followed the in
PRODUCTION was hearty and Of long du-
ration. After Mr.. Bryan's address, Dr.
Bradley announced that in honor Of
4f- 4H.44-- 4r~1- "a nrarrN
the students would observe the rest Of
the day a s q holiday. and he called up
on the members of the Sigma Phi to
escort AIr. and Mrs Bryan to the car
riage and to act as guard of honor
through the grounds of the institution.
The members of that fraternity drew
up in line, and singing their IaNorlte
fraternity song. marched on either side
Of the carriage, and when the vehicle
containing the guests had reached the
gates the students bade the nominee
and his Wife gOdspeed and supplement-
ed the farewell with long and loud col
In his speech at 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 lofgels
his alma mater can hardly expect to
enjoy the esteem of good people II al
ways gives me great pleasure 70 come
back to Illinois college. because re-
mem ber the days in which L spent Two
yeqrs in NVhiDple academy and four
years in college, as not only among Ihe
most p1easant days of my lie put as
the most profitable days Of my life and
when I return to these scenes Hood
of memories press upon me L remefn-
Der that it was here as young man
that I began to study the subject Of po-
litical economy; and it was under that
GREAT leader that we had in this college
for so many years-Dr- SturteVant that
7 became first interested in the great
public questions of the day 4 reIneIfl-
I.f 4r.n.r d q
at that time a boy and for many years /
I could find no better arguments In de
fense of one of the questions before the !
public than his book which was q text ]
hook in the college presented And when /
another question came before the peo- /
pie and began to engage public thought, /
1 wondered whether he had covered |
that question in his book and whether /
his great mind had applied itself TO the /
fundamental principles which underlle |
the question which now so arouses the |
thoughts of the people
when I began to examine found that /
in that bOOkI don't KNOW whether you /
use it now or not but you did when I |
was in college. Economies, or the SCI
ance Of wealth. by DIR. Sturtevant-I /
found that ia that book he had stated I
the great fundamental principle which
lnderlies the money question
II always go with pleasure before col
eae students. but 7 come with especial
pleasure before the students of this col
ege. because while a man in public life
must expect 20 nave his I4Ol4fG9 ms
construed and his purposes doubted
yet I know something about now
young men feel. and believe
that Young men viii believe me
when I tell them that nay study
)f economic questions has been
With one single purpose. and that has
)een to find out what solution of public
luestions was best for the majority of
he people Now. we have differences
IF opinion. and it is proper that there
hOuld be charity shown one to another,
because you know none of US are infal-
ible. we are all apt to make mistakes
But believe that those who desire
most to ascertain the truth and who
abOr hardest to find out what is best.
viii come the nearest to arriving at a
ust conclusion and that no one who
esires to know the truth. who desires
o do the best that can be done ever
liner from him You know truth does
lot exist in seclusion. Truth comes
rom the clash of ideas from the COM
,arison Of views. Error is the only
hing that fears public discussion Truth I
as a power within itself by which it
ropagates itself. and after all there is
othing omnipotent but truth
And now while differ here as
-0ung men upon various questions |
-hich arise. I know that you viii agree
With me when I say that in the long
un that policy which proves to be best
going to be adopted. and that those /
-hO attach themselves to righteous 4
ause are sure to triumph at last.
I'll never get amomg young men with
ut feeling that I ought to impress up I
n them a lesson which was impressed
ewes he is right he can afford TO stand
lone, he can afford to be called any