Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-03
BRYAN TO NE|GHB0RS
Last Speech of the Campaign
at Lincoln, Neb.
BELIEVES HE WILL WIN
But Tells Home Folks He Will Be
Happy in Any Event.
NO LONGER "BOY ORATOR"
Outgrown That Title and Has Been
Abundantly Rewarded for
Doing His Duty.
BELIEVES HE WILL WIN
NO LONGER "BoY ORATOR"

LINCOLN. Neb.. November 3.-W. J..
Bryan's homecoming last night from his
long tour east was made big event in
Lincoln. Twenty-Five thousand cheering
democrats gathered about the city hall
square and listened to a speech from him.
1t was announced as non-partisan eff
fort-a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. speech.
The Bryan train was over an hour late,
but the crowd and big line of paraders
waited patiently for him to come An
hour before the republicans had big
parade, but the best of good feeling pre-
vailed and there were no clashes
From the balcony of the hotel owned
by the ambassador to Mexico Mr.. Bryan
addressed crowd that stretched a block
away in three directions.
Mr.. Bryan said he should make no po-
litical speech here among his neighbors
Public life has some unpleasant features
but the reward far outDayS them. Moth
ing. he said, had occurred in his life that
he appreciated more than the cordial re-
ception of tonight. 1t would be night
memorable in his life.
Helped by Republicans.
"While I have sometimes been humili-
atcd,'' he said, by having it thrown up
to me elsewhere that my home city has
never given me a majority. yet, as mat
ter of fact, have always had large
complimentary vote from the republicans
in Lincoln
He recounted previous campaigns in
which republicans in generous numbers
had voted for him, and if this had been
generally known he thought there would
not have been so much criticism. With
out the republicans support given him
In his candidacy for Congress he would
never have been elected, and if he had
not served in Congress. would never have
been nominated for President.
Whatever they be in the future" he
said. they have done enough in the past
by laying the foundations for nv political
career to make me their debtor while 1
live.
Il am at the end of my third Presiden-
tial campaign" he continued, land to-
morrow will decide whether I shall oc-
cupy the seat which Washington and JEFF
ferson and Jackson and Lincoln have oc-
cup1ed. You will have your part in that
victory or in that defeat. 1t may be that
the election may turn on Nebraska. and
Nebraska on Lincoln. and that my home
city shall decide my fate. If it shall be
my fate to be added to the list of Presi-
dents, and Nebraska to the list of states
that have furnished Presidents, 1 shall
rejoice with you. If. on the other hand,
the election shall be against me- I can
feel that l have left nothing undone that
could be done by me to bring success to
the cause. 1 shall find private life so full
dency.
Il have been a child of fortune from
my birth. God gave me into the keeping
of a Christian father and mother. who
implanted in my heart the ideals that
have guided my life. In the law school
fell under the influence Of those who
still further strengthened those ideals that
have shaped my course in life.
Happy With His Family.
when but young man l was guided
to the selection of one who has ben by
my side for twenty-four years. No Presi-
Dental victory brought her to me. and
no presidential defeat can take her away
from me.
"T have been blessed with family of
children who are making glad the de-
Ginning years of their mother and father.
They used to call me in derision the Boy
Orator of the Platte but I have out
grown that title, and now have grand
children growing up about me.
II repeat that / have been abundantIy
rewarded for what 1 have been able to
do. My ambition has not been much to
hold any office. however great. as to know
my duty, and to do it. whether in public
life or as a private citizen
IF elected 1 shall be absent from you
but four years. If defeated, you will help
me bear it.
THE affection my countrymen have
shown to me is dearer than all earthly
office, and my highest ambition is to de-
serve the continuance of that affection
Il have been greatly touched by the
demonstrations given me in the various
parts of the country, but in the three
campaigns I have received none more
cordial and sincere than this one
Believes He Will Win.
"My friends, believe l am going to be
elected tomorrow. More than that, / be-
lieve 1t Is to be more than a bare vic
tory. I believe there is stirring of the
conscience of the American people,
moral awakening, an uprising that means
sweeping victory. That victory will be
robbed of much of it's sweetness If 1 am
elected without the vote of Nebraska or
if Lincoln or my little precinct of Nor
NAL do not contribute. l shall be among
you. 1t will make my stay more pleasant
if 1 can feel that my city has at last re-
lieved me of the sneers that have been
cast at me when am away from YOU If
you who know me believe me worthy of
that high office / will swear in your
presence that no one who ever votes for
me will ever be ashamed of the vote
Mr.. Bryan left at once for Fairview to
rest, retiring as soon as he reached there
FINAL POLITICAL SPEECH.