The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-10
BRYAN REMINISCENT.
Recalls His Early Campaigns in
Nebraska.

Chicago. Sept 1o.-william Jennings
Bryan was the guest of the Nebraska
Bryan club, of Chicago, today at re-
ception held at the Sherman House. Col.
Bryan met several hundred people after
which he was introduced by NJ. v. Can
non, president of the club. Mr.. Bryan
said in part:
81 came to meet members of this club
rather than to make speech, but when
I arrived 1 found here a number of per-
sons and the meeting with them carried
me back to the early days in Nebraska.
The first campaign that I took part in
was the campaign of 1883 and I remem-
tinguished gentleman who preSideS over
this club, Judge Cannon, was one of our
chief speakers
II have met here also those who were
with me in the campaign which made
in Nebraska in 1890. If you find that
these men who belong to this club, who
formerly lived in Nebraska and gave me
my start in polftics-if you find that they
don't praise me as much as they ought
to, just remember that they are follow
ing the injunction, praise not the work
of your own hands, for am largely the
work of their hands. 1 went there a
stranger and they took me in-in the BIZ
BILE sense and not in the sense in which
some people apply it. They gave me a
nomination for congress. generously at
time when no one else would take it, and
they elected me at a time when 1t was
supposed that no Democrat could be
elected. But it was not my fault l did
in that case as the president in his let
ter of acceptance said we did with the
Philippine islands, we couldn't help ac-
cepting Them"
Mr.. Bryan spoke in a reminiscent vein
for some time and said in concluding his
address:
MY friends we have to meet issues,
and the club organization is of advant-
age. The club organization is good be-
cause first it brings together those who
are supporting our principles, and sec
ond by. coming together they gather an
enthusiasm and inspiration that takes
them out and makes them do good work.
Now, the work done in a campaign is
not done by the candidate or by the
committee. The candidate does what he
can. the committee does what it can but
the work of the campaign is done by the
individual voter who goes out and talks
and circulates literature and applies the
lessons of experience, and I want to
thank the members OF this club for the
enthusiasm which they have thrown into
the work, and want to commission them
to go out and convert just as many as
possible.
Our people are aggressive The Re-
publicanS are on the defensive We are
attacking the Republicans. They are
trying to explain and to defend and I
believe they will find it impossible to de-
fend their policies before the American
people. We have a country how in which
the people can determine what they
have choice to demand our own finan-
cial policy without asking the aid of or
consent of any other nation, that we
were able to decide for ourselves what il
should be: and I suggest that If a man
wanted to defend the gold standard upon
its merits that We were prepared to meet
him on that question. But when he
would not defend it upon its merits and
proclaimed that he wanted bimetallism
but said we could not have it unless
somebody else let us have it, we insisted
that that question was not one which
could be discussed without the abandon
ment OF all sense of honor by the Ameri-
can people. (Applause).
so now we say that this nation has
right to determine it's policies, or that
when the American people want a thing
that concerns them, they can have that
thing, and that we shall not transfer
legislative power from our people to
some other people I am willing that we
shall initiate whatever other nations
have that is good, but I do not believe
this nation is compelled by force of cir
cumstances to initiate anything that il
does not like and does not want Gap
plause.) If this nation wants a colonial
policy it can have it. If this nation
wants to own people it can own them.
It will have to change its constitution
to do it, but we can change the constitu-
ton if necessary I go on the theory
that the American people can do what
ever they want to do. They may lose
their own liberties, in the attempt they
may spend a great deal of money; they
may sacrifice a great many lives but
the American people can do what they
want to; but when they do thing, they
must recognize that in doing it they
must assume responsibility for what
they do. (Applause)
They can not repeal the laws Of God.