The age-herald., 1898-03-03
Explained and Old Democratic Enthu-
 siasm Rekindied.
AN INDEPENDENT ACTION URGED
And the Intrepid Chieftain Is Confident of victory-Accorded FIattering Well come Reception at The Morris
 and Home of Mir. Tomlinson.

One whiff of the enthusiasm bundled up in the opera house last night would have blown Spain off the face of the earth, and carried America solidly for bimetallism if enthusiasm could be transformed into fire arms and votes.
 It was the occasion of William Jennings Bryans second lecture in Birmingham, and he was greeted by an outpouring of democrats, their wives, mothers and sis- ters and sweethearts. Strong men yelled, ladies clapped dainty 'nadias. and stamped little feet, and the sturdy chieftain bowed in appreciation to it all.
 Long before the house was thrown open there was jam at every entrance and be- fore dark the IS. R. O." sign was hung out. There were delegations from sur- rounding cities, and, coupled with the crowd from Birmingham and Jefferson county, not more than half obtained seats in the opera house.
 At 7:30 MT. Bryan arrived accompanied by leading democrats. He made a short address to the crowd in front. The street was literally packed and cheer after cheer went up He spoke for half an hour on the outside and then entered the opera house.
 As the band played a lively march, the intrepid chieftain of the democratic hosts edged his way through the throng which blocked the aisle. There was fancy of
 
 and he raised a fine head erect above the crowd. MT. Bryan was attired in a black cutaway coat, with pants of some bluish striped material. Fairness yet neatness was apparent in every phase of his make- up. A turn-down collar encircled his neck and black string tie lay over white shirt bosom. Amid shouts of hundreds of admirers, with difficulty he made his way to the stage. For few moments he stood in the wings, while the house was filling m vvffh rlro bla. or,fdf every seat was taken and many were com pelled to stand There was a buzz of ex- citement, interrupted by frequent outbursts of applause from zealous admirers Hon. John c. Pugh presided over the meeting, but it was useless to rap for order; the fires of democracy had reached roaring flame and to prevent an outburst was im- possible.
 Just before the speaker emerged from the wings, the band, whether by command or from the prevailing inspiration, struck up Dixie" and the "boy orator. advanced to the center of the stage as the multitude gave vent to tumultuous cheering Hon. John W. Tomlinson, who had accompanied him to the stage, preceded him, and while MT. Bryan stood in the rear he was intro- duced by the chairman for Alabama Of the National League of Bimetallic clubs. MT. Tomlinson said
 The Speaker Introduced
 'I have the honor and pleasure of intro- ducing to you a man who has the un- bounded confidence and love of his fol- lowers and the profound respect of his op- ponents; the greatest American of his day and generation-W. J. Bryan.o
 On lowing to the audience the speaker was welcomed by cheers loud and long. For two hours and twenty minutes his wisdom the money question and his matchless satire. directed at his opponents, held the interest of the assembled hosts and at the conclusion he was besought to continue
 Tn the opening Mir. Bryan said that he would talk on a subject of great ifnpor- tance, with the sole aim to make it plain to every one. So that man on his side could better. defend his position. and if on there.
 '"There are two sides,r said he, "but I don't say two good sides. l want to show you who is believer in the gold standard and why he is. If our position is not sus- ceptible to support by argument, it is not worthy of support at all. I may speak with some emphasis, but always grant the possibility of error. If some of you are among those who are Temporarily benefited by the gold standard. hope to show that your real interests are on our side. If there are those here who believe bimetallism ought to succeed. hope to have them go away believing that bimet- allism must succeed" (Applause)
 He then said there were several degrees of bimetallists, one just above freezing point and one at the stage of boiling over "When bimetallist is just above freezing point you may scare him, but when a man reaches the boiling point you can't scare him" (Applause.)
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 (Continu< on Second PaRe1