The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-25
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.

| other fact which in my mind impels US
to exercise discretion is that the official
investigation of the explosion is now be-
| ing made.
1.-The United States cannot afford to be
too hasty in this matter. international
questions are involved and it would be a
sad compliment to our government were
we to openly and maliciously bring about
strained relations by our anxiety to To-
cate the responsibility of the Maine dis
s'The proper policy. in my mind. is for
the United States government to carefully
investigate the disaster and if the evi-
dence tending to attach the responsible
ity where the people assert it properly
belongs, is found, then will it be time for
such action to be taken. Undue haste
at this time might involve in a disas-
trous conflict for which there is no just
are at so to speak and then proceed in
the proper direction and in the right man
Investigation is completed"
Being asked what he thought the
would be, far as it related to a prob
able conflict with Spain. Mr. Bryan said:
POLITICALLY otherwise, the patriot
ism of the American people has never
been appealed to in vain"
Mr. Bryan, turning to his friend, Judge
A. NJ. Jackson of Howard, who stood
stOf course it is" said Mr.. Jackson. IF
there is q war We know who II get licked
and it won't be the United States, either,
concluded Judge Jackson
Certainly, We can lick en-" said Mr..
astic bourbon who came here from the
short grass country.
David Overmyer and Frank S. Thomas
of Topeka, John H. Atwood of Leaven-
worth, James w. Orr of AtchiSon, Judge
John Martin of Topeka, W. F. Petition of
Dodge City and Judge A NJ. jackson of
Howard and J. G. Johnson of Peabody, ma
tional Democratic committeeman from
Kansas, and a Journal reporter went to
st. Marys to meet Mr.. Bryan. He came
to Manhattan Thursday morning direct
from Lincoln.
When the mission of the delegation be
came known @ N {he 7,,, CROWD 9eSlegeo wi Nlr.
tin to have Bryan stick his head out of
johnson and Mr- Thomas rushed INTO the
car and dragged him to the platform.
An eager crowd of men and women rush
ed to the steps TO grasp ms hand' pHt ne
was soon pulled to the platform There
he shook hands right and left and was
nearly dragged off the train by the eager
crowd which had almost become a mob
The train pulled out and a mighty cheer
arose from the crowd as Mr.. Bryan raised
At the Union Pacific depot in Topeka
another immense crowd was gathered
Policemen cleared the way from the train
to the carriages, while on every hand the
people nurmured:
There he is, there he is
Mr. Bryan was finally loaded into a car
riage and Mr.. johnson, Mr.. Orr and Mr..
Atwood sat beside him. Mr.. Thomas, Mr..
Petition, Mr.. Jackson and Mr. Martin oc-
ctpied the remaining carriage. AS the
party drove from the depot a loud cheer
FSIl1s rooms. where a crowd of Democrats
were waiting. J. Mack Love, chairman of
the state committee, Occupying the
throne The Democrats assembled there
were the members of the state commit
tee newspaper men and intimate friends
of the committeeman
Mr. Bryan was introduced and talked
informally. He said:
IN my mind the Chicago platform was
one of the best documents ever written.
The Democratic party is growing more
like that platform all the time. AS this
party becomes a part and parcel OF that
document the Republican party goes far
ther in the other direction The Republi-
cans in the last campaign went farther
in the one direction than they would have
gone had the silver Republicans staid
with them.
'sAnd, 1 want to tell you, my friends.
that as I have Travelled over the country
I have met many silver Republicans and