The Portland daily press., 1896-07-11
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
Man Whom Speech Made a Presi
Dental Candidate.

Sketch of His Career-His Friends Esti-
| mate of Himself and His Oratorical
| Abilities-Was SO Years Old Last
| March.
According to his friends William Jen-
nings, bryan Is the greatest Democratic
orator. in the history of Nebraska. They
call him the idol of the free-silver wing
of the Nebraska Democracy. Here are
some remarks they make about him:
ut was Mr.. Bryan who achieved the
greatest triumph within his party when.
in the state convention two years ago.
by common consent, he took the leader
ship. 1t was he who advised his follow
ers to endorse the candidacy of Silas A..
Holcomb, who had been nominated by
the Populists of Nebraska for the office
of Governor. 1t was also on Mr.. Bryan 3
recommendation that the same conven-
tion endorsed the candidacy of other
men on the Populist ticket, What he
did then gave Nebraska the first Popu-
list governor and worked the defeat of
the Republicans, ths sole object sought
by Mr.. Bryan and his followers. The CON-
sistent course of Mr.. Bryan as silver
all along,as Democrat, evinced for the
Populists Of Nebraska, has made him
many friends in the Populist party
throughout the West.
Mr.. Bryan was born In Salem, Marion
county, H., on March 70, 1860. AT the
age of 10 he entered Whipple Academy
at Jacksonville; in 1877 he entered Illi-
| Col dIIat ndv val 6ictn T,
in 1881. For the next two years he at
tended the Union Law College, Chicago,
studying in the office Of Lyman Trum-
bull. After graduating he began practice
at jacksonville
In 1857 he removed to Lincoln Neb.,
and became member of the law firm OF
Talbot & Bryan. He was elected to Con-
gross in the First Nebraska district in
1890 over W. J. Connell of Omaha, and
was reelected in 1892 over Allen W.
Field Of Lincoln. In 1894 Mr.. Bryan de-
olined a third nomination, and was no.
minated by the Democratic state con-
ventlon for United States senator by the
unanimous vote of the convention. The
Republicans, however, had majority
in the legislature, and Byran was defeat-
ed for the senatorship. Since MIR. Bryan's
Congress term expired he has given his
time exclusively to spreading the doc
trins of free silver.
He first appeared in the political arena
of Nebraska in tho campaign Of 1858,
j. Sterling Morton, nominee for Con-
gress. The same year ne declined q. mo-
mination for Acknowledgements. On
July 30, 1890, he was nominated for Con-
gress and wrote platform on which he
ran. Nobody but himself thought be
could be elected. He stumped the dis
trict on the tariff issue and won fame MS
| IL 10 -
This beautiful language has been used
by an admirer to describe his graoes as
an orator:
Bryan neglects none of the accessories
of orauory Nature richly lowered him
with rare grace. He Is happy in atti-
tude and pose. His gestures are on
Hogarth's line of beauty, Mellifiuous lie
the word that most aptly describes bis
voice. 1t is strong enough to be heard
by thousands, 1T is sweet enough to
charm those least inclined to music. 1t
is SO modulated as not to Yex the ear
with monotony, and can be stern or pa
thetic tlerce or gsntle, serious or humor-
GUS with the varying emotions of its
master. In his youth Bryan must have
had a skilful teacher in elooution, and
must have been docile pupil. He en-
riches his speeches with illustrations
from the classics or from the common
occurrences of everyday life with equal
felicity and facility. Some passages from
his orations are gems and are being used
as declametions by boys at school. But
his browning gift as an orator is his evi
dent sincerity. He is oandor incarnate,
and thoroughly believes what he says
himself.
Mr.. Bryan lives we'll in conmodi Gus
dwelling in the fashionable part of Lin.
coin. His family consists Of Mrs.
Bryan. Ruth, aged II, William j., Jr.,
in which both Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan have
desks, Is very attractive room. 1t is
filled with books, statuary ami mementos
of campaigns. There are busts and por.
traits OF noted men and there are two
butcher Knives which Mr.. Bryan used in
The campaign with Field to refEte the
latter's boast Of the effects nf high pro.
lection.
Last year MIR. Bryan was asked if be
had amy aspirations looking to The
White House, and he said: mo, have
no wish to be Presidential candidate,
neither now nor in the years to come.
My whole thought now ls conferred on
my family and my profession so far as
my own personal desires 60. was
brought up in the country and wish my
children to have some Of the same rear.
ing. They are now of the age when they
need fathers care, and wish to get
into practice again, for very much en-
joy the law, which has been necessarily
abandoned during my four years In
Washington"
Mr.. Bryan's father was Silas L. Bryan,
born in Culpeper county, Virginia, at
the foot Of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
He was n Democrat. He came to Illinois
when IS years of age and settled al
Salem, graduating at MaKendrick Col.
lege Lebanon, as lawyer.
In 1859 he Was elected State senator and
served eight years. In 1860 he was elect
cd circuit judge and served until 1872
He vas member of the constitutional
convention of 1870. He was a strong mar
aud finished public speaker. lie dice
in 1880.
HIS CAREER IN CONGRESS.