The herald., 1896-07-26

The following article is a special letter
to the Chicago Chronicle and was pub
lished in that paper September 9. 1895.
In view of subsequent events, 1t Is OF ex-
ceptional interest. 1t should be splendid
reading to those who desiye to acquire
something like correct conception Oh
the man appointed to lead the Democrat
ic hosts this year:
LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. s.-If any Ne
braskan should be asked what western
Democrat could carry the state. or who
Is the most popular man In the state,
his answer to both questions would
quickly be, Bryan" There is no doubt
that e-tenths of the people of this
state think Mr.. Bryan will be president
of the United states some DAY, ana
great majority hope he will be. His
strength in the south is great, and, with
his national reputation as an orator. he
Is today the most promising man in all
the west for the Democratic nomination
for 1896. He Is not a candidate and wish
es most of all to retire from politics for
a few years at least and devote his time
to the law and to his family American
history can afford scarcely a parallel to
the rapid rise to fame and power of this
young son of the west. Five years ago
he was unknown to the citizens of his
own state. and today he has had honors
heaped upon him which other men have
striven for years to attain.
William Jennings Bryan was born in
Salem, Marion county, ILL.,, March 10.
1860 He attended public schools until
Is. and then entered Whipple academy
at Jacksonville. In 1877 he entered Hi
nois college at the same place and grad
uated valedictorian in 1881. For the next
two years he attended Union Law col
lege. Chicago. studying in the office of
Lyman Trumbul. After graduStiOn he
entered practice at Jacksonville. IN 1887
he removed to Lincoln and became a
member of the law firm of Talbot &
Bryan. He was elected to congress in
the First Nebraska district in 1890, over
w. j. Connell and was reelected in
1892 over Allen w. Fiod. In 1894 he de-
clined third nomination and was nomi-
mated by the Democratic state conVen-
tion for United States senator by the
unanimous vote of the convention. He
pOlled 10000 votes. but, as the Republi-
cans had majority in the legislature,
he was defeated for the senatorship.
Since the expiration of his congressional
term he has been making a tour of the
country in the interest Of free silver.
This is the history of his public career
in brief
HONORS THRUST UPON HIM.
Mr.. Bryan's public career began in
reality when he was nominated for con-
gress on July 80, 1890. by the First dis
trict Democratic convention at Lincoln.
He received the nomination, he says
because no one else wanted it. He had
made reputation as an orator by can
Vass of the district In the campaign of
1883, when he was an enthusiastic advo-
cate of j. Sterling Morton for congress.
The same year he was a delegate to the
state convention and was offered the
nomination for lieutenant governor,
but declined it. He had also made sew
eral talks at Omaha and in other places
on the tariff, and was regarded as ex-
ceedingly well informed on that topic.
But no one. except himself, thought he
could be elected. The platform on
which he was nominated was written
by himself, and he takes great pride in
the fact that in that platform was a de-
mand for free WOOL free lumber, free
salt. free sugar. free ira ore and free
coal, which were the items placed on the
passed the house. His campaign was
fought wholly on the question, as his
opponent was as strong for silver as he
was.
1t seemed a giant task to attempt
campaign that year. The congressman
who had been renominated was w. j.
Connell now city attorney of Omaha.
and one of the best lawyers and speak
ers in his party in the district He had
defeated j. Sterling Morton in 1888 by
$500 votes. and his reelection seemed
certain. Then the district was very
large one in size and population, includ-
ing both Lincoln and Omaha. This fact
was one of weakness to any Democratic
candidate. for Omaha Democrats were
kindly disposed toward Connell and
sneered greatly at "the boy from Lin
coin" when Bryan was first nominated.
There is q rivalry between the two cities
which is very bitter. and it looked as if
1t would crush Bryan. But he changed
1t all in a few days. He at once chal
lenged Mr. Connell to a joint debate on
the tariff and other issues. This was re-
garded as rash act by the Democrats
of the district, and caused much crti-
cism. The first debate was held at Linz
coin. Bryan spoke first and was greeted
with great enthusiasm. His speech was
q masterpiece. When Connell had con-
cluded Bryan made the closing speech,
which was the cause of the most hyster-
ical enthusiasm on the part of the audi
ence. People stood on chairs and threw
off their hats and coats in their glee,
and at the close Bryan was overcome
with the demonstrations of his friends,
OVERCOMESAHO A HOSTILE AUDIENCE
But the next night meant more to him,
for the debate took place in Omaha, his
rivals home. where he was very popular.
The great exposition hall was the scene
of this debate. 1t was crowded from
floor to rafters with all kinds of people,
who had heard of the debate at Lincoln
and from curiosity were determined to
hear this debate. Connell's friends were
there and gave him a magnificent DEM
onstration. Inspired by their presence
he made an excellent opening address,
occupying all his time and agreeing to
make no speech at the close of Bryan's.
When Mr.. Bryan rose to reply the whole
audience was still. Beginning with a
modest reference to his own abilities as
q speaker, and his ineXperience in poll
tics, he hoped that he, as David armed
with truth, could prevail over his oppo-
nent, Goliath, whose weapon was error.
This opening was well received, and as
he began to pick to pieces his opponents
arguments and to inveigh against the
system of taxation of one man for the
peneht OF another, applause began. In
quick, ringing sentences he stripped the
mask Off the ingenious defense of Nc
klnleyism and proceeded with the best
or humor, and yet in incisive words to
riddle the protectionist plaint With
satire he blended banter, ridicule. rail
cry and logic, backed by indisputabIe
facts and statistics. He attacked the
principle of protection and tore to
pieces the provisions of the Mckinley
law. In hve minutes the applause he |
came general, and in fifteen minutes the |
Whole throng was on it's feet. wildly
cheering, waving handkerchiefs and at.
testing to Bryan's complete triumnh
When he finished he was seized by that |
great audience and the Lincoln coo,o |