Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-08-06

tho IStndTkdDle tlual wave oil
1892, which many construed into q
rebuke of McKinleyism, and which
so completely changed the complex.
ion Of the Fifty-second Congress,
filling the house with new faces
many Of them boyish faces, like
those of Bailey, of Texas; Lafe
Ponce, Of Colorado, and Watson, OF
Georgia-this remarkable political
upheaval changed certain small
district in the State of Nebrasks
from a Republican to a Democratic
district. For change the people
sent to Congress young man who
had made something Of q sensation
as an orator. His name was Will
liam Jennings Bryan.
Bryan was then thirty-two years
old. He had come out from ILL
nois and started law Office at Lin.
coin with a former law classmate
named Talbot. He had never held
a political Office, and, in fact, had
never been candidate for one. In
that district j. Sterling Morton, the
present Secretary of Agriculture,
had two years before run for Con-
gress, and been defeated by William
Connell.
Few supposed that Bryan had any
prospects of success. Bryan was
not among the number. He had
nothing to lose by the venture, and
much to gain. He was earnest in
his convictions, and he had given
the tariff question sound study, for
the tariff was the question then.
He stumped the district from one end
to the other, and wherever his silver
tongued oratory was heard there he
made converts. He defeated Con-
nell by glib votes.
His appearance on the stump in
that district had been something of
a revelation to the people. He
made a tariff speech full of the pic
turesque in the art of speech max
ing, full of satire on the Republican
doctrine of protection, full of ora
torical fire, and pregnant with the
evidence of his earnestness. He car
ried conviction on his tongue and in
his eye.
The House organized with an
overwhelming majority for the
Democrats. There was a lively
Speakership fight among Crisp,
Mills, and Springer. Bryan was
for Springer, in whose district he
had formerly resided. Crisp was
elected, but Springer was made
chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee. Probably through his
influence Bryan was put on that
committee.
The House that year passed some
pOp.gun bills directed at the abuses
Of the Mckinley measure, but the
Republicans had the Senate, and nc
regular tariff bill was undertaken
that Congress. Yet the sporadic at.
tempts at revision gave Bryan his
opportunity. On the 18th of March,
1892, the young Nebraskan deliver.
ed tariff speech that made him ia.
nous, Both sides listened for sew
eral hours with rapt attention, and 6
perfect storm of applause greeted
him az he resumed his seat. With
out knowing 1t, he had delivered 6
speech that had made him famous ir
a day. The press took him up and
heralded his name all over the coun
try. A new light had been discov
cred in the House, and after tina
when people went to the Capitol t.
have the noteworthy men pointed
out to them on the floor, they asked
"Where is Bryan, Of Neraska?"
He was returned to the Fifty-thirt
Congress. This time, however, hi
came with a largely decreased plu
rality. 1t was only 140, his distric
having been seriously gerryman
dered by the Republicans. He wal
again member or the Ways anC
Means Committee, and took an &C
tive part In passing the Wilson bill
He never made another such
speech, however, as on the 10th o
March, 1892, save once. That wa
on the subject of the repeal of th'
Sherman act. for which Congress
had been called in special session
He again brought down the Hous
in one of the ablest defences Of tn
coinage Of silver ever delivered Of
the floor.
Toward the close of his caree
Bryan failed to harmoniZe with tn
leaders Of his party In the House
and good deal Of friction was en-
gendered, which led him to take
position more In harmony with tn
ideas of Jerry Simpson and his ow
colleague, McKeighan 30 that h
was regarded by the majority of tn
| Democrats "a q fnll.fAdped P0nnliaI