The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-07-11
NEW HAVEN MORNING SATURDAY H.

NTASN 49, s'' % SiiNCi dNNpSabC biAN
kindly feeling he has all along, as
democrat, evinced for the populists OF
Nebraska, has made him many friends
IN the populist party throughout the
west. Should he be nominated by the
Chicago convention for the presidency
he would more than any other west
ern man draw support from the popu-
list organization"
Mr.. Bryan was born in Salem Ma
rion county, ILL.,, on March 10, 1860. At
the age of fifteen he entered Whipple
academy at Jacksonville; in 1877 he en-
tered Illinois college, and graduated
valedictorian inA1SS1. For the next two
years he attended the Union Law coll
lege, Chicago, studying in the office of
Lyman Trumbull After graduation
he began practice in Jacksonville.
In 1877 he removed to Lincoln, Neb.,
and became member of the law firm
of Talbot & Bryan. He was elected to
congress in the First Nebraska district
In 1880 over w. J. Council of Omaha,
and was reelected in 1892 over Allen
w, Field of Lincoln. In 1894 Mr. Bryan
declined third nomination, and was
nominated by the democratic state con-
Vention for United States senator by
the unanimous vote of the convention.
The republicans, however, had ma
Jority in the legislature, and Bryan was
defeated for the senatorship Since Mr.
Bryan's congress term expired he has
given his time exclusively to spreading
the doctrine of free silver.
He first appeared in the political
arena Of Nebraska in the campaign
Of 1888, when he stumped the First dis
trict for j. Sterling Morgan, nominee
for congress. The same year he de-
clined a nomination for lieutenant gov
ernor. On July 80 1890, he was nom
mated for congress and wrote a plat
form on which he ran. Nobody but
himself thought he could be elected.
He stumped the district on the tariff
issue, and won fame as a political ora
tor throughout the state. This beauti-
full language has been used by an ad-
mirer to describe his graces as an ora
| tor.
Bryan neglects none of the accessor-
les of oratory. Nature richly lowered
him with rare grace. He is happy in
attitude and pose. His gestures are on
Hogarth's line of beauty. Mellifluous is
the word that most aptly describes his
voice. 1t is strong enough to be heard
| by thousands; 1t is sweet enough to
charmed those least inclined to music.
1t is so modulated as not to vex the
ear with monotony, and can be stern
or pathetic, fierce or gentle, serious or
humorous with the varying emotions of
| Its master. In his youth Bryan must
have had skilful teacher in elocu-
! ton, and must have been docile pupil
He enriches his speeches with illustra-
lions 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 declamations by
| boys at school. But his crowning gift
as an orator is his evident sincerity.
He is candor incarnate, and thoroughly
believes what he says himself"
| Mr. Bryan lives Well In commodious
| dwelling in the fashionable part of
Lincoln. His family consists of Mrs.
Bryan; Ruth, aged IL; William j., Jr.,
aged 6, and Grace, aged s. The study,
in which both Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan have
desks, is a very attractive room. 1t is
/ fi1e1d with books, statuary, and memen-
| tos Of campaigns. There are busts or
| pUIlfditS VI HutSu Illeii adilu lliSiE al z
| two butcher knives which Mr. Bryan
used in the campaign with Field to re-
| flute the latter's boast Of the effects Of
high protection.
Last year Mr.. Bryan was asked If he
had any aspirations looking to the
white house, and he said: No, have
no wish to be a presidential candidate,
neither now nor in the years to come.
! My whole thought now is centred on
my family and my profession so far as
my own personal desires go. I was
brought up in the country and / wish
my children to have some of the same
rearing. They are now Of the age when
4 they need fathers care, and wish to
i get into practice again. for very much
enjoy the law, which has been neces-
sarily abandoned during my four years
/ in Washington.
Mr. Bryan's father was Silas T..
4 Bryan, born in Culpeper county, Vir-
ginia, at the foot of the Blue Ridge
Mountains He was a democrat, He
came to Illinois when eighteen years OF
age and settled at Salem, graduating
at McKendric college, Lebanon, as a
lawyer
In 1852 he was elected state senator
and served eight years In 1850 he was
elected circuit judge and served until
4 1872 He was a member of the consti-
tutional convention of 1870. He was a
strong man and finished public
speaker. He died in 1880.