North Park union., 1896-07-31
LIFE OF VIM. ]. BRYAN.
Seems to be Cut out for u
Statesman.
His Wife AN Attorney and Co.
Worker Of the Great
Orator.

William Jennings Bryan, the
Democratic standard Bearer, WA,
born at Salem, Marion county, lii,
uois, March 10, 1850. The nam.
Salem is noted in the history of Iii,
nois in connection with its greatest
citizen, for 1t WAS in tho village oI
New Salem that Abraham Lincoln
passed the years of his you'll, and
manhood; it WAS there that his poll,
ticxl ambition was fostered and en-.
couraged, and it was FROM there tina,
he was sent to the legislature and
made his first entrance into public
life.
That village has long since been
oblite ated from the map, u Illinois,
and tho name given to + St,own in y
more southern part of the state, but
AS the name WAS associated with the
name Of Lincoln, so it will now be
associated with the name Of another
presidential candidate. 1t is no less
curious to note that Bryan WAS born
in the same year that Lincoln was
elected to the presidency Of the
United States.
Young Bryan received his educa-
ton in the public schools of Salem
and at Illinois college at Jackson
vile, where he graduated in 1881.
He next pursued the study Of law in
Chicago, where he WAS student in
the Office Of Judge Trumbull, after.
wards being graduated at The Union
College of Law.
Admitted to the bar, lie commonc
ed practice in Jacksonville, where he
remained for three years. Meantime
he married Miss Mary K. Baird, the
daughter of merchant in-Perry, Ill,
She lad been student in the Annex
to Illinois College, had graduated
the same year with Mr.. Bryan, and,
like him, had carried off the honors
of her class,
ms REMOVAL TO NEBBtskA.
In 1887 the young people moved
to Lincoln, Neb., and there Mr.
Bryan entered upon his profession
and also engaged in politics. At n
bound he sprung into Prominence
and his silver tongue WAS an meal
culable enforcement to the Demo
cratic party, long accustomed to do.
tat. He gave life and fSVse to the
,enets of Democracy, and 10 was re-
eognized as leader of mer
1t was his good FORUM to be
nominated for congress in 800, the
year of tidal wave Dsmocucy, and
after contest of unparallsd brilli-
ancy, he was elected over h Repub-
lican opponent in distric. nomiually
and heavily Republican by a major
ity of 600 votes.
IN congress his reputation as a
debater preceding him, and he WIS
appointed by Speaker Cnsp TO n
place on the ways and means COM
mittee. This gave him a splendid
opportunity to be heard on the tariff
question, and he soon gained the ear
as well as the applause of the house
q. an orator and debater.
In 1892 he was again eles,etg and
in the ffty-,I,ird congress made his
reputation national MS an orator, a
thinker and statesman.
In 1894 lie refused the nomination
for :he lower house, but aspired to
the senate, and was nominated at the
Democratic state convention in Neb-
saska for that office. He canvassed
the state and had two joint debates
one at Omaha and one at Lincoln
with John NJ. Thurston. the Re-
publican candidate, which attracted
attention beyond the limits of the
state, for in Mr.. Thurston lie found
an adversary worthy of all his powers.
But 1894 was not a propititious year
for the Democrats anywhere, and
least of all in the state of Nobrasks.
The Republicans carried tile legisla-
ture, and Mr.. Thurston was elected
senator.
LECTURER AND EDITOR.
Since that time Mr.. Bryan has
been lecturing on his fnvorits themes
Of the tariff and free coinage Of silver
in almost every state of tho union,
and he has thus added to his reputs-
ton as AN orator. For time he was
the editor of the Omaha World
Herald, but the editorial tripod was
not as congenial to him rs the stump