The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-15

Col. William Jennings Bryan spent
quiet and yet not uneventful day in
St Paul yesterday. Arriving on one
of the morning trains he went to the
Ryan. where he breallfasted with
Judge John w Willis. T. D. O'Brien,
Gov. Lind and L. A. Rosing, and they
talked over the recent campaign IN this
and other states.
Col. Bryan then repaired to his apart
ments, Parlor D. and was visited by
some of the prominent Democrats of
the state. --mong the visitors were
Surveyor General P. H. Kerwin, T.
O'ConnOr, of Renville, and former
Chief of Police John Clark.
Shortly after IL o'clock Mr.. Bryan,
with the committee on entertainment,
started for the capitol to pay his re-
spects formally to the new governor
and when the house of representatives
which was in session, heard that MIR.
BRYAN was coming, Mr.. Yale (Rep.), of
WinOna called the attention of the
speaker and the members to the pres
ence of Mir. Bryan in The capitol and
moved the appointment of a COMMITTEES
Of three to wait on him and request
that he address the house
The motion was carried unanimous
ly, and Speaker Dare named as such
committee MessTs. Yale (Rep0. of Wi
and Roberts (Rep0, of Hennepin.
Mr.. Bryan was escorted to the speak
ers desk by the committee, the mem
bers OF the house greeting his appear
ance by rising to their feet and loudly
applauding as he passed up the aisle.
In presenting the visitor to the
house Speaker Dare said:
1T gives me great pleasure to intro
duce TO you the DISTINGUISHED states
man, W. j. Bryan.
Gov. Lind. who entered the hall a
few feet behind the committee and Mr.
Bryan. was overlooked by the commit
tee and the speaker, but he secured a
chair from one of the pages and. seat
ing himself beside the desk of Repre-
sentative Lydiard. listened to the ad-
dress and at the conclusion left the
hall.
Following his address Mr.. Bryan held
an informal reception in front of the
speakers desk and shook hands with
all of the members. Mr.. Bryan con-
fined his remarks to the duties of leg
islatures and carefully avoided politics.
He spoke as follows;
SPOKE TO THE HOUSE.
Gentlemen: This is a very unexpected op-
portunity and one which I apprec. ate very
much. because it comes from those who diff
fer from me in political opinion. I have on
several occasions received invitations from
those VINO adhere 10 the same pOHUcal pIlu-
eIpleS, but this is one OF the lew occasions
when an invitation has come to me from
those who were opposed on general questions
of public policy.
I believe to be thu proper feeling in politics
and shows tEat there is here that liherality
and charity which ought to be more than it
is in the public life OF the nation
According to, my theory of politics. men
can differ and yet be equally hons Our
opinions on public questions are largely in
huenced by cur surroundings, by our habits
of thought and by our experiences, and
man may think a thing which we believe 10
be entirely wrong and yet be a thoroughly
honest man, a man of absolutely coed in
tentions, and if, in politics. we could ellm1-
nate the person, and, more than this, his
politics, and compare ideas, willing TO &C
cept that which was good, no matter from
whom it comes, and willing to reject that
which was wrong. no matter who advocat s
it. I believe would come nearer fulfill
ing the American idea than we do if we SIM
ply accept that good that comes from
those who agree with US in party govern
ment and rspudiate that which comes from
our opponent, no matter what It's merits
may be.
So I say I appreciate the charity YOU
show in inviting me to speak to you, and
am not going to abuse it by saying anything
that can be construed as partisan IN charac-
As you have invited me to speak, permit
ne to sugg st a few things which l think
Ne can all bear in mind, no matter what
arise from time to time to separate US IN
politics.
I never see representative body without
wondering what ideas the representative
may have of his duty and his responsibilities.
There are two i'd as to be found among our
people as to the character Of our representa-
tives and these views regarding the char
acter Of our repres NATIVE and the line or
his work will often determine the man S, pub
lie conduct. There are some VINO beneve
that we elect men to think for US, and, hav-
In Il
fectly satisfied with anything that they CO.
Some have the idea that we think Ior our
selves and appoint people TO act for US.
New. I believe that the latter view Is the
vi " that ought to prevail in our form Of
government-that the representative IS but
the spokesman of those who select MIN, ana
thar If is not his business to go on and do
things contrary TO the wishes or the inter-
ests Of those he represents, but he is to go
there and carry out as best he can the
wishes and protect the interests of those
who elect him.
SERVANT OF THE PUBLIC.
In other words, that the representative is
the public servant, and the man who i'm
AGNES that because he is elected he is SUI
perior to those who elect him is very apt
to get into trouble; but the man who reInem-
bers ct all times that he is but the servant
of those who elect him, and that instead OF
being their master h is but the instrument
to represent their will; that instead OF using
them for his personal advantage ne IS 10
if that is the idea that is dominant in the
represeutative's mind at all times it is a
great protection to him. 1t helps MIN IN the
discharge of his duties. Then think that
in L - discussion of all the questions that
arise before a legislative body we ought to
have some rule to govern. rule is very
vaIuabIe thing. When we begin to study
mathematics we take up rules for ADDITION,
subtraction, multiplication and division, and
when we learn the rule the problems come
easy to US. If we want to weigh anything
we must first learn the rule. and when we
learn tc weigh a ton Of coal we are able
then to weigh ton of anything. II W. want
to measure land We have to learn rule As
soon as we get a rule that enables us tc
measure an acre OF land, that enables US to
measure any amount of land.
So in the discharge Of public duties. if we
have a rule that We can go back to, it helps
US to solve these problems. Is there any rule
that can help the legislator?
AS a legislator myself for a very shor
time l felt often the need of some rule OF
measure or standard by which to Judge ques-
each question by its merits, would have
no time to enter into exhaustive study Il
the new questions which arise from time Il
time ard there is such rule. l say therf
is Ii is rule that was written many year.
aeO rule which underlieS our entire frame
work of government, and that is that al
men are created equal; that they are endowe'
with inalienable rights and that the objee
of government is to secure these rights I
the indiVidu and that the government de
rives its Just powers from the consent Of tn
governed. Our government recognizes tn
equality Of all men before the law. If yo'
ask me if there s any rule by which yol
en- determine whether a governed person i
in harmony with our institutions, | reply
that a man no matter to what party he be
longs who believes that a American citizel
stands equal before the law; whether he i
rich or poor, whether great or small, whethe