Peru, IN Speech, 1896-10-22

Speech by William Jennings Bryan.

Speech by William Jennings Bryan
Thursday, October 22, 1896
Depot, Peru, IN

Source: NOT THE RIGHT MAN, Republicans Erred in Choosing Their "Advance Agent of Prosperity.", Omaha World-Herald (Morning Edition), Friday, October 23, 1896

"When you leave the Democratic party in this campaign I want you to leave knowing what it means. Do not think that you can leave this year, in the greatest fight that Democracy has had for half a century—do not think that in the presence of the most dangerous enemy, you can desert and then come back next year and take positions of command. You cannot do it, my friends. (Cheers.) The man who leaves the Democratic party in its great fight this year to restore the government to those old foundations laid by Jefferson and Jackson need not expect to come back until he has fully atoned for the sins that he commits this year." (Cheers.)

ANOTHER KIND OF PRODIGAL.

"The Bible tells us that when the prodigal son got tired feeding the hogs and came home the father met him with open arms and killed the fatted calf for him. Well, my friends, I want you to understand that the prodigal son who leaves the Democratic household this year and goes off to feed the hogs (laughter), when he comes back he has got to come with the understanding that he must saw wood a long while before he gets to the table. (Laughter.) As one of the speakers in Michigan said, when he comes back we will say 'kill the prodigal, the calf has come home.'"