The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-02-04
THE SILVER APOSTLE
Bryan'S Story Of the Campaign Of 1895
Told In His New Book.
BIOGRAPHY WRITTEN BY HIS WIFE
urs. bryan Gives an Entertaining
Account OF Their First Meeting
Criticism OF the Boiting Demo.
crats-A Chapter on Trusts.

week. Ii embodles a story OF the cam
paign OF 1896 including the most note
worthy incidents OF his tour through the
country. One of the interesting features
Of the book is the biographical sketch
written by Mrs. Bryan, who thus de-
scrbes their first meeting:
my personal knowledge of Mr. Bryan
dates from September, 1879. He was
then entering upon his junior year.
saw him first in the psrlors of the young
ladies' school which attended in Jack
sonville. 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, pair
of keen dark eyes looked out from beneath
heavy brows, his nose was prominent,
too large to look we'll, thought; a broad
thin.lipped mouth and square chin
completed the contour of his face.
"He was neatly though not fastidiously
dressed, and stood firmly and with
dignity. l noted particularly his hair
and his smile. The former black in
color, fine in quality and parted distress
ngly straight; the latter, expansive and
expressive. In later years this smile has
been the subject of considerable com.
ment, but the well rounded cheeks OF
Mr.. Bryan now check it's onward march,
and no one has seen the real breadth OF
the smile who did not see it in the early
days. Upon one occasion a heartless
observer was heard to remark, That
man whispers in his own ear but this
was cruel exaggeration."
As to the criticism that Mr.. Bryan has
not distinguished himself as a lawyer,
she says; Those who thus complain
should consider that he entered the prac-
tice at twenty-three and left it at thirty,
and during that period began twice and
twice became more than self-supporting.
At the time of his election to Congress
his practice was in thriving condition
and fully equal to that Of any man in the
city"
She concludes the sketch thus "To
give an estimate of his character or of the
mental endowments which he may
possess would be beyond the scope of
this article. | may be justified, however
in saying that his life has been one Of
earnest purpose, with that sort of genius
which has been called "a capacity for
hard work.
In a chapter devoted to "the boiling
Democrats" MIR. Bryan says: 1.-The
only criticism which desire to record
here is that the gold Democrats sought
to use the party name for purposes of
deception. The party name belongs to
the majority of the party and the minor
ity cannot fair iy, honestly or honorablv
use that name in such way as to mis-
lead the voters. | had at all times de-
tended the sovereign right OF the cti zen
to follow his conscience and his judg-
ment in political matters and to make
his party affiliations conform to his con-
vlctions, but fraud attempted against
the voters is no more defeusbIe than II
fraud attempted in business transac
ton.
Had the indianapolis convention in
dorsed the Republi can ticket we might
have found fault with the views of the
gold Democrats, but their methods would
not have been open to attacks. To
nominate ticket, however, without the
intention Of voting for it and to hold
public meetings for the ostensibe pur-
pose of aiding the ticket, but for the Sc
cret purpose of aiding a ticket which was
not openly advocated, introduces into
national affairs new kind of warfare
which, in my judgment, history must
condemn"
He says this about trusts: "Our coun-
try has, in my judgment, much to fear
from the political influence exerted by
| large corporations. The business OF the
| country is falling more and more into
the hands of corporations, and since a
lawyer receives both his reputation and
his experience from his practice, the at
| torneys for the great corporations come
to be considered the leading attorneys at
their respective bar. Thus it may hap
pen that officials appointed to enforce the
law will be biased against the law which
| is to be enforced. 1t may even happen
| that Judges upon the bench will retain
after appointment the bias acquired in
corporation practice"
One of the last chapters is given up to
'the election returns" and in this, Mr..
Bryan says: "As the evening progressed
the indications pointed more and more
strongly to defeat, and by L O'Clock |
realized that while the returns from the
country might change the result the sue
cess Of my opponent was more than
probable. Confidence resolved itself into
doubt, and doubt in turn gave place to
| esgnation. While the compassionless
current sped hither and thither, carrying
| its message of gladness to foe and its
message of sadness to friend, there vanish
ed from my mind the vision of Presi.
dent in the White House perplexed by
| the cares of State and in the contempla-
| ton of picture of n citizen by his fire
side free from responsibility, fell
asleep"
II was Purely "a blind.