Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-07-24
TWO VIEWS OF BRYAN
Nebraskan's Rise IN Politics and
His Home Life.
ALWAYS A HARD WORKER.
Once a Poor Boy. Working on Farm,
He Has Risen to Eminenee and
Leadership by His Own Efforts.
Life In His Home Ideal.


He Has Risen to Eminenee and
Leadership by His Own Efforts.
Life In His Home Ideal.
Few men out OF Office have been so
constantly in the public eye for a
stretch of years as the presidential
nominee of the Denver convention.
The originator of two whirlwind cam
paigns that ended in defeat. his null
titude of enthusiastic followers now
believe he is about TO start another
that will carry him to the White
House. To them, says the New York
Herald, he is an intellectual giant, III
corruptible, the great American com
moner, destined to be president elected
by the plain people.
William Jennings Bryan was born In
Salem. Marion county, ILL.,, on March
10, 1890 He was educated in the pub
lie schools and Whipple academy. IL
linois college graduated him in 1881,
he being the valedictorian of his class,
receiving the degree of A. NJ. from that
institution in 1884, as well as from
the Union College of Law ut Chicago
the year previous.
AS duck to water Mr.. Bryan took
to politics. He was member of CON
gress from the Lincoln (Neb) district
in 1S31-1S95 In 1893 he received the
Democratic vote for the United States
senatorship. The Nebraska state Dem
ocratic convention nominated him for
United States senator Il year later, but
he was defeated by John NJ. Thurston.
For the next two years Mr.. Bryan
was editor Of the Omaha World-IIer-
aid. He went as delegate to the ma
tional Democratic convention in Chica-
go In 1886. where his notable speech
ON the "cross of gold and crown of
thorns" carried the convention off its
feet, and he was nominated for the
presidency on the free silver issue, on
which he made his canvass. 1t was Il
stirring campaign. The candidate trav-
eled more than $4,000 miles, making
speeches at every stopping place. The
vote in the electoral college was 1I6
for Bryan and 271 for Mckinley.
A continued campaign for free silver
followed after the election Mr.. Bryan
lectured on bimetallism from one end
of the county to the other until the
breaking out of the Spansh-American
war, when he raised and organized the
Third regiment, Nebraska volunteers,
10 Of ln ami
When the tiEle rolled round again
for q national convention Mr.. Bryan
had strengthened his hold on the party
organization, and 1900 saw him once
more in the field as the Democratic
standard bearer. This time he re-
ceived the Endorsement of the POpu
lists and the silver Republicans. The
issue, however, was imperialism"
Mr.. Bryan declaring that the holding
of colonies or outlying possessions like
Porto Rico and the Philippines was
not contemplated by the founders of
the republic nor allowable under its
constitution. The result was 1876
votes for Mr.. Bryan in the electoral
college and 293 for Mr.. Mckinley.
These two defeats did not dampen
the ardor of Mr.. Bryan nor blunt his
ambition. Soon after the 1900 election
he established the Commoner, q week
ly political journal, published In his
home town Of Lincoln Neb., by which
he has kept alive the fires of admira-
ton and respect in the hearts Of those
whose political ideas coincide with his
own. In addition to editing his paper
Mr.. Bryan has been a familiar figure
on the lecture platform, and he has
issued two widely circulated books,
"The First Battle" and Under Other
Flags" by all of which, with special
articles written for magazines and
newspapers, he Is said to have ac.
quired considerable fortune He has
also been something of farmer But
1t is suspected this has been for pleas
ure and not for revenue only.
On the occasion of tour around the
world made by Mr.. Bryan within the
last two years he was treated with
marked respect In the many countries
which he visited. Japan, China, Rus
STA, England and continental Europe
rendered him distinguished honor. He
had an audience with King Edward
The lord chancellor of England com
mended him before the interparlia
mentary conference, which cheered his
speech in favor of his international
peace resolution and promptly adopt
ed 1t. This resolution did much tC
change the opinions of those who hat
regarded Mr.. Bryan as a ranting pc
litical fanatic and dangerous dema
gogue. In fact, the idea spread thai
Mr.. Bryan had become a philosopher
that his ideas had broadened and tina
he was no longer the radical Bryan
of the convention of 1896 His views
advocating federal control of rail
roads, eXpounded on his return iron
Europe, were thus great surprise t,
the Democrats of the east will
whom he was becoming extremel,
popular.
Many reasons are advanced for MI
Bryan's continuation in the public ey
after two crushing defeats. Thos
who admit his great ability as pull
lie speaker, his intellectual gifts, hi
fire and force in all that he under