Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-04-17
IA GREAT LECTURE
BY A GREAT STATESMAN.
Stauntonians Hear Mr.. Bryan on HIS
Chosen Subject-"A ConqaerIng
Nation" Etc.


Chosen Subject-"A Conqaering
Nation" Etc.
Hon. William Jennings Bryan of
Nebraska, was on Tuesday an honOred
guest in Staunton. He came here from
Washington Oh the invitation of the
Baptist copgre CATION of this city to
deliver for the benefit of their new
church his celebrated lecture on IA
Conouering Nation.' Mr.. Bryan s
coming had been heralded, so that
when his train arrived here tremen-
dous crowd of his admirers were in
waiting at the c. & D. depot when No.
l-3O minutes late-rolled in AS he
elbowed his way through the crowd
there was every manifestation of en-
thusiasm for the great statesman and
when his carriage drove OIL 1t was 1ol-
lowed by throng OF people, good
portion of whom were in full run,
as they passed the SPECTATOR office,
in vain attempt to keep up with the
fast moving vehicle. While here Mr..
Bryan was guest in the handsome
| home of ex- Lieut.. Gov. Edward EchOls
on E. Main ST., who was at the depot
| to meet him. accompanied by other
| distinguished gentlemen and friends
of the great Nebraskan.
| Tbs lecture was delivered in the
| DunsmOre Business College AuditOri
UNI on w. Main St.. where, long before
the hour, had assembled large crowd
to greet him. About half past eight
the lecturer and party of citizens ar.
rived, escorted by the Stonewall Band
When he entered the hall there was a
burst of applause which must have
shown Mr.. Bryan that he was in the
house of his friends. Accompanying
Mr.. Bryan and occupying seats with
him on the platform were bis host
Hon. Edward Echols, Hon. FL. st. Geo
Tucker, Hon. Thos. s. Martin, Hon
| A. G. Braxton, Mr.. r. 8. Turk, Judge
H. W. Holt, Mayor w. H. Landes
and Rev. NJ. L. Wood. pastor OF the
Baptist church.
When the storm of applause dice
away, Mr.. Wood came forward and in
a few brief remarks announced thai
Mr.. Tucker had been chosen to intro
duce the speaker of the evening. OF
account of his personal acquaintance
and warm friendship for Mr.. Bryan
Mr.. Tucker then stepped to the front
where be was compelled to stand fol
some moments till the storm of ap
plause and enthusiasm that his pres
ence awakened, could subside. II
| Mr.. Tucker ever needed any assurance
of the esteem and affection with which
he is yet regarded by the people of
Staunton and Augusta that assurance
was doubly given during the few mo
ments in which he stood again in the
presence of his old time constituents.
His Introductory remarks were in ad
mirabIe good taste, dwelling much Oh
the pei sonal relations he bore to Mr..
| Bryan and the warm friendship between
them. created while they as Congress-
men occupied the same desk in the
national House of Representatives.
| Following these remarks Mr.. Bryan
stood with arm outstretched to quiet
the tumult, that his presence had
aroused. For two hours he held spell
bound the attention of every one with
in hearing. The address was a mas
| terful Grafton. bristling with unanswer.
able logic and good humored jest. Out.
side OF any political sympathy, the ad.
dress was given in good rhetoric and
short unanswerable wit. A StauntOn
audience has heard Mr.. Bryan before
but never under such pleasant circum-
stances and it is safe to say that their
enjoyment of the evening was hearty
and free from political bias. In tn csc
columns 1t will be impossible to give
justice even in a synopsis OF an address
that would fill many columns. Suffice
it to say that Mr.. Bryan's talk, from a
high moral and religious standpoint
was indeed most powerful sermon.
None other than a good man. with the
highest purposes could have given ut
teIance to such sentiments. Had he
been made president, the influence and
impress of such forceful personality,
would undoubtedly have been felt for
great good throughout the country
eIevating the national private charac.
ter alike. After the address the crowd
passed across the platform. to shake
hands with the speaker and express
"thanks for his sermon" as many OIL
them expressed it. One gentleman af'
ter thanking MIR. Bryan for his sermon
was heard to remark that he was sorry
his church bad just called pastor. as
otherwise be should have been glad tt
consider Mr.. Bryan's claims. At this
Mr.. Bryan laughed and replied thai
he could do more good in his roll az
lecture than in that of pastor. At th'
home of Mr.. Echols that night mum
Der of citizens met and enjoyed socla
greetings with Mr.. Bryan. Next morn
ing at 4:22 O'Clock Mr.. Bryan left fol
Huntington, where he had an appoint
ment,