circumstances were necessarily brief, e\-en per- 

 functory, and usually repetitive. During the months 

 of September and October, Bryan devoted his entire 

 time and energy to campaign tours, speaking nearly 

 every day and covering his district intensively, from 

 one end to the other. On Sundays, however, he 

 rested, observing the Sabbath. 



As the campaign went on, events became reminis- 

 cent of the struggle in 1888. In a well-applauded 

 speech at the Richardson County convention, Bryan 

 supported a radical platform, including silver coinage, 

 and opposed prohibition.*'' By September 24, ap- 

 proximately the midpoint of the campaign, Bryan 

 had established such a reputation as a speaker that 

 farmers came from miles away to hear him. In 

 Louisville, "At the close of his address old farmers 

 and young farmers and business men rushed forward 

 to shake Mr. Bryan by the hand."'* Bryan spoke the 

 language of the farmers and the small-town dwellers 

 by using clear and simple phraseology, homely 

 anecdotes, arguing with evangelical fervor and 

 seemingly transparent logic, and avoiding vicious 

 abuse of his rivals.*" He was praised for the decency 

 of his oratory; its upright quality permitted ladies to 

 listen without embarrassment."" In addition to 

 his strenuous campaign in the villages of his district, 

 Bryan made speeches in all the wards of Omaha, 

 and took part in a grand Bryan rally at that city on 

 October 25."' Early in September, Bryan heard of 

 the progress of the city organization: "Nearly every 

 ward in the city has a club; and all will have them 

 in a few days. The clubs are good things ....'' "- 

 The Bryan Club at Lincoln, a Republican stronghold, 

 planned to celebrate on October 1st the third anni- 

 versary of the arrival in Lincoln of their "brilliant 

 young champion and eloquent standard bearer." "' 



Bryan's campaign in 1890 was characterized by 



"Omaha World-Herald, September 21 and 23, 1890. See 

 similar accounts in the World-Herald on September 11, 1890, of 

 speeches at Valparaiso and Mead, September 14 at Brownville, 

 September 16 at Peru, September 17 at Falls City, September 

 27 at Hickman, September 28 at Mead, October 3 at Union, 

 and October 8 at Elkhorn. 



«» Ibid., September 23, 1890. 



*» Ibid., September 17, 1890, praised Bryan's "plain and sim- 

 ple language," his earnestness, his honesty, and his outspoken 

 positions on the issues; ibid., October 10, 1890, described the 

 candidate as an "evangelist." 



»» Ibid., September 8 and 16, 1890. 



»i Ibid., September 19, 1890. 



'2 Bryan papers, letter from C.J. Smyth, of Omaha, to Bryan, 

 September 2, 1890. 



«3 Omaha World-Herald, September 22. 1 890. 



one new and important feature. On September 25, 

 Bryan challenged his rival, VV. J. Connell, to a 

 "joint debate at one place in each county of this 

 district.""^ The challenge was accepted and the 

 candidates agreed to meet for eleven debates during 

 the last three weeks of October."^ No records remain 

 to indicate the origin of the debate idea. Perhaps 

 it was Bryan's; he had grown up in the long shadow 

 of the Lincoln-Douglas debates which took place in 

 his home state of Illinois two years before his birth, 

 and he had been a vigorous debater in college. What- 

 ever the source, the debates were an inspiration and 

 put Bryan in the best possible light as a formidable 

 public speaker. In debate, the young man could 

 demonstrate his earnestness, his preoccupation with 

 "the issues," his knack of simplifying political prob- 

 lems and adopting a strongly moral point of view, 

 and his very capable use of anecdotes to dramatize 

 and illustrate his points. He was, by this time, a 

 confident and impressive speaker, and he became 

 more impressive as the debates drew to a close. 

 From the first meeting at Lincoln, Bryan put his 

 Republican opponent on the defensive, attacking the 

 McKinley tariff in particular, but not forgetting the 

 indefinite Republican stand on prohibition, the "boss 

 rule" of Speaker Reed in the House of Representatives, 

 and advocating direct election of Senators. In answer 

 to Connell's argument for the protection of American 

 labor, Bryan pointed out the effects of the tariff in 

 bringing higher prices and diminished output. The 

 World-Herald reported : "To say that his remarks were 

 punctured with applause would hardly express the 

 situation, as he had hardly time to speak between the 

 cheers and applause which greeted his every remark." "' 

 The debates continued to be triumphantly successful 

 for the Democratic contender. Even his "most ardent 

 admirers" were surprised and captivated by "the 

 avalanche of oratory, wit, and logic" which the young 

 candidate displayed."" During the fourth debate, 

 Connell "conceded that Bryan was his superior as an 

 orator and logician and the vast audience fully ap- 

 proved this view." "* During the eighth debate at 

 Pawnee City, Connell became angry and "rattled." "" 

 Even allowing for the excess enthusiasm and partisan 



»< Ibid.. September 26, 1890. 

 '■•Ibid., October 7, 1890. 

 »« Ibid., October 14, 1890. 



»" Ibid., October 17, 1890, describing the third debate at 

 VVahoo. 

 »« Ibid., October 18, 1890. 

 »« Ibid., October 23, 1890. 



62 



BULLETIN 24 1 : CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 



