The news & observer., 1897-01-26
Bryan's New Book Will Be
Ready Next Week.
WILL HAVE A BIG SALE
HE is BIGGER IN DEFEAT THAN
M'KINLEY IN VICTORY.
THE PEOPLE STAND WITH HIM
Bryan's Review of the Campaign--His
Wife's Sketch of His Life--Anecdo-
tes, Incicerts and Speeches
FIJI the Book.

FIJI the Book.
Chicago, Jan. 25.-The last pages Of
'The First Battle" Hon. w. J. Bryan's
book. have gone to press, and the w. b.
Conkey Company, the publishers, expect
to have the first copy bound in about
week. The book embodies a story of
the campaign of 1896, it's important
events and issues, and includes the most
noteworthy incidents of Mr.. Bryan's
famous tour. 1t also contains the prin-
cipaI addresses and documents relating
to the silver movement, and some of Mr..
Bryan,s speeches. Considerable space is
given to his connection with the silver agi-
tatlon while in Congress and prior to the
Chlcago convention, and to discussion
of the election returns and an ANALYSIS
Of the political situation.
One of the interesting features of +bo
book is the biographical sketch written
Dy Mrs. Bryan, who thus describes their
hrst meeting: MY personal knowledge Of
Mf. bryan dates from September, 1879.
ne was then entering upon his junior
year. | saw him first in the parlors of the
young ladies' school which / attended in
Jacksonville. He entered the room with
seVeral other students, was taller than
the rest and attracted my attention at
once. His face was pale and thin. a
par OIL Keen dark eyes looked ont from
beneath heavybrows; his nose was promi-
hent, too large to look we'll | thought.
broad, thin-Hpped mouth and n SONAR
chin completed the contour of his face
lie was neatly though not fastidiopsIv
dressed, and stood firmly and with dipni-
W l noted particularly his hair and bis
smile The former black i'm color fine IN
quailty and parted distressngly straight
the latter expansive and expressive IN
later years this smile has been tbe suh-
lect OF considerable comment. but tho
WeH-rounded cheeks of Mr.. BRYAN now
check It's onward march, and no one has
seen the real breadth of the smile who
ga bot see 1t III the early Ciays. Tpon
one occasion heartless observer was
iieard TO remark, THAT man whispers in
ms own ear" but this was d cruel exac-
geration.
AS to the criticism that Mr.. BRYAN hal
NOT distinguished himself as a LAWYER
she says: Those who thus comnloin
should consider that he entered fhe nrac.
tIce at 20 and left it at 80. and durin,
that period began twice, and twice no.
came more than self-supporting Az tho
time of his election to Congress his nrac.
tice was in a thriving condition. and fuI-
equai to that of any man in the city"
ohe concludes the sketch thus: ITO
give an estimate of his character, or of
the mental endowments which he NAV
possess would be beyond the scope of this
article. | may be justified, however, in
saying that his life has been one of earn
est purpose with that sort Of genius which
has been called "A capacity for hard
work"
The First Battle is dedicated to
Hon. Richard p Bland, Of Missouri
General James b. Weaver of Iowa, and
Hon. Henry M. Teller, of Colorado.
whom the author considers the fore
most champions Of bi-mettalism in their
respective parties"
The early chapters are devoted To an
account of Mr.. Bryan's connection with
the silver movement and the DEVELOPMENT
of the silver sentiment. Then follow
chapters devoted to the Republican and
Democratic National conventions. includ
ing the memorable contest over the Chi
cago platform.
a chapter is devoted to the Silver iarty
convention and another to the Populist
party convention. In one entitled sThe
triple demand for financial independ
ence," bi-metallism is thus defined:
In a speech made in Ohio, | think in
1893, Senator Sherman used language
something like this-I quote from men,
ory: The parity between gold and silver
can only be maintained by the use of gold
as standard with silver coined in limit
ed quantities as limited legal tender.
This can properly be called bi-metallism'
ms definition has within the past
four years become quite common among
those who favor the gold standard, but
are not willing to be known as mono
metallists. Bi-metallism means two-met-
alilsm just as certain as the word biped
means an animal with two feet. 1t
means the use of two metals as standard
money, and to be standard money they
must be treated alike. If to use gold as
standard with silver coin in limited guam
titles as legal tender is bi-metallsm,
then Hngland now has bi-metallsm
Ii that system can properly be called BIZ
metallism, then the use of copper in lim-
ited quantities as a limited legal tender
along with such system would consti.
tute himetallism
Many interesting incidents Of the tour
East and West are given, and also quite
number of anecdotes
In chapter devoted to "The boiling
Democrats" Mr.. Bryan says: "The only
criticism which | desire to record here is
that the gold Democrats songht to use
the party name for purposes Of decep-
ton. The party name belongs to the ma
Jority Of the party. aud the minority
cannot fairly, honestly or honorahly use
that name in such a way ms to mislead
the voters Had the Indianapolis con-