Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-16
THE ENEMY's COUNTRY"

In an apparently studied effort to
convey the impression to the outside
world that the entire sentiment of
Mr.. Bryan's fellow townsmen has un-
dergone a change toward him zinc
1896 and 1900, democratic news pur-
veyors make out that Mr.. Bryan Will
be notified at home of his nomination
for the presidency this time, because
the political hostility of his ~neighbors
has sufficiently subsidized to allow the
ceremonies to be held in Lincoln with
! out danger of an outbreak of some
kind. The Lincoln correspondent of
the democratic World-Herald, writing
in this vein, says:
To Lincoln especially and to the state
at large in general the decision to have
the official notification take place at Fair
view is OF tremendous Importance. 1t will
bring here crowds which probably no other
event in the history of the city has ever
done. Twice before this Mr.. Bryan has
had to leave his home and his home city
to be notified elsewhere. This was made
necessary by the hostility of too great a
proportion of his neighbors. Today these
same folk are overjoyed that from the
doorstep of his own house he may fire the
first formal gun Of the campaign of 1898.
Mr.. Bryan has long been recognized
as a reputable citizen of Lincoln and
this ~premeditated insult to the intelli-
gence of the residents of the state
| capital can not be excused by a mere
desire TO manufacture political capital.
Mr.. Bryan himself has furnished writ
ten and oral evidence in refutation of
the flimsy Misrepresentation of his
newspaper organ. When he was nom
mated in Denver last week the first to
congratulate him were hundreds of his
neighbors and fellow townsmen. In
response to their greetings Mr.. Bryan
spoke feelingly of the friendship of his
neighbors and the good people of Lin
coin, who, regardless of political diff
f~erences, had always been lavish with
their expressions of good will to him
personally and to his family.
The conditions that exist now in
| Lincoln indicate no revolution of senti-
ment. In 1896, when Mr.. Bryan was
for the first time a candidate, he could
lust as we'll have been notified at
home. but chose to go elsewhere for
different reasons. In The First Bat
tie" Mr.. Bryan's own story Of that
campaign, he includes this speech,
made to a throng of neighbors who
marched to the train to speed him on
his way TO New York, where he was to
receive notice of his nomination;
In ordinary times l would have desired
to have the notification take place at my
home. But this is not an ordinary cam
paisn, and, feeling that the principles In
| which We are interested should rise above
any personal preferences which We may
have, / expressed the desire to be notified
in New York, in order that our cause may
be presented first In the heart Of what now
seems TO lie the enemy's country, but which
we hope 70 he our country before this
campaign Is over, l appreciate the kind
ness which you, our ~neighbors, have shown
In gathering here 10 bid us good bye, All
that l can promise you is that, whether
what / shall do meets your approval or
not, I shall do my duty as I see Il aud
accept all consequences which may follow.
Mr., Bryan went TO Indianapolis TO
accept the notification in 1900 and he
went not because of hostility at home,
but because Of his own preference.
Just as he went TO New York In 1S96.
In his two former campaigns he went