The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-01-10
BRYAN SOUNDS THE KEY NOTE.

l
Gratis Of Nebraska and other states met
at the annual banquet with the Jeffer-
sonian club in Lincoln, Nebraska. At
this meeting William j. Bryan made his
first public appearance since the election,
and the greeting accorded him was never
more hearty and spontaneous in his
home town. His address received the
closest attention and the applause was
frequent.
Aside from the remarks of and ovation
to Mr.. Bryan the event Of the evening
was the speech Of John w. Kern, defeat
Led democratic candidate for governor of
1ndiana, who aroused the banqueters to
high pitch Of enthusiasm, not only by
his laudations Of Mr.. Bryan but by the
outspoken criticism of those democrats
whom he accused Of contributing to
Bryan's defeat. His denunciation Of
those democrats who offered "gratuitous
consul to democracy" though he men.
TONED no names, was accepted by the
crowd as reference to former President
Cleveland.
Mr.. Bryan's theme was, Principles
that i've" He said, in part:
"At this banquet, surrounded by
neighbors who have been my friends for
ten years, may be pardoned for saying
q word Of a personal nature. Five times
you have voted for me for public office
twice for congress once for the United
States senate and twice for the, spresi-
dency-and no candidate ever receive d.
more liberal support than you have
given.
Whether shall ever be a candidate
for Office again is q question which must
be determined ny events w 0,i4s, c.n
speak will, cs -sainty Of the future. for
lone's uestiny is not known until his
life's work is complete. shall be con-
tent if it is my lot to and in the triumph
of the principles while others enjoy the
honors and bear the responsibility of
Office. The holding Of public Office
should be an incident and not the ex--
treme for the citizen. It should not be
an end, but the means for the accomp-
ilishment Of n purpose. a I. & s''7ss IS
The presidency seemed desirable be-
cause itwould have enabled me to give
effective aid to certain reforms which l
believe to be necessary to the public
welfare, but defeat even second de.
feat-does not lessen my interest in this
reform and time may prove that my
work Is to advocate rather than to exc
lcute.
The Commoner will give me an op-
portunity to participate in public dis
lcussions, and am sure that an editorial
position will furnish as much eHectual
enjoyment asI could have found in the
white house and in addition thereto give
me more time for home pleasures.
The principles for which we contend
ed in the last campaign still live and we
who believe in them must continue to
fight for them. An election does not
change principles, it only determines
what principles shall be for the time
bsing applied.
4 "The believers in tariff reform did not
abandon their faith when the high tariff
doctrine was Endorsed at the polls;
neither did the protectionists when the
cause suffered loss. The advocates Of
the gold standard continued the fight
for monometallism for twenty-five years
in spite Of the platform declarations Of
all parties in favor Of a double standard;
shell we who belieye in bimetallism lose
courage because our opponents have
profited by an increased vote of money
thus admitting the economic principle
for which we have been contending?
1.-THE defenders of trusts did not LOSE
heart when all parties denounced combi
nations in restraint of trade; shall we
give up the fight because manopoly has
ltriumphed by stealth?
"Must we now advocate an imperia
policy because our opponents have wor
q victory by denying that they were i'm
Iperialists? Acolonial system involves
surrender Of our theory Of governmen,
and the people will understand this a,