Bryan, William Jennings - Speaks to Students, 1907
From GWUEncyc
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The first meeting held under the auspices of the College of the Political Sciences took place last Saturday evening under the direction of the Social Science Club, when Hon. William Jennings Bryan delivered an eloquent address to the students of the University and their immediate friends on “Faith”.
Mr. Bryan did not make his appearance until 8:15 and pending his arrival the students practiced several yells which they hope to use with good effect during the approaching Georgetown game. Mr. Bryan was introduced by Dean Veditz and in the opening part of his address explained that he was at first disposed to speak especially to the future lawyers but that inasmuch as this would be of particular interest to but a minority of the student body, he had decided to speak on the importance in modern life of faith.
“The thing that is most needed nowadays is faith - first of all, faith in oneself... Next to faith in oneself, which no man can have unless he is physically sound and mentally well-equipped, is faith in one’s fellow men. I respect," said Mr. Bryan, “the aristocracy of learning, I fear the plutocracy of wealth but I thank God for the democracy of the heart. The people can be relied on to recognize the truth when they see it. Faith in the people therefore leads to faith in our democratic form of government.”
Mr. Bryan believes that ours is the best form of government in the world and in the last analysis of every government has the government it deserves. It is true that no government can be perfect, inasmuch as no community is perfect and the government represents the people in more senses than one. "It is a common custom of graduate classes to have a composite photograph of the class and while the photograph is not that of any single member of the class, yet the photograph can not be better that that of the average of the class. If you find that a composite photograph of your class is ugly in any respect, it is a good plan to look in the mirror and see whether you may not be responsible for some of the ugly traits. The government being a composite also is not apt to rise far above the level of the average citizen. Our government is not apt, therefore to be perfect. When the Democrats are in power I can prove that it is not perfect by the Republicans and when the Republicans are in power, no proof is necessary.”
After the address, Mr. Bryan held an impromptu reception and shook hands with a large number of the 800 persons present.
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Author or Source: Hatchet, Nov. 27, 1907
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: February 21, 2007
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist
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