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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 14, 1906)
,; . ' -i w. :v.i 'V.' 6 The Commoner. yOLUMB 6, NUMBER 35 I I ti , 1; MR. BRYAN'S RECEPTION AT LINCOLN Mr. and Mrs. Bryan and party arrived at Lin coln at five o'clock on the afternoon of Wednes day, September 5. The following are extracts from the report of the Lincoln Journal: " "William Jennings Bryan came home to his homo folks yesterday. Since landing on American soil he has been meeting "homo folks," but the meeting last evening excelled all, and the Lincoln reception was the one that most touched his heart. He said so. That statement was made from the north balcony of the state capitol before a sea of upturned faces, covering between three and four acres. From "the train he had been followed by his enthusiastic admirers to the home , of his brother. There he was compelled to say a few words expressing his pleasure at meeting home friends. He dismissed his admirers there -that he might refresh himself, promising to meet them later on at the state capitol. "When he appeared on the balcony at 7:30, before a field - covered with human beings crowded together as thickly as they could stand, he was greeted with a mighty cheer one that began at that point in the crowd where he could first be seen and rolled over the mass like a mighty wave as he came into full view. Thousands who were there could not hear a word he said, but they saw him and they made known their presence. The voice of, 'Mr. Bryan, strong and clear as it is, was not equal to the task set, and only those in a limited area could understand clearly what he said. Thousands stood with upturned faces during his entire addresB, unable to hear a word, but pleased and entertained at the Scene before them. ' Mr. and 'Mrs. Bryan returned home from their .globe girdling tour in good health, although fa tigued by inconveniences of travel and the stren uous life they have been leading during the past week. Reports that have gained currency in the east to the effect that Mr. Bryan is in poor health are untrue. His friends who met him here con gratulated him on his personal appearance. He .-never appeared more natural than when he faced the audience at the capitol. The non-partisan character of the welcome, the congratulations that reached him on every side, the great array of citizens spread before him and the ring of wel come in the air on his home coming day were Matures to please", and Mr. Bryan was pleased. Mr, Bryan's ability to rest when opportunity offers has aided him in the strenuous week just ended. It was related that on the way from Omaha last evening he slept part of the way. Dropping down In a seat in the car he was soon recuperating lost energy in refreshing sleep. After a year's absence from his home city many of his neighbors desired to greet him. He fode with bared head through the streets, recog nizing his friends and neighbors on every hand, passing down South Seventeenth street, where the family formerly lived, his attention was frequently directed to personal friends waving to him- from SLiCUi ' iAt ,the recePt!on they met him and shook his hand, congratulated him on his safe return, and emphasized the home welcoming. . iis partisan frienda wnrn. mnn v n. flvnh0,t nA - ".,.. 7. -1""" !My !sS ' m 1 : yZ iireuicieu ior him political :ao Buimsieui. ro cure tne political failures c utto uuuureu in me past. Mr. Bryan arrived in the city at 5 n m A mounted escort was on hand to take him to' the home of his brother, Charles W. Bryan at Nin?- vUie tact that no parade was planned the W!, o was too great for the width of thn? W!JL fc oughfare, and traffic of Til wL wide thor' and dismissed his fr ends St" brfly From the flfSnt ?i as, quickly as Possible. followed "t car??ageS tV IV10"30 thousantJs men. At the stat hoVeVe' oTn0 t0t diminished appreciably Ll s , the Parade where theynmS the lawn ception,' twyo hZs late FromStPhpklng an? gan to gather there, and it increased in size rail idly from that time on until the end of 'the program. - The Burlington landed 'the Bryan party in the city earlier than had been looked for. The cars were made up in a special train and run to Lincoln as-the second section of No. 7. When the train stopped at the depot it had passed the police escort by half a block, and the crowd rushed in ahead of the police and cut them off from the train. Mr. Bryan's appearance on the ptytform was marked by a cheer from the crowd, although the demonstration was , not what had been planned. As he passed from the depot to" the carriage, after greeting personal friends and relatives, he was cheered, and there was cheering all along the line from the depot to the end of the trip, although there were frequent remarks that such a vast crowd should have made a great deal more noise. For the most part the crowd was tired, after a day at the fair, and it was willing that its presence should take the place of -vocal demonstrativeness. It was claimed that the crowd at the depot would have been much larger and more vociferous had it. been known that the train would arrive sd early, but jf itN had been much larger the streets nearby would have been filled to overflowing. Mrs. Bryan recognized many friends with spontaneous smiles and bows on the drive from the train. Her daughter Grace was not with' her in the carriage, having gone instead with her brother William, who met his parents and sister at' the station. In the early evening Mrs. Bryan stayed in the room adjoining the balcony for the Speak ers and chatted with members of the reception committee. She looked very well but showed many signs of fatigue when her face was not animated. A friend took her to a window from which the crowd could be seen in its immensity and suggested that it Would be entirely too great an ordeal for her tp attempt to shake hands, with so many peopla "I havq shaken hands wherever else we have stopped," she said, "and of course I want to shake hands with the home people." When the crowd was admitted she was .most gracious in distributing her greetings. Mrs. .Bryan has an inflexible rule of never submitting to a personal' interview, but in talk ing with friends she1 referred briefly to experi ences' abroad. She said thai; the trip was par ticularly wearing on account of the hardships encountered in, the far-away countries visited, due to the lack of conveniences and comforts in the mode of living. The conditions of the women among other nations, of course, interested her greaty. She said that such a trip could not fail to strengthen the patriotism of a traveler. The supreme court rooms at the state house were filled with members of the reception com mittee at 7:30 and quite a number of them found places on the balcony. There and in the gov ernor's office Mr. Bryan met members of the committee, the governor and state, officers. ' Mayor Brown acted as presiding officer nt the state house. He introduced Dr. George W. Martin, who offered the .following prayer: "Most Glorious God, our Heavenly Father, in whom we liVe and have our being, we render unto Thy name humble thanks for the mercies shown and protection given to Thy servant, our illustrious fellow citizen, whom we delight to honor, in his journey around the world We rejoice that Thou hast been pleased to conduct him safely, and permitted him to return with his family to their home. We adore Thee, that right eousness exalteth a nation, and that the man who trustdth in Thee shall be blessed, and as we have learned that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, grant to us as a nation, whose foundation is laid upon the eternal truths of God, that spirit which shall enable us to do for the best interests of all of the people, and may no Belfish motive be permitted to influence the actions of those in authority. We are thank ful that harmony and prosperity prevail in our land, and may those who may be chosen to direct the affairs of state be guided by divine power. Most Gracious God, as Thy servant has hitherto been led in a precious way, we beseech Thee to impress upon his mind and heart the truths he has received, so that he may be able to flit the position to which he may be divinely called to the happiness of the world and Thy glory. Amen, . MAYOR BROWN SPEAKS t iMor Brown then saId: "Twelve days ago l left Lincoln with a party of good Nebraskans to '' ' " W. ' ' l , . . '. meet at New York on his return after a year's absence our most distinguished citizen and hh family, and it affords me the greatest pleasure as the executive officer of our beautif ui c ty' that I am able this evening to welcome him home "I regret exceedingly that every. one of yon could not be with me to see the ovation that has been given him at every point since he put his feet upon American soil. It has been one continuous outburst of enthusiasm. Pride in mv c tizenship of Lincoln and my position as the city s executive has increased with every mile wo have traveled. ewo "We in Lincoln have long known his work. and it has been most pleasing to me to witness the growing recognition elsewhere of his moral and Intellectual grandeur. And now, fellow citi zens, I realize that no words of mine, though I were gifted with his eloquence, could begin to speak as does the presence of such a gathering as this. b "Before introducing Governor Mickey, who will extend the greetings of the state, Mr. Bryan, I, as mayor, welcome you home, not as a states man not as a democrat, but as that dearest to us all, our beloved neighbor." Mayor Brown introduced Governor Mickey who welcomed Mr. Bryan home. ADDRESS OF WELCOME Governor Mickey said: "Mr. Chairman, Mr. Bryan, Ladies and Gentlemen: The poet and the musician have immortalized in both Terse and song that noble sentiment so dear to every true heart, 'There's no place like home.' And so in wel coming back to his own city the distinguished neighbor who has long been separated from us we feel that there is added pathos to our greeting on .this occasion because liere is the family rooftree, here are the triumphs of energy and effort, hero are the close associations for former years, here is home. One may wander in absorbed interest amid the pomp and splendor of other civilizations, he may be inspired by the evidences of art and culture which greet his eye and impress his mind, his charity may be deepened and his sympathy broadened by closer contact with those whose lot has been cast in the lowlier walks of life, and yet -there is always the longing for home. The heart and the affections must have an abiding place, and in that domestic center of peace and love the impressions gained by' travel and re search are rounded into full fruition. "We are glad, Mr. Bryan, that you have a home in our midst. We are glad- that you are an illustrious example of what the head of an American home should be. We are glad that Providence has spared the life and health of your self and family in your arduous travels and that we can once more look into your farce and listen to the greetings of your kindly voice. Not only the city of Lincoln, but the entire commonwealth shares in the felicity of this occasion and extends to you a cordial and sincere welcome back to your own. . You have brought unstinted honor to us. You have given fame to your city and state in distant lands and everywhere have sustained the exalted character of an American citizen in a manner that has touched our hearts and challenged our admiration. No effort that ' we can make at this time can add to your honors. We simply wish to testify our appreciation of your character and attainments and let you know that your home coming is a matter in which we are all interested. "We wish to congratulate you as well as our selves upon the prosperous and happy condition in Tvhich you find our nation and our State upon yiwt. return- There has been something doing all the time you have been away. We are living up to higher ideals of government than when you took your departure. There has been a won derful awakening of the public conscience on questions affecting civic righteousness. Graft and greed in many instances have been receiving their just deserts and the rights of the few have been gradually giving way to the rights of the many. There has been development and progress all along the line, but there is much more to follow for the new era of better things just beginning. "We are especially pleased with the action of congress in crystalizing into law the popular will regarding railroad rate legislation and we be lieve that this is the entering wedge into an ap proximately equitable, adjustment of the differences-existing between the masses of the people on the one hand and the public service '"corpora tions on the other. Again, we are impressed with the wisdom of the Panama canal construction 4j Lw-iht -t.i, ... . , , , ,.ihlMlttj -Wf. Uw.Jatt3-.iM.i ,, ...tu -,aW. Jb 'JU 31 i AK
