The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-07-25
Bryan Asa Speeohmaker

0N oAAAeJ, oAo' y"
pie than any other man in hi
| tory.
\ In 1887 Bryan moved to Lin
coin, d poor and strugglin!
young lawyer, and made hin
self acquainted with the pc
Of his district by speaking
throughout the campaign O
1888. 1t had been the fashion
OF the Democrats Of that dis
trict (Regnblican by 1000 t.
pass the nomination for Con
gress around the leaders al
an empty compliment, accept
ing defeat as a matter O.
course and with such grace al
they could muster. It SO hak
psned that il 1890, Bryan had
delivered an exceptiOna
speech at an University, anC
had surprised local attentio,
The district convention came
along at about thot time, anC
some one suggested, half il
jet, that the newly founC
orator he complilnented will
the nomination for Congress
"a good idea,'' said the
worried old warehouses;. ''Let
the colts of the party receive
a few strips from the lash OF
defeat, and they will better
appreciate our scars.
But Bryan, young and
optimistic. dident believe III
the flash Of deteat.''' So they
let him write the platform
and run. La the course of
his speech he predicted his
election. Bryan only smiled
his expansive smile, aud took
off HE his coat and went to
work. His first move was to
challenge the Republican No
minee to a series OF jointdeba
es That gentleman contem
ptuolsIy accepted. They
met and Bryan snoothered
him. The young men of the
district, with the Inherent
love of a youth for a plucky
fighter, lined up and yelled
for the new champion. TO
every body's surprised, Bryan
reversed the normal Repub
lican plurality. Two years
later, at the second election
he pulled through by a scant
l40 votes, but even this was
an achievement. Judge Steele
resigned a remunerative posi-
ton to make the race aud
put down this daring young
David. The judge has probab
~ regretted that resignation
maly times since.
When the time f,r the
third coltest came, Bryan.
with the rarest Of luck, or
Judgement, announcing him
self as not a candidate, and
went into the Chicago conven
ton as tee orator Of the
Platte.
It is estimated that 500. OOO-
800 people heard Bryan dur
ng tue campaign Of 1896. OIL
course, there is no way OF |
authenticating the figures, |
md yet it is easy to see that |
hey are possible for Bryan |
poke morning, noon and !
hight. and everywhere the
rain stopped between times.
1e almost duplicated the feat
n 1900 (and so did the vigor
us candidate for VicePresi
ent Oh the opposing ticket,)
0 it is easy to see how he has
ad his share of public atten
ion during campaigns, but
that has kept him in the pub
G eye between times ? 4
What has held Bryan close
} the peoples heart and
cad. The answer best worth |
ansidering is this: the
yceum and the Chautauqna,
specially the Chautadna.
here are approximately, six I
Or more scattered +
trough the west, and every :
,asons adds to their number, !
-'yan is tie C.lantauqua s.; Il
par excalisnce'', the head :
her Of them all. His voice
big, his personality is big, /
ell suited to a large auditori ),
rs and unconventional
'ow1s. He can talk politics II
Il not o1foresl, for he has a =
;nse Of humos and is willing|
turn the laugh against him v
IL occasionally. He can i,
Tx ethics and leave his au =
ence exalted. The Republi :
ms who come to laugh re p
ain to admire, the Demo II
ats who come to adm re- re !,
ain tc worship, ana. all Of Z!
lem pile up to shake handsl a