The herald., 1896-11-15
Bryan Earned the Championship
as q National Spellhinder
HIS PHENOMENAL RECORD
Sacred Commission OF Ills Candidacy In :.
bued Him to Fight Increasingly
During the Campaign He Has Made $50
Speeches in 321 Towns, and Trav-
eled $4,000 Miles.

William Jennings Bryan has closed the
most remarkable political campaign in
the history of this country, or, for that
matter, of any other country on the
globe. From the time of his nomination
by the Chicago convention, July 10th,
until THE night of November Sd, the man
appointed to represent the people in
one OF the greatest nationtl contests ever
recorded never once ceased his persist
ent work. Now and then he spent day
of recuperative quiet but at no time did
he find himself compelled to recuperate
after long and exacting demands upon
his strength.
AS physical triumph Mr.. Bryan's
campaign will stand out an example of
phenomenal endurance, but when 1t is
considered that for weeks he made on
an average of twenty speeches a day
and not once let slip a hasty sentence
or an ill-advsed word his enemies could
use against him, the wonder grows to
something so marvellous that friend and
foe must join in admiring the man who
has proved himself truly great.
OF splendid intellect, high aspirations
and simple habits, Mr.. Bryan was su-
perbly fitted to stand as the representa-
tive of the American people in critical
time. His nomination was sudden
and spontaneous tribute of political
party that recognized leader who held
in his peculiar personality all the
abundant promise of achieving success.
Mr.. Bryan accepted the honor as a sa
cred commission, and his canvass of the
country was made in the spirit of one
who stood for a vital principle. Being
thoroughly imbued with the truths he
taught, he always spoke like one selec-
ted as the mouthpiece of the people, and
he accepted the ovations in town and
city as demonstrations in honor OF the
cause he represented. In one sense he
was as truly inspired as any man could
be who felt that he apprehended truths
upon which the prosperity or his fellow
citizens and the welfare OF his country
depended. 1t was the consciousness that
he was only a mouthpiece, this terrible
earnestness, that carried conviction to
the thousands who heard his magnifi-
cent voice or read his ringing words on
| the printed page.
At the beginning of the campaign that
has just passed into histroy the press,
| the moneyed powers and the entire
east seemed to be arrayed against the
man who was heralded as the free silver
champion. In less than week the
newspapers, that at first tried to ridicule
| the prospects of young. comparative
| ly untried man, changed their tone, and
since Lincoln, no presidential candidate
| has ever had to fight such bitter oppo-
sition, such stubborn resistance, and
/ such thoroughly organized foes as Mr..
| Bryan. In the face of every obstacle,
| the silver champion achieved victories
so stupendous that the story of them
seems almost beyond the domain OF
| latter day possibilities.
| Beginning his campaign in the warm
| est month of summer in New York city,
| the stronghold of the enemy, Mr. Bry-
| ans biography became one long enume-
| ration of oratorical triumphs. Going
among the people, he Illuminated the
| dry facts of financial history by clear
logic and unassailable arguments. He
made thousands think and study. Those
| who went to hear him from curiosity
| turned away assured Of the mans truth
| and honesty.
| On the first day of his campaign Mr..
| Bryan made dozen speeches and shook
| hands with 1000 men, On the second day
| he spoke nearly twenty times and shook
| hands with 1000 persons. This was in
| midsummer, and it was predicted that
| he would break down if he tried to keep
! up such program. Since then he has
! made thirty speeches in one day and
shaken hands with such crowds that
| they were not easily enumerated
| The actual figures of Mr.. Bryan's cam
paign are as follows:
| Speeches delivered, $780,
Cities and towns spoken in, 321.
| Miles travelled, $4,000.
| Number of words spoken (abouD,
| 1900, 900.
In nearly 700 speeches Mr.. Bryan al
ways managed to avoid anything like
stereotyped phrases. He never repeated
| himself except where he quoted figures
connected with the history of bimetal-
| lism or referred to legislation inimicable
| to silver. At every new town he had
some appropriate greeting for the peo
| pie and he was never at a loss for bit
| of clever repartee. His unfailing good
| spirits and his calm temperament pre-
vented him from appearing tagged or
! lstless. His ready wit met every on
slaught of the enemy, and his foes were
| invariably put to rout by his superb
self-possession. his gentle courtesy and
! all-encompassing charity.
| When the campaign of 1896 shall have
| become distinct part of the annals Of
! the nation the story of Mr. Bryan's last
| few weeks will form chapter of sur
passing fame.-Omaha World Herald