The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-14

tering the southland for the first time
IN two years, William Jennings Bryan
today was welcomed with spontaneous
gladneSS. He seized the occasion to
read a statement in explanation Of
his New York speech on government
ownership of railroads.
Mr.. Bryan's arrival in the city pro-
vOked great outburst of acclamations
from thousands of marchers and 9TH
er thousands in the streets. His re-
ception at the armory tonight, where
he addressed 10000 persons was wild
~ enthusiastic.
The mass meeting at the armory
constituted Kentuckys greeting on
behalf of the south and 1t was rep
resentative southern gathering, graced
by leading kentucky democrats. A
number of prominent democrats from
other southern states, and citizens
from kentucky and Indiana. Mr.. Bry-
an was welcomed to Kentucky by his
Whilom opponent, Henry Watterson,
who presided at tOnight's meeting
The other speakers at the Bryan mass
meeting tonight were Senator Car
mack, of Tennessee, representing the
south and Senator w. J. Stone, of
Missouri, who introduced the guest of
honor.
When Mr.. Bryan entered the hall on
the arm of Mr.. Watterson there was
a demonstration that lasted ten min
utes. AS soon as the noise SubSided. .
Mr.. Watterson began his address of
welcome
Mr.. Watterson spoke in part as fol-
lows:
There is but one paramount issue
for the next presidential battle, and
that is the rescue of the government
from hands that have misused and de-
bauched it, and its restoration to the
custody of the plain but sovereign peO
pie The parties to it are, upon the
one hand, a standing army of trained
politicians, held together not alone by
the cohesive power of the public pat
rOnage but by a community of inter-
est as unyielding as it is unthinking,
richly comparisoned in all the panoply
of successful war, and on the other
hand. the mass and body of those who
heW the wood and draw the water and
pay the taxes, undrilled, unskilled and
widely separated; often cropping in
the dark; sometimes misdirected by
divided counsels: always lacking the
resources by which results are reached
and dangers turned but, never yet
united except to conquer. 1t is veter-
an troops against the raw militia and
unequal though not bootless array,
as many we'll fought field in days
Of old being witnessed. Give us but
half the discipline of the regulars and
a tithe Of their equipment and We shall
he -
cades of criminal wealth though led
bv Theodore Roosevelt himself.
L recognize as our chieftain in this
approaching conflict the Hon. William
Jennings Bryan, of Nebraska.
1t costs me no sacrifice either or
personal preference or private OPINION
to make this declaration. Mr.. Bryan
and | have not always agreed as 10
the means: we have never disagreed
as to the end. The appeal to the NOR
al nature of the people which he mas
made with so much eloQuence ana
power. I was making when he was a
boy He grew to manhood under my
teaching. II at times I have raised
the warning finger of the school mas
ter-even threatened the rod-he was
big enough and good looking enough
70 stand. and 10 survive il. and has
thriyed in spite of it-may be by rea-
son of it, and in any event has quite
outgrown it. l too, have lived ana
learned apaCe: and one OF the Things
7 have learned has been TO look more
to the objective point and less to nom
essentials: in matters of difference 10
agree to disagree with my comrades
and friends; on great occasion anu HI
great affairs to send all minor d1Ter-
ences 10 the rear: the better 10 narch
abreast against the common enemy
That common enemy Is pTeroga-
tive. that common enemy Is the eHoF'
of the organized few to obtain from
tho government unfair advantage over
the unorganiZed many. That COM
mon enemy is the self same money
devil. who falling on account OF COO :
bounty TO eat us out of house anu
home through the impositions OF the
robber tariff, has now his at'oFieS
abroad in the land telling the peopis
we are going TO take the roof of anu
70 tear away the walls. when IS
matter of fact, we are simply going