The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-07-15
The Candidates Career.

WASHINGTON, July 10.-Phere is moth
ing In the romantic literature that sur
passes the meteorlc career of William Jen-
nings Bryan, who was to-day nominated
at Chicago for the highest Office within
the gift of the American people. The
constitutional age OF the Presidents Is 35.
Bryan is Sc, and it he is elected in No.
vember next he will be the youngest
President that the White House has ever
known. He is essentially q salf-made
man and a man Of the people His prin-
cipal education was gained in the public
schools of Salem, Illinois, where his pa.
rents resided. During the succeeding six
years be received an academic training.
The bent Of bis mind was toward the
law and it was in the Office of Lyman
Trumbull, himself a conspicuous figure
during the war, and the reconstruction
foundation of his legal career.
1t was in Congress, however, that Mr..
Bryan made the reputation which has
swept him into his present prominence.
In 1890, when only 80 years OF age. he was
elected a member of the House from the
lat district of Nebraska, where he settled
Immediately after his admission to the
Bar. During the consideration Of the
single shot tariff bills, which were
brought before the House during the list
session of that Congress, Mr.. Bryan
electrified his colleagues by the force and
vigor of his utterances, his intimate
knowledge Of economic matters, the
gracefulness of his oratory, and his abili
ty to sustain himself with credit against
the ablest debsters upon the Republican
side of the chamber. His time on that
occasion was repeatedly extended, and be
spoke In all several hours. He awoke
the next morning to find himself famous
Nor was it an ephermeral fame. He be-
came from that day a conspicuous figure
in q house which included such giants Of
debate as Breckenridge, of Kentucky;
Bourke Cochran and John r. Fellows, of
New York; Dingley and Reed, of Maine;
Springer, Of illinois; Lodge, of Massachu-
-etts; Oates, of Alabama. and William L..
the office of Postmaster General.
While Mr.. Bryan was not a free trader
be favored the lowest tariff consistent
with the necessities Of the Government,
and he was placed by Speaker Crisp upon
the ways and means committee. an un-
usual honor for q new man. When the
SD Congress met Mr.. Bryan had also
achieved q reputation as q staunch sup.
porter of free silver, and when President
Cleveland convened that Congress in OK
traordinary session, in the autumn of
1898, Mr.. Bryan was Mr.. BANDS efficient
lieutenant in leading heopposition to the
repeal of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman Act. He continued in that Con.
gress as q member of the ways and mean
committee. He was one of the sub-com.
mittee which had in charge the internal
revenue schedule of what was 81 bsequent-
ly known as the Wilson tariff bill. and he
shared with Mr.. McMillin, of Tennessee,
in being the first to suggest the incorpo-
ration in that measure Of an income tax.
Mr.. Bryan added to his 1aurels as a brill
liant and ready debater during the dis
custom of that measure In he House, and
his Influence was also exerted in favor Of
the income tax, which he regarded as one
of it's most essential features.
With this Congress Mr.. Bryan's Con-
gressional career ended, and he returned
to Omaha to accept the editorship of the
World-Herald OF that city, although his
home for many years has been at Lincoln,
the State Capital.
Mr.. Bryan is about the medium height,
His face is clearly shavon, and in appear.
ance he resembles the great Pennsylvania
Comnoner, Samuel J. Randall, who, at
MI. Bryan's age, might really have passed
tor the latter's twin brother. He Is q
strict churchman, and on several occasions
during his residence in this city addressed
the Young Mems Christian Association
and other religious bodies. Heis earnest
and enthusiastic in whatever cause enli-ts
his sympathies, and it Is not doubted that
h,s personality will largely influence the
approaching campaign.
Mr.. Bryan's family consists of his wife,
two daughters, Ruth, aged IL, and Grace,
aged 5. and a son, William j. j., aged 6
Mr.. Bryan's father was Silas L.. Bryan,
born in Culpepper County, Virginia. De
was q Democrat. He went to Illinois
when is years of age, settled at Salem,
and graduated at McKendree College as q
lawyer.