Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1896, By WILLIAM J. BRYAN, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. T PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. HE object of "The First Battle" is to present an account of the leading events and issues of the most critical campaign in American history. The work contains an interesting description of the author's famous tour, including his most important speeches, together with the principal addresses and documents identified with the campaign of 1896; the whole embodying a faithful presentation of the rise and development of the silver movement. It also contains a review of the political situation and an analysis of the election returns. At our request the author has included a biographical sketch written by Mrs. Bryan. The name and fame of the author may induce unscrupulous publishers to issue fraudulent imitations of "The First Battle." We desire to state that this book will appear under no other title than “The First Battle," copyrighted by William J. Bryan and bearing the imprint of W. B. Conkey Company. THE PUBLISHERS. PREFACE. The campaign of 1896 was a remarkable one whether we measure it by the magnitude of the iceves involved or by the depth of interest aroused. I have been led to undertake the present work by a desire, filt by myselle and expressed by others, to have the more inv partant incidunts of the campaign put into permanent form for the convenience of those who have taken part in the contest and for the use of thare who shall hereafter desire to review the struggle the amount of work dove by the advocates of free coinage is ben youd computation and the number of these who is great for took an active part in the contics there facts, Together with the difficulty of chassing between so many meritorious speeches, have compelled me. to limith quotations to the adduses made. and documents isced, by persons standing or sui officine capacity, and to the principal sperchrs delivered by myself. I have added an ar a brief history |