The San Francisco call., 1897-07-04
BRYAN at STOCKTON.
Eight thousand People Hear the Silver
ChGmpfon's speech.


CbGmpfon's speech.
STOCKTON. CAL, July 3.-This was
Bryan day in Stockton. On the streets il
was nothing but Bryan. There was nc
talk of free silver or free trade. ALI party
principles were lost in a desire to see and
hear the man who ran against William
Mckinley and was defeated. 1t was more
curiosity than politics. Everything was
ready for the reception OF the boy Orator
of the Platte" at 1i:30 o'clock, the ap'
pointed time. The stand on the plaza was
finished last night and decorated this
morning and the seats arranged.
Early In the morning the people from
the country began to arrive, and by 1C
o'clock there was a great crowd on the
street, which grew as the time for the
meeting drew near. The seats in the
square had been all taken, mostly by
women, who sat in the boiling sun and
patiently awaited the coming of the man
who had excited their wondering curio-
sity.
The streets leading to the depot were
lined with carriages and the platform
along the track filled with jostling,
densely packed mass of people hours be-
fore the arrival of the guest. A band of
musicians lessened the tedium of waiting
| by playing popular strains.
at 12:48 o'clock-neariy two hours be-
hind the schedule time-an engine and
coach bearing the silver cham pion with
his suite OF Gistinguished followers, in
| Guiding the Sacramento and Stockton
reception committees, rolled into the
depot. The Pullman was lavishly be-
decked with National colors, wreaths and
| flowers, i'll the center of which was a
large tri-colored shield bearing the legend
| ~,,tlx
civilian ]. Bryan" in large argentine
letters at the top.
The throng that awaited him at the
grand stand on Hun ter street plaza was
fully 5000 strong. So densely were the
masses packed together that many were
unable to get near enough 10 hear him
| and went away disappointed. Won en-
and children were in The majority.
The speech, though kindly received,
was devoid of any spontaneous display OF
eioquence for,whicn the youthful Presi-
Dental candidate is famous. 1t was more
of an analysis of the silver question-a
plain statement OF facts-rather than a
collection Of rhetorical phrases or brilliant
| flights OF oratory.
Hon. Frank D. Nicol introduced Mr..
Bryan, who said substantially:
I do not come to preach a new gospel The
principles which we advocated during the last
campaign were old principles. We're asking
| for restoration of landmarks set up by our
| fathers, which have been destroyed by those
| who have been following strange gods. ]
| shall mention some things you have often
! considered. If ! should say thing that you
| have not often heard Governor Budd say /
should go back on everything that have held
dear. realize that am speaking to you OF
| the effects of vicious financial policy, which
| perhaps your local advantages have not made
| you feel as much as 1T has others. Those who
| have to raise money TO buy fuel are denied
| what nature has given you in natural gas and
| other resources; yet you would be blessed
with greater advantages under more just
| system. If you can survive while others are
! suffering, how much more could you rejoice
| If others were happier In their lot
| In the last campaign each ore was endeavor-
| ing 10 solve the money question. When the
| silver Dem ocrats declared Ior the money OF the
constitution in their platform some SAID they
were disturbing the harmony of the Demo
cratic party. We replied that we were trying
| to bring the Democratic party back to its
| original position. We we're like Johnny pull
| ing the cats tail. He told his mother tn at he
| was only holding, and the cat was doing the
! pulling. That was the position that Demo
! Gratis occupied. We w re holding to principle
and the others were doing the pulling and
| making all the noise.
| The Chicago plotform declared for the free
and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio OF
| 16 10 without the intervention of any for
| eign nation. The Populisls and National Sill