ech instead of smiling faces and pleasing
countenances as on previous occasions, one could not help noticing
marked evidences of disappointment in every face. The impression that
had been made was, that it was an appeal to the Populist members of the
Legislature of his State to return him to the Senate, in exchange for
which he was willing to turn his back upon the party which he was then
serving. It was almost equivalent to an open declaration of his
willingness to identify himself with the Populists, and champion their
cause if they would reelect him to the seat he then occupied. From the
effects of that fatal blunder the Senator never recovered.

Another thing that lessened the distinguished orator and Senator in the
estimation of the public was his radically changed attitude upon
questions affecting the political, social and industrial status of the
colored Americans. From a brilliant and eloquent champion and defender
of their civil and political rights he became one of their most severe
critics. From his latest utterances upon that subject it was clear to
those who heard what he said that the colored Americans merited nothing
that had been said and done in their behalf, but nearly everything that
had been said and done against them. Why there had been such a radical
change in his attitude upon that subject, has been an inexplicable
mystery. The only explanation that I have heard from the lips of some of
his former friends and admirers was that it was in the nature of an
experiment,--the expectation being that it would give him a sensational
fame throughout the country, which could be utilized to his financial
advantage upon his retirement to private life. This explanation would
have been rejected without serious consideration, but for the fact that
some others have pursued the same course for the same reason, and their
hopes have been, in a large measure, realized. In his bid for the
support of the Populist members of the Legislature of his State the
Senator had established the fact that he did not have very strong
convictions upon any subject, and that those he had could be easily
changed to suit the times and the occasion.

Nebraska, though not very strong politically, is one of the most
important States in the West. It has sent a number of men to the front
who have made an impression upon the public mind. For many years no
State in the Union was more reliably Republican than Nebraska. A large
majority of its v