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KOVKMBEU 26, ltO
4 Young Man's Ambition
(Written by Mr. Bryan for the Circle Magazine)
Editor the Circle: You ask for an article
describing "the incidents or event, or turn of
events which moulded" my ambition, etc. My
first ambition was to be a Baptist preacher. My
father was a Baptist and when I was four or
five years old I would answer that I was "going
to be a Baptist preacher" whenever anyone in
quired about my plans. It Is a tradition in our
family that my father took me to see an immer
sion about that time, and that upon my return
homo I asked him if it would be necessary to go
down into a pool of water to be a Baptist
preacher. He replied that It would, and accord
ing to the memory of the family, the fear of
that pool of water turned my thoughts to agri
culture, and I was "going to be a farmer and
raiso pumpkins." That ambition, however, was
short lived, for before I was six years old I had
made another chango and was "going to be a
lawyer." My father was a lawyer and was at
that time on the circuIUbench, and I would as
a boy visit the court house and listen to the
trial of cases. The ambition to bo a lawyer
guided me through my boyhood and through
my college days. I -studied law, was admitted
to the bar and practiced for four years in Illinois.
I removed to Nebraska in 1887 and practiced for
about four years in Nebraska before politics sus
pended my law business.
f When I was twelve my father was a' candidate
for congress, being defeated by two hundred
;-and forty majority In the Greeley campaign of
1872. It was about that time that I began to
"Interest myself in politics, but it was always
With the Idea of making my fortune in the law
first, and then entering upon a political
career. A seat in the senate was the position
that attracted me most. I did not consider a
congressional career or the presidency, but en
joyed taking part in debating societies, and two
of these societies were organized as senates. At
one, time I represented Delaware, and at an
other time Illinois.
I entered Whipple Academy, the preparatory
department of Illinois College, in the fall of
1875, at the age of fifteen, and attended the in
tercollegiate contest, held that year at Jackson
ville. I there conceived tk idea of representing
the college when I became a senior. It was in
furtherance of this ambition that I entered three
declamation contests, standing well down the
list in the first, getting third place in the second,
and winning the second prize in the third. As
a sophomore I won the first prizo in essay and,
as a junior, the first prize in oratory. The
junior prize gave me the honor that I coveted,
and I represented Illinois College in the inter
collegiate contest, held that year (1880) at
Galesburg, and was awarded the second prize.
I was elected class orator by my associates,
besides winning valedictory on my marks. I
need hardly add that during the two, years in
the academy, four years in college and two years
in law school. I was a regular attendant at the
meetings of literary and debating societies, giv
ing special attention to oratory and debating.
At Jacksonville I boarded for six years with
Dr. H. K. Jones and wife, distant relatives, and
the environment of this home was very helpful
to me.
In law school I was especially Interested in
constitutional law. My graduating thesis was
on the jury system. I am indebted to Ex-Sen-tor
Lyman Trumbull for the wholesome influ
ence thrown around me in his office.
I took up the practice of the law with en
thusiasm. When I decided to remove to Ne
braska in the fall of 1887, it was with no
thought of entering politics immediately. All
of the reasons that took me to Nebraska were
professional ones; in fact, at that time Nebraska
was so strongly republican that political reasons
would not have led a democrat to select the
state as a place of residence.
Although I had commenced making political
speeches when I was twenty and had taken an
increasing interest in the campaigns that fol
lowed, my political career began in 1890 when
I was nominated for congress, practically with
out opposition. For the benefit of those who
may read this article, I ought to say that cir
cumstances have a great deal to do with politi-'
cal success. Had I remained in Illinois it is
not likely that I would have had an opportunity
to enter congress as soon as I did, and even
In Nebraska I would hardly have been nominat
ed had I lived in a democratic district. My
youth and my short residence In the state would
nave weighed against me in a democratic dis-
The Commoner.
JonmniVT?11? and a8 no othor democrat
by default re nomItion, it came to mo
JXPt1?0 no only vorod mo In securing tho
nomination, but it favored mo still more on
election day, for 1890 was tbe year of tho groat
democratic landslido and many districts pre
sented surprises. I was not only olcctod, but
elected by a majority of C,700.
JTh0? l roacllcd Washington circumstances
SSL vored me. Congressman Springor, in
whoso district I resided when in Illinois, wis a
candidate for speaker, and as I bad campaigned
lor him twice and know him personally, I sup
ported him not only with pleasuro, but with
earnestness. Ho was made chairman of tho
ways and means committee by Speaker Crisp,
and through his Influence with Spoakor Crisp,
I secured a place upon tho ways and means
committee. This gave mo an opportunity to
take a leading part In the fight on tho tariff
question and this, In turn, made my re-election
possible. When I saw that the monoy question
was likely to be the Issue, I purchased books
and studied tho subject so that I was ready
when It became tho paramount issue.
In 1894 I was nominated for tho United States
senate, and it looked as if tho ambition of my
boyhood was about to be realized, but I wont
down in the republican landslido of that year
circumstances again controlling. From tho
standpoint of merit I was more deserving of
success in 1894 than in 1890. I need not rofor
to the events that followed; it would bo beyond
the scope of the subject about which you inquire.
To recapitulate: Tho ambition to enter public
life had something to do with the ambition to ex
cel In public speaking, although I expected to
make use of my experience as an advocate In
court before I used it In any public assembly.
That ambition also led mo to work diligently, and
the work has been usefulto me in many ways.
Second, I have been Impressed with tho fact
that circumstances are an important factor In a
man's life, especially In public life. A multi
tude of circumstances havo conspired to mould
my life and to affect my plans, and I doubt not
that tho same Is true of others. The place of
residence cuts a figure, as do also tho trend of
events and the action of others. In fact, politi
cal success might be described as tho conjunc
tion of preparation and opportunity; without
opportunity one can not use his preparation, and
without preparation the opportunity passes un
improved. I havo only referred to tho ovent that led
up to the presidential nomination. If I were
called upon to enumerate the influences which
have, in a broader sense, entered into my lifo
work, I could not overlook tho fact that at the
.age of fourteen I became a member of tho
church and the religious convictions which havo
controlled my lifo have had as much to do with
my political career as my political principles
have. .In fact, the ethical element in life is tho
basic element and It Is difficult to place too
large an estimate upon tho Influenco which it
exerts.
My father, mother and wife have exerted a'
very perceptible influence also. My father was
thoroughly democratic in conduct as well as In
thought, and though ho died when I was only
twenty, I had been deeply Impressed by his
views. His "faith in tho wisdom of doing right"
has always been an inspiration to me. He used
to tell mo that I could afford to be in the mi
nority, but that I could not afford to bo wrong
on any question that If I was in the minority
and right, I would some day be In tho majority,
but that if I was in the majority and wrong, I
would some day bo in the minority. This con
fidence in the ultimate ""triumph of truth has
been worth more to me than any fortune ho
could havo left me.
My mother taught me at home until I was
ten years old and trained me to reclto pieces.
Sometimes she would have me stand on a' little
table and declaim my lessons, questions and
answers. She rather discouraged my political
ambitions after my father's defeat, but sho was
quite proud of my success when I was elected
to congress and was confidently expecting my
nomination at the convention of 1896, which
assembled a week after her death. Knowing
how she would have rejoiced In my election I
was glad that Mr. McKinley's mother lived long
enough to see her devoted son in tho White
House. Mother's advice, "Never do anything
that you would be ashamed to have known," has
been very helpful to mo.
I can not overlook, either, the Influence of
marriage. I became engaged at twenty and was
married at twenty-four "Won 1880, one 1884,
Is tho Inscription In tho wedding ring with which
I endowed her with my scanty worldly good8
She has boon a real helpmeet and while n over
urging moinio polItIcfl ,nfJ too0 i10r ""? Z
of n rfUrdT',, Had, .8ho had l,oor "oalth, been
m,ni ? fint d,Bl)OB,1tl,on or proven herself un
equal to the responsibilities of public life my
Plans might have been materially i hanged'
Horo, too, I have had reason to bo grateful.
W. J. BUYAN.
"BRANDING THE REAL ONES
Taff n1nlnSlPve0,Ch ,W!,iIOna !!.. President
Taft plainly branded tho ctandpattors an tho
"real republicans" and now conies Speaker Can
non and boldly roads out of tho party Senator
ill1?!?! , and h,B. tt8BOC,ftto- Speaking boforo
tho Illinois mayors' association, Mr. Cannon snld:
I was over in Iowa last week, and found that
it Is an opon secret thoro that Senator Cummins
not only proposes to Join hands with Dryan but
! m Umt "JVSjfatlon will not stop and that
ho will appeal to tho people until tho tariff is
revised according to his notions. In this cam
paign to bo waged by Senator Cummins tho
?n,wt,aPranl t0 b0 whot,,or tho seven senators
and tho twenty mombors of the houso who voted
against the tariff bill constitute tho republican
party, or whether tho majority of tho republi
can members of congress and tho president mako
up the republican party. These people under tho
leadership of Senators Cummins and LaFollotto
call thomsolves republicans, but If they are, then
I am somothlng else."
There you havo it blunt and plain. Tho
speaker might havo gono fnrthor and said: "If
tn 080 peoplo under tho loadorship of Cummins
and LaFollotto aro ropubllcariH then Aldrlch and
Cannon and Taft aro somothlng olse." It seems,
howovor, that Aldrlch, Cannon and Taft aro In
tho saddle and tho biggest of those Is Aldrlch.
"THE WORM TURNS"
Mr. George II. Allen, of tho Codarlno Allen
Company, Clinton, Now York, commonly known
as Codarlno Allen," has published imd 1b clr-"
culatlng a littlo pamphlet entitled, "I Am Re
minded." Mr. Allon Is a' republican and boasts
of having voted for Mr. OarloJd and ovory re
publican president sfneo, but ho does not Jifco
tho manner in which tho republican party bun
coed the country on tho tariff question last fall.
Tho illustrated pamphlet which he has sent Tho
Commoner does not mention any price, and It is
probable that it will bo sent to any reader upon
application at least a postal card might bo
risked. It is good material to show to thoso
republicans who voted tho republican ticket with
tho understanding that tho tariff was to bo
reduced. It is to be hoped that Mr. Allen -.represents
a larger group, for certainly thoro has
been enough fraud practiced to arouse the ire
of tariff reform republicans.
HEAVEN
"What do you think that heaven may be?,"
Tho hearer answered with a smile: J?
"A place where folks like you and me
May hear sweet music all the while,
Where roses bloom and birds will sing
And silver streams plash in tho shade,
With naught but joy in everything
Of these, I know, is heaven made."
'WVn An vnn ililnlr Miof linnvan moir
""K " JWli .VUllllk IUUI lll.IWl.ll UJJT UUi -f
The mother answered: "'TIs a land
Where all mln own may be with mo
And where, too, I may understand
Tho longings of the little hearts
And find my happiness complete
In soothing with a mother's arts
Tho weary little hands and feet."
"What do you think that heaven may be?" - ;
Tho old man answered with a sigh: ;
"A cot beneath a spreading tree . &
That towers ever green and high, y
And never weariness nor strife . '"
But just a comfort calm and blest
Such as we may not have in life
A folding of the hands In rest."
What do you think that heaven may be?
Why, it would bo of little worth
Were it not given to us to see
Some promise of It here on earth;
If through the moments and the years
We could not bring its radiant glow
To light our smiles and dry the tears
Of the weary folk we know.
- Chicago Evening Post
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