| W. J. Bryan Comes to Sanders | |
| From the Ghent Times | |
| October 20, 1899 | |
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Hon. W. J. Bryan, as announced, spoke at Sanders,
Wednesday evening, the train was very late, so the large crowd
(variously estimated at from 2,500 to 3,000) had to content themselves
with a moonlight glimpse of his face. Quite a number reached the car in
time to shake hands with him. Among other things he said: “I am glad to meet the Indianans and Kentuckians
who compose this audience. Indianans, like the people of Nebraska, are
interested in knowing whether Kentucky is to continue as a Democratic
State or is to be classed among the doubtful ones. If you will elect
Goebel Governor we will know that the State will be in the Democratic
column in 1900. (A voice: “I’ll get 500 to 1 that it will.”) The
Democrats of Kentucky are particularly interested in this contest
because it is of peculiar local interest. But there is a national
election in which all the States are interested in how to class Kentucky
politically. I trust that every Democrat in the State of Kentucky will
go to the polls and make certain two things—first, the election of
Goebel as Governor, and second, the return of Jo Blackburn to the United
States Senate. (Applause.) If a man who calls himself a Democrat and
advocates Democratic principles feels inclined to bolt the ticket,
remind him that he assumes responsibility for whatever comes from the
election of a Republican Governor. If you people have wranglings among
yourselves I want you to rise above individual consideration and
remember that the Louisville platform indorses the Chicago platform, and
remember it is against trusts, militarisms, and imperialism. Remember that the candidates on this platform stand
as the representatives of these ideas and that in their election there
will be a triumph of these ideas. If they are defeated it will be a
defeat of these ideas, and if you love the ideas of the Chicago platform
then make the majority for Goebel so large that there will be no doubt
of the result next year.” Mr. Bryan was introduced by Senator [and
gubernatorial candidate] Goebel, [who, on the following February 3, was
assasinated] whose
voice was very husky, showing that he had been put to quite a strain
lately. It was such a disappointment to the crowd that the train did not
arrive before dark. Mr. Bryan pleased the Indiana people in the crowd by
saying that he knew there were a great many there by the enthusiasm that
existed in the crowd. Congressman Griffith, of Indiana, delivered quite an eloquent speech during the afternoon, as did Hon. J. P. Carter, of Vevay, and others. It was a grand meeting and the crowd was more orderly than political gatherings usually are, and nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of the day except the train’s late arrival. |
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