St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-02-06
ARP HEARS BRYAN.
Was Much Impressed with His
Speech in Atlanta.
Words of True Democracy-Howa Clever
Cincinnati Drummer Fooled the
People Along the Line of
the State Road.

/ eye view of my surroundings; but on
this great occasion friend secured me
o seat on the platform with the digni-
taries, where was near Mr.. Bryan and
could Tiew the magnificent scene before
me. Ii n speaker feels equal to the &C.
easion, there is nothing more inspiring
than the kind, expectant faces of a re-
| fined, intellectual audience. Of course,
Mr.. Bryan knew that everybody there
was his friend. No cynics, no carstie
critics, no unfriendly newspaper re-
porters, no heartless artists with scarf
| flying pencils. The inspiring strains of
delicious music had already soothed US
into a dreamy, heavenly peace of mind
when the great Nebraskan came upon
the crowded platform and received
with grace and modesty the plaudits
of an admiring people. He would be
vain if 1t were possible to make him so
| with praise. A friend asked him at
Pittsburgh how he felt when standing
| before thousands who were shouting
paeans to his burning eloquence, and he
| smiled as he replied: 81 feel like the
missionary on the Cannibal islands
| who said that whenever he had them
most affected under his preaching he
could not drive away the apprehension
that they would rather eat him than
hear him." Mr.. Bryan had no such
| feeling here. The ladies, perhaps,
would like to kiss him, but they would
not bite. Oh, no, they never bite.
On Tuesday night when the Vest
ern & Atlantic train came gliding
down to our town about a hundred men
and some women gathered at the depot
to see the distinguished man and cheer
him on his way to Atlanta. He was not
aboard, but some mischievous passen-
gers put their heads from the windows
and cried out: "Mr. Bryan is in the rear
car; call him out" This they did in
I'm excited and vociferous manner, and
a smooth-faced Cincinnati drummer
appeared upon the platform and with
gracious and grateful manner thanked
them for their distinguished considera-
ton. When they called for speech he
explained and apologized by saying
that his contract forbade him from
making speeches en- route, but that he
would with pleasure shake hands with
anyone who desired it. Then came the
frantic rush for the preference as the
train bell rang, and the distinguished
drummer began to glide away. A ven-
cradle maiden exclaimed: ''Oh, |
thought he was going to kiss us!" A
suspicious young silver democrat
whispered: 'I'll be dogged if that was
Bryan. His hand didn't shake like it.
1t was clammy and cold and never mag
netized me bit-dog on his hide /
believe he was an impostor." Before
long they learned that Bryan was on
the Southern line and that this Same
drummer had played off on the people
at every station. 1t is now difficult to
find a man or woman who was at the
depot.
But Mr.. Bryan's subject, ''The An
cient Landmarks" was not one to pro-
woke any strains of eloquence or to
illustrate his eminent gifts as an or
ator. What he said about government
as it was established by our forefathers
was intended to impress and teach and
| linger with US and make us more mind
full of our duty as good citizens of a
good government; our duty to our chill
dren and our children's children to pre-
serve it and perpetuate it in it's pristine
purity. The Indifference of the best
people to take an interest in politics
was the greatest danger our institu--
tions had to appreherrd. We all felt
guilty of this Indifference, for we aban-
don the field and let corrupt politicians
occupy it and are never aroused until
the corrupt work is done. 'The late
campaign he said, "has been can't
paign of education. and the people have
thought more, studied more upon the
great political questions than they have
done for half a century. Twas defeated,
but I feel that q wonderful work has
been done by both sides in discussing
the great issues that are still unset
tied. Both parties are guilty of the
corrupt use of money in carrying elec-
tions, and this is a growing evil and
will not stop until the better element
OF our citizenship takes deeper inter
est in politics and puts the seal of con-.
demnation upon IT,"
Mr.. Bryan's earnestness and manifest
sincerity are his strongest characters
tics. He is great and good man. If
the people before whom he is to stand
will not expect too much of him as an
orator, but will listen to him as
teacher, his mission will be lasting
success. heard him say next day
and since that he told US nothing new
nothing that we had not heard or
thought before, but we are more deep
" impressed with these truths than
ever before. One man said: 'I have
often neglected to vote, but / am sat
isfed that it is better to vote, even IL
you vote wrong. than not to vote at all"
After the lecture many of us went
forward to be introduced and to take
the great man by the hand. 1t was
privilege to do SO, and his hand was
warm and moist and welcome. There
is a good deal of character in the grasp
of the hand.
Our Hal Lewis introduced the speak
er IN a most fitting and eloquent man
ner. / cannot imagine how it could
hare been better done. Mr.. Bryan was
affected by it. and said it handicapped
him. for he felt that the audience had
drunk on more eloquence and oratory
from Mr.. Lewis than they would get
from him. The fact is that Mr.. Lewis
had the best subject. for he had Bryan.
| and Bryan had not 8 hero, but d theory
"a philosophy as solemn anJ serious as