The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-07-29

in the chair, was also in despair. At last
Bryan was sent into the thick Of house
battle. He came with the advantages of
a musical voice. bright eye and a pleas
ing personality. Nor did he talk ten min
utes until he developed the fact that he
was a master Of English and had as we'll
such command Of the subject as comes
only to men who have burned the mid
night lights Of studious preparation.
1t is of no avail peculiarly to go In de-
tail over a debate that's long since over
and gone. Suffice 1t that Bryan's speech
was the event of the session. Every
thrust Of Reed he parted; every blow he
stopped and countered. Time and again
the Big Man frc,n Maine was made to
draw back from collisions he had sought
himself, discontinue in his face, while
the house howled.
For new mana young man, one who
had never talked ten minutes in the house
before--the feat was marvellous, At the
close OF his effort Crisp and the fathers
Of the house congratulated him, and even
Republicans, while fisagreeing, came over
and shook him by the hand. That speech
saved the reputation OF the house Democ-
racy and fixed forever Bryans standing
as master Of forensic fence.
What was to be admired was the abso-
lutte stability Of the man; no more to be
stampeded than a mountain; no more to
be put to flight than tree
In the Fifty-second and the Fifty-third
congresses Bryan was in the fore-fronts
Of the party battle many times. In his
second congress, while still member of
the ways and means. with Wilson at the
head. he not only made the leading speech
for the Wilson bill. but speech so full
and exhaustive for free silver. Is to 1, that
Culbertson, Of Texas himself the Socra-
ties of the house Democracy said:
THAT exhausts the subject. It's the
best possible setting forth that the cause
of free silver can get"
During his congressional career Bryan
led up the forces for low tariff, free silver,
free sugar, the income tax, fought to re-
peal the national bank acts, and consist
his anticipation. On appropriations Bryan
was against extravaganza, and stood as
the persistent champion Of economy. With
his own people he was always leader,
and the Nebraska senators came often to
the house to gain his views.
Bryan is a Presbyterian in religion. He
is often in the pulpit as lecturer. Po-
litically he refuses no call to speak. He
once addressed concourse Of preachers
and then talked politics from a saloon bar
on the same day. When the house held
a Sunday session Bryan left his seat for
at q church on Capitol Hill.
Bryan in his habits is decorous and we'll
within the moral line He he's none of
the vices. When he is president, should
that time come. the White House cigar
bill will represent only the consumption
Of visitors, and the wine will be as lacking
as in the abstemious days Of Hays. For
the second time, the world will witness
temperance White House.
Bryan, while master OF e1oquence, pre-
pares his speeches with care. He writes
them, prunes. pares and rehearses them.
He told me once that he would no more
speak without preparation than he'd
plunge wingless and reckless into an
abyss. His life is quiet, except SO far as
he disturbs 1t with his pilgrimages of poll
tic. He has no circle Of friends: pays and
receives no social visits He Il IN no sense