The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-04-24
MR.. BRYAN WASHINGTON.
Received an Ovation From Law Stu
dents Whom He addressed.

Mr.. Bryan has returned to Wash
ington from his southern trip with a
discolored eye and a lame leg as the
results of his Florida accident, but
otherwise in the best Of health and
spirits. He spent a busy day in
Washington, attending in the morn
ing the meeting of the executive
committee of the National Associa-
ton Of Democratic Clubs and later
the funeral services at st. John
church over the remains OF ex-Sena-
tor Voorhees,. Afterward he took
lunch at the Ebbitt house with
Chauncey F. Black, president of the
association of Democratic clubs, and
ex-Congressman James Kerr, of
Clearfeld, Pa.
Tonight Mr.. BRYAN delivered an
address on Government before the
law students of the Columbian uni
yersity, in fulfillment of a promise
made before the Inauguration. Mr..
Bryan talked for over an hour to the
students. He devoted his attention
to the menacing influences of trusts
and the duty of the government to
protect its citizens without entering
into party issues or preferences.
The lecture hall was filled by $50
o'clock, although Mr.. Bryan was not
expected until 1880. The sidewalk
in front was packed with people, and
two policemen were called ON to form
the pushing mass into line. 1t was
nearly s o'clock when Mr.. Bryan
came on the stage, accompanied by
Justice Harlan and Justice Brewer.
His appearance was the signal for
tumultous applause. Students
pounded the floor with canes, yelled
and whistled, while Justice Harlan
tried in vain to obtain silence.
Gentlemen of the class" began
the Justice when he could hear him
self heard. Il address you in this
way because in the regular course of
events | would have been here to adj
dress you on the subject of torts. 1t
gives me pleasure this evening to
give way to another. You have often
heard of silver tongGed orators.
The gentleman who is with you this
evening can lay peculiar claim to
that title. AS man who was hon
ored with the votes of 100000 of
his people, he needs no introduction
w. j. Bryan, of the state of Nebrs-
ka.
The cheering was deafening. AS
Mr. Bryan arose the students yelled,
ladies clapped their hands, and
some one in the hallway rang a large
bell. Mr.. Bryan began by saying
he felt that he faced a critical audi
ence, because it was composed of
those who were accustomed to listen
to the members of the supreme bench.
He might disappoint many because
he had prepared no speech. His
time was so occupied by calls from
various sections that he had no time
to prepare a special address.
He then proceeded to give an in
formal, extempore talk on trusts,
their evils and their dangers to the
private individual, the business
man, the community and the state.
He pointed out how trusts DESTROYED
the freedom of commerce, crushed
out small tradesmen and manufact-
urers, paralyzed individual enter
prise, discouraged and finally killed
inventions and tended steadily to
create two classes in society-the
enormously rich and the dependent
poor. The kernel of his argument
was that the abuses of governmental
power which created and fostered
trusts not only tended to make pop
nlar government impossible, but
civilization itself
AT the conclusion of his address
Mr.. Bryan was given tremendous
oration by the students, most of
whom remained to shake hands with
him.