The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-28

and 1t is by no means new. He has the
great mans disregard for dress Wnlc1 1
characterized Daniel Webster ana
Henry Clay. Mr.. Bryan is FOND or peer
steak and his avoirdupois indicates that
he does not stint his appetite. he IS
what might be termed "a good feeder.
1t was nearly 81 SO when the Bryan
party reached the Auditorium. The
audience had assembled, nearly nil
ing the lower floor. 1t was a large
gathering to hear a paid lecture but
the fact that the people who were
present had paid for the privilege OF
hearing did not dampen their en-
thusiasm and the speaker was fire.
quently interrupted by applause and
1t was the genuine kind, not like that
furnished by hambeau club and other
enthusiasm rousers during pol1tlcal
cam paignS.
Mr. Bryan was asked how long he
expected to talk and he replied
laughing: 'Well it will depend some
what upon the audience. II the peo-
pie stay 1 may talk an hour and
quarter but if I find that they are UNI
easy and anxious to get away l may
quit before that. 1 once knew a
lecturer who said that when the jan
itor came to him and handed him the
keys and told him to lock up the
house when he got through he always
thought that a good time to quit ana
believe that is a good plan to fol-
low
But Mr. Bryan had no cause to cut
his lecture short. He held the big
audience like no other man can hold
an audience. The people were under
the influence of his magic voice and
had no desire to leave before he was
through. The subject of the lecture is
1.-The Value of an Idear' and it is the
same that he has delivered at other
points in Kansas and the west. w.
w. Mills, president of the Topeka
Commercial club. made the introduce
ton in a brief and well worded speech.
Mr.. Bryan said that the most i'm
is high ideal because it is a thing
which can never be destroyed. He
said that clothes might wear out and
money be lost in speculation but that
if a person is given a high ideal 1T
will be with him always.
The speaker discussed happiness and
asserted that happiness comes in CIV
ing rather than in receiving. Y gu
is a self made man and that he owes
no one a dollar. 1 have no patience
with that kind of man for he for
gets the mother whose life trembles in
the balance while giving him life. He
forgets the father who toiled and
made sacrifices that he might have
God and clothing and he forgets
others who have extended a helping
hand all along life's pathway. There
is no man who has not some obligation
to the world and a part of that obliga-
ton is to establish a high ideal and
live up to it.
Inc SCrOng reI1g1OuS CenQency LnaI
dominates Mr. Bryan was forcibly
brought out in his discussion of tn G
mystery of life. He spoke of the
period of doubt and bigotry through
which he passed when he was a young
man at school. He said that he could
not understand how Jesus could feed
a multitude on a few lOaveS of bread
and small fishes. But" he continued,
what is that mystery compared to the
great mystery of human life? Who
can explain the mystery of the radish
seed? A little black seed Is placed in
the ground and in a few days it has
developed into white root enveloped
with a delicate pink coloring. What
mysterious agency is it that impartS
the peach blow color to the radish ?
What force is it that develops the
edible root from the little black seed?
No scientist can explain the mystery
but we don't think about that-mys-
terry never troubles us at, the dinner
albeit is only in church.
The speaker said. that the best thing
that the voters can do for any political
party is to raise its ideals. He dis
cussed the purchase of votes and the
tendency of voters to expect remuner-
alton. 9Th ere is a tendency in this
country" he said, t'to disregard po-
litical corruption. Lam panied to say
that it has not been confined to the
Republicans either. and that it has
sometimes been necessary for Demo-
cratic voters to have their virtue forti-
fed with cash. Politicians may excuse
themselves on the ground of expedi-
ency and say that it is necessary to
fight the devil with fire, but I say don't
do it, for he has more fire than you
have and it doesn't cost him anything
for fuel
In discussing thereferendum Mr.. Bryan
said that he hoped to see the day when
city councils will not be permitted to
vote away franchises until the people
say so. He thought that the giving of
franchises should be done only by a |
vote of the people of the municipality
The speaker probably did not under
stand the outburst of applause that
followed this statement for he does not
know the conditions in Topeka He
said that he hoped to see the United
States senators elected by a direct vote
of the people. I'm fact said he III
believe in letting the people have what
they want. If they want high tariff
I say let them have a high tariff. If
they want gold standard let them have
say let them have that. understand |
that there is a metal of which there is
only two pounds in the world and if |
if the people think that there is too
much money under present conditions
and want to demonetize both gold and |
silver and vote to make radium the |
standard would be in favor of that
Mr.. Bryan closed his lecture with a |
beautiful word picture of the hauling
down of the United States flag in Cuba |
and called it one of the greatest things
ever done by any nation.
EIlk1hY IN st I0IIlS !