The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-07-20

house that the democracy took heart and
regarded life worth living. 1t was won.
derful thing in oratory, this nrst taihA
speech of Bryan. 1t was even more Oh
triumph than the Chicago eloquence OF the
other day.
On this tariff occasion the repupllcah9'
with the cynical Reed at their heau' were
there to carp ana say sharp things ana ASK
sharp questions. and make bitter inter-
ruptions. One after another the orators Oh
the democracy. some of them old IN forensic
war. had been riddled by Reeds sarcasm
and made to fly. Crisp, in the chair was
also in despair. At last, Bryan was sent
into the thick of house battle. He came
with the advantages of a musical voice.
bright eye and a pleasing personality
Nor did he talk ten minutes until ne deVei-
oped the fact that he was master Oh Eng
fish and had well such a command Oh
the subject as comes only to men VINO nave
burned the midnight lights of studious prep
aration
II Is of no avail peculiarly to go In detaii
over debate that's long since over anu
gone. Suffice il that Bryan's speech was
the event of the session. Every thrust OF
Reed he parted; every blow he stopped anu
countered Time and again the big man
from Maine was made TO draw back from
collisions he had sought himself, dlscoih-
future in his face, while the house hoWleu
For a new mana young man, one VINO
had never talked ten minutes in the mousse
before-the feat was marvellous. Al tht
close of his effort Crisp and the fathers OF
the house congratulated him, and even re-
publicans. while disagreeing, came across
and shook him by the hand. That speech
saved the reputation of the house demoe-
racy and fixed forever Bryan's standing as
a master of forensic fence.
What was to be admired most was the
absolute stability of the man; no more TO
be stampeded than a mountain; no more 10
be put to flight than tree
In the fifty second and hfty-third con-
g esses Bryan was in the forefront OF party
battle many times. In his second congress-
while still member of the ways anu
means. with Wilson at the heau, ne nor
only made the leading speech Tor the vi
son bill but a speech SO fun and exhaustive
for free silver. 1G to l. that Culberson' oil
Texas himself the Socrates OF the mousse
democracy. said:
That eNhausts the subject. It's the hest
possible setting forth that the cause oA
free silver can get
During his congressional career Bryan
led up the forces for low tariff, free SILVER,
free sugar. the income tax; fought to repeal
the nationa, bank acts. and consistently
aided Uncle William Hatch to pass ms
anti-option. on appropriations Bryan was
against eXtraVaSance ana STOOD as my
persistent champion of economy. WIN lis
the Nebraska senators came often TO the
house to gain his views.
Rrvan is PRESBYTERIAN in religion. lie
IS often in the pulpit as lecturer. PolltIc-
ally he refuses no call to speak. lie once
addressed a concourso of preachers anu
then talked politics from saloon bar on
the same day When the house helu d
Sunday session Bryan left his seat ior an
hour to lecture on the divinity Of Chr'S'
at a church on Capitol Hill
Bryan In his habits is decorous ana Wen
within the moral line. lie has none OF the
vices. When he is president, should that
time come the white house cigar oil VIII
represent only the consumption oil VISITORS
and the wine will be rs lacking as IN lhe
abstemious days of Hayes. For the second
time the world will witness temperance
white house
Bryan, while master of eloquence, pre-
pares his speeches with care. lie writes
them, prunes. pares and rehearses theuL
lie told me once that he would no ii'le
speak without preparation than he'd plunge
wingless and reckless into an abyss. his
life is quiet except so far as he disturbs
il with his pIgrimages of politics. lie mas
no circle of friends; pays and receives no
social visits. lie is in no sense a lady
man llle IS rot 2. tov-'r OF s'cle..'-
/" I'm dress Bryan could moi &c cft'ad - Top.
Neither would ne excite the cartoOnlst by
amy Greeleyau peculiarities of raiment. Ills
garb is modest and of dark reserve Bryan
will win no notice for the clothes he wears.
In epitome Bryan is the west. lie stands
by his game and his guns But he has
nothing of malice for the east. His life is
simple With his wife as a companion,
going nowhere She might not so, he makes
an existence meeting men, reading books,
making speeches to further his political
beliefs.
such is a hit or miss sketch of man
who has ever been coHsiStt mt who served
Two toms in congress without a mark 10
his GtScreGit. and who only failed of re-
lection 10 his third from an overproduction
on Clevelaudism. lie IS not a mIgwump.
not a popHl ST. but a democrat who GEES
Ills principles and mis- Inspirations in
marty 10 ST. before the cancer OF Cleveland
ism had poisoned its blood. The party
need rot blush in shame for It's nominee.
II has selected as good a democrat and as
true an American as any who ever bought
a bond or owned bank.