leon, and nominated on the anniversary of Waterloo, seemed already
to hear the waves lashing the lonely shores of St. Helena. The gold
standard, he said, not any "threat" of silver, disturbed business. The
wage-worker, the farmer, and the miner were as truly business men as
"the few financial magnates who in a dark room corner the money of the
world." "We answer the demand for the gold standard by saying, 'You
shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You
shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!'"

[Illustration]
Bryan Speaking from the Rear End of a Train.

Sixteen members of the Resolutions Committee presented a minority report
criticising majority declarations. As a substitute for the silver plank
they offered a declaration similar to that of the Republican convention.
In a further plank they commended the Administration. The substitute
money plank was lost 301 to 628, and the resolution of endorsement 357
to 564. No delegates withdrew, but a more formidable bolt than shook the
Republican convention here expressed itself silently. In the subsequent
proceedings 162 delegates, including all of New York's 72, 45 of New
England's 77, 18 of New Jersey's 20, and 19 of Wisconsin's 24 took no
part whatever.

Before Bryan spoke, a majority of the silver delegates probably favored
Hon. Richard P. Bland, of Missouri, father of the Bland Act, as the
presidential candidate, but the first balloting showed a change. Upon
the fifth ballot Bryan received 500 votes, a number which changes before
the result was announced increased to the required two-thirds. Arthur
Sewall, of Maine, was the nominee for Vice-President.

Mr. Bryan, then barely thirty-six, was the youngest man ever nominated
for the presidency. He was born in Salem, Ill., March 19, 1860. His
father was a man of note, having served eight years in the Illinois
Senate, and afterwards upon the circuit bench. Young Bryan passed his
youth on his father's farm, near Salem, and at Illinois College,
Jacksonville, where he graduated in 1881 with oratorical honors. Having
read law in Chicago, and in 1887 been admitted to the bar, he removed to
Lincoln, Neb., and began practising law.

Mr. Bryan was inclined to politics, and his singular power on the
platform drew attention to him as an available candidate. In 1890 he was
elected to Congress as a Democrat. He served two terms, declining a
third nomination. In 1894 he became editor of the Omaha