Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-01

GAIL the time he was in the law
college Will gave great deal of con-
sideration and study to questions of
government. He read up thoroughly
on constitutional law, and he was
early impressed with the idea that the
people were being unjustly burdened
by monopolies. He maintained, even
then, that the menace of the country
was the encroachment of wealth on
the rights of the common people, and
he thought there was serious trouble
ahead for the country. He was a
strong Democrat, and be came hon
estly by his Democracy, for his father,
Silas Bryan, was one of the stanchest
Democrats in Illinois. And, by the
way, his father was a character. He
was politician, but at the same time
he was known as religious enthusiast.
He. was great man to pray. He
would pray at any time or in any place.
You could never tell when Silas Bryan
was going to break out in prayer.
"He served in the legislature, and
he invariably dropped to his knees and
offered up silent prayer before he
addressed the chair, and often during
the proceedings he would get down on
bis knees for a few moments of spiritu.
al converse with the Almighty. Then
he was made circuit Judge, and he
CONTINUED HIS PRAYING.
When he came into the courtroom
he would pray, and often while the
attorneys were making arguments he
would slide down behind the bench
and seek spiritual refreshments. Will
Bryan is quite as religious as was his
father, only he is less demonstrative.
He and his wife have been active
members of the First Presbyterian
church ever since they came to Lin
coin. Will has never, to my knowl-
edge, uttered one word of profanity
nor used tobacco nor intoxicants in
any form.
81 can recall one debate in which he
participated in his college days. The
subject was the duty of a represents
tive in the legislature or congress:
whether he should be guided by lis
own views or by those of his constit-
uents. He maintained that the repre-
sentative ought to be careful to get on
the right side and then educate bis
constituents up to the opinion.
"Bryan is an upright, conscientious
Christian man. I have never known
a finer character. I am positive that
he went into politics with no selfish
motives. He is thoroughly convinced
that the country is beset with condi-
tions that call for the highest patriot
ism, the noblest endeavor, and he
regards it his duty to help right what
be says are the wrongs of the people.
I could give you many instances OF
his disinterestedness. Two years ago
q gentleman from New York sat in
Byran's private Office here trying to
get him to make contract to deliver
so lectures at 800 a lecture, Bryan
was poor then, as he is now, and l
urged him
TO ACCEPT THE OFFER.
"But he would hardly listen to the
man. He said he would not speak for
money. He was not in politics for
himself, but for the people and he did
not expect to make anything for him.
self. He said he would not take any
thing but his expenses. why he
remarked, lit is necessary that those
who can should give their lives to the
work of emancipating the people,
Somebody has got to do this, and /
have made up my mind to enter into
it heart and soul, but not for my bene-
fit He didn't sign the contract.
"When he was in congress he was
offered $4,000 a year to become the
counsel of large corporation, but he
told the officers he would not act as
their attorney for the entire profits OF
the concern. He has been repeatedly
urged to make his home in Democrat
ic states with the assurance that he
would be elected to the United States
senate, and kept there the rest of his
life, but he said he preferred to remain
in Lincoln, and he will continue to
keep his residence in this CITY,"