Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/29

 BRYAN.

BRYAN.

sympathy with Mr. Bryan's business life. Until 1887 he practised in Jacksonville, 111., removing in that year to Lincoln, Neb., where he became a law partner with Mr. Talbot, but did not share in his railroad business. He early took an in- terest in political affairs, was a student of the science of government, and soon became known for his knowledge of political questions. In 1890 he received the unanimous nomination of the Democratic party as representative from the first Nebraska district to the 52d Congress. He was elected in an overwhelming Republican district, receiving 6,713 more votes than his chief com- petitor, a result attributable largely to his exceptional ability as a platform orator and the persistency with which he personally prosecuted the canvass. His reputation had preceded him to Congress, and he was placed on the ways and means committee, one of the youngest members to be ever thus honored. His speech on the tariff, delivered March 16, 1892, was made a cam- paign document in the canvass of that year, resulting in the second election of Mr. Cleve- land, and was universally commended for its lucid statement of the tariff question then at issue. Though a Democrat, and running on a Democratic platform, he was re-elected in 1892 in a district which gave the Republican state ticket a plurality of six thousand at the same election. In the 53d Congress he was again placed upon the ways and means committee. He also took an active part in the silver debate, which began with the extraordinary session, and on Aug. 16, 1893, made a speech in favor of "The gold and silver coinage of the constitution." In this speech he advocated the free coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to one, without Avaiting for the consent of any other nations, claiming that the adoption of a bimetallic standard by the United States would force the other nations, England only excepted, to adopt the standard as final. On July 4, 1892, he made a notable speech in Tammany Hall, New York city, that greatly increased his reputation as an orator, and on May 30, 1894, he delivered an oration at Arling- ton cemetery, Virginia, at the memorial services over the soldiers' graves, which was listened to b}^ the President and his cabinet, and was widely published as an exceptional oratorical effort. As political editor of the Omaha World Herald he represented his paper at the Republican conven- tion at St. Louis, June 19, 1896, and there was the fir.st newspaper man to obtain a definite acknowledgment of the intention of the leaders to stand for gold, notwithstanding the declaration in their platform in favor of bimetallism. This, to him, radical measure greatly increased his faith in the success of the Democratic party, if it could be induced to adopt the free coinage of

silver as the political issue of the campaign. Wlien the convention met at Chicago, July 9, 1896, Mr. Bryan was a delegate, and while await- ing the report of the committee on platform he addressed the assembly. His speech electrified the audience, the different delegations bringing forward their standard, and clu.stering them around the young orator. One of the oldest con- servative and experienced newspaper corresi^on- dents of a gold organ telegraphed to his paper: "As he (Bryan) spoke I thought I could see the presidential halo about his brow." The next day Mr. Bryan was found to have captured the convention, and after the heroic fight made by the gold standard Democrats to stem the silver tide, Mr. Bryan was nominated as the Demo- cratic standard bearer. At the national conven- tion of the Silver party at St. Louis, July 24, Mr. Bryan received the nomination of that party as he did that of the People's party. In the can- vass that followed Mr. Bryan took the stump, and in the cour.se of the campaign made 592 speeches in 477 cities and towns, in 27 states of the Union, travelling 18,831 miles between July 12 and Nov. 2, 1896. This was an example of industry and earnestness unprecedented in the history of politics in America. At the general election Nov. 3, 1896, he was defeated in the election, receiving 176 electoral and 6,351 ,042 popular votes. He became colonel of the 3d Nebraska volunteers July 13, 1898, and joined the 7tli army corps at Jacksonville, Fla., which corps was ordered to Savannah, Ga. He resigned from the army Dec. 10, 1898, and entered actively into the campaign again.st the annexation of the Philippine Islands, declaring that the United States could not per- manently endure "half republic and half colony — half free and half vas.sal." He was nominated a second time for president of the United States by the Democratic party in 1900, and was de- feated, receiving 155 electoral and 6,358,133 popular votes. He received the degree LL.D. from McKendree college in 1897, and pulilislied The First Battle (1897). In 1901 he establislied and edited The Commoner, a weekly political journal, at Lincoln, Neb,

BRYANT, David E., jurist, was born in La Rue county, Ky., Oct. 19. 1849. He removed to Gray.son county, Texas, with his parents in 1853, and was graduated at Trinity college, Durham, N.C., in 1871. He studied law, was admitted to the Texas bar in 1873, and engaged in practice at Slier- man, Texas, until 1890, when he was appointed U.S. ju(I.u:e for the eastern district of Texas.

BRYANT, Edwin Eustace, educator, was born in Milton, Vt., Jan. 10, 1835; son of John C. and Lorina (Green) Br3'ant. He attended the New Hanipsliire institute two years; was admitted to the bar in 1857, and practised at Monroe, "Wis.,