Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-07-17
THE PASSING OF BRYAN"
The Commoner Delivers Valedictory
at Baltimore Convention

ident by District OF Columbia dele
gate brought before the Baltimore
Convention during it's closing hours
of the Democratic gathering the fol-
lowing eloquent veledictory from
Mr.. Bryan, delivered extemporan-
eously, aud received with great
applause:
Mr.. Chairman and Members of
the Convention:
You have been so generous with
me in the allowance of time
that | had not expected to trespass
upon your patience agiau, but the
compliment that has been paid me
by the gentleman from the District
of Columbia justiies, 1 hope, a
word in the form Of a valedictory
For sixteen years l have been
lighting man. Performing what
regard as public duty | have not
feared to speak out on every public
question that was before the people
of the nation for settlement, and
have no hesitated to arouse the
hostility and the enmity of indi-
viduals where fel: it my duty to
do so in behalf of my country.
have never advocated a man ex-
cept with gladness and l have
never opposed a man except in
sadness. If have any enc
mics in this country those who
are my enemies have monopoly OF
hatred. There is not one single
human being for whom feel i'll will
Nor is there one American citizen in
my own party or in any other whom
| would oppose for anything except
believed that in not opposing him
l was surrendering the interests OF
my country, which | hold above
any person,
i recognize that a man who fights
must carry scars and decided long
before this campaign commenced
that | had been in so many battles
and had alienated 30 mauy persons
that my party ought TO have the
leadership of someone who had not
thus offended and who might there
fore lead with greater hope of vic
tory.
Tonight come with Joy to sur
render into the hands of the one
chosen by his convention astandard
which l carried in three campaigns,
and l challenge my enemies to de-
clare that it has ever been lowered
in the face OF the enemy. The same
belief that led me to prefer another
for the Presidency rather shan to be
candidate myself, leads me to pre-
fer another for the Vice Presidency.
1t is not because tie Vice Pres
idency is lower in Importance
than the Presidency that l
decline. There is no office
in this nation so low that | would
not take it if l could serve my
country by accepting it. But be-
lieve that can render more SER
vice when | have not the embarrass-
meat of nomination and have not
the suspicion of a selfish interest
more service than | could as a can
didate. and your candidate will not
be more active in this campaign
than l shall be. My services are a.
the command of the party and feel
relieved that the burden of leader.
ship is transferred to other should
erS.
All l ask is that, having given
us a platform, the most prOgressiv,
that any party of any size has evei
adopted in this nation, and, having
given us a candidate. who, | be
lieve, will appeal not only to tn,
Democratic vote but to some tire,
or four million of Republicans whI
have been alienated by the policie.
of their party, there is but on,
thing left. and that is to give us 6
Vice President who is also prog
ressive, SO that there will be nc
Joint debate between our candi.
HafoS