BELO.
BEM.VX.
1872. He then studied civil law at the University
of Berlin, meanwhile extending his knowledge of
the languages and literature of Europe. Eeturn-
ing to America, he entered the Colimibia law
school, and received his degree of LL.B. in 1876.
Shortly afterwards he entered upon the practice
of his profession in New York city, and in 1880
was elected a representative to the 47th Congress,
was returned by successive re-elections to the
48th and 49th congresses, when, in 1888, he
was appointed U. S. minister to Spain by Presi-
dent Cleveland. During his congressional career
he set his face resolutely against the government
or its officials taking any pecuniary interest in
schemes or enterprises, as in the case of the Peru
guano deposits, the Nicaragua canal bill, the
Hawaiian sugar question, and the Congo confer-
ence. He introduced and carried through the bill
indemnifying the Chinese for the massacre at
Eock Springs, the bill summoning the maritime
conference and the bill for the improvement of
the consular service, and he constantly advocated
the abolition of the tariff on works of art imported
for educational purposes. He presented the bill
Avhich placed the United States government first
among the nations to co-operate with the French
repubKc in making the universal exposition of
1889 a success. The French republic recognized
this service by creating Mr. Behnont a commander
of the Legion of Honor. In 1896 Mr. Behnont was
a delegate to the national Democratic conven-
tion, but with the other delegates from New
York refused to support the ticket and platform
adopted by the convention.
BELO, Alfred H., journalist, was born at Salem, X. C, May 27, 1839. His boyhood and youth were spent in North Carolina, and when the civil war broke out he volunteered for active service in the Confederate army, and was elected to the captaincy of the first company from his native county of For- syth. He served dur- ing the operations in Virginia, earning a colonel's commission and the reputation of a brave officer. Twice he was severely wounded, at Gettys- burg in 1863, and again the following June, when Grant made his fierce attack on the Confederate lines at Cold Harbor. He was ith Lee when that general surrendered at ^^ Appomattox. Leaving
the scene of the disaster, he determined to seek
o^£fc±!^^:^
a home in the new southwest, and he rode on
horseback from Virginia to Texas, reaching the
latter state in June, 1865. He accepted a position
on the Galveston News, which journal he pur-
chased in 1875. In 1881 Colonel Belo formed a
stock company, authorized by its charter to pub-
lish newspapers at Galveston and such other
points in the state of Texas as they might select.
He duplicated the Xeics and issued it simultane-
ously at Galveston and Dallas. Each paper had
its own local department, the same editorial writ-
ers, the same branch offices in New York, "Wash-
ington, Chicago and elsewhere, and the same
press service throughout Texas, flatter was
consolidated at either Galveston or Dallas, accord-
ing to convenience, and transmitted from one
office to the other, three hundred and fifteen
miles distant, by telegraph. The two journals
were thus enabled to command a complete equip-
ment. He died at Asheville, N.C., April 19. 1901.
BEMAN, Nathan Sidney Smith, clergyman,
was born in New Lebanon, Columbia county,
N. Y., Nov. 26, 1785; son of Samuel and Silence
(Douglass) Bem^an. When he was a child his
parents removed to Hampton, "Washington
county, N. Y., where his elementary education
was acquired. In 1803 he entered Williams col-
lege, remaining there one year, and continuing
his course at Middlebury college, where he was
graduated in 1807. He then became preceptor of
Lincoln academy, New Castle, Maine, meanwhile
studying theology. He was licensed to preach,
June 14, 1809, and was ordained pastor of the
Third Congregational church in Portland, Maine,
March 14, 1810. Two years later he went south
to recover his health, and settled at Mt. Zion,
Ga., where he organized a Presbyterian church
and established an academy. He was elected to
the presidency of Franklin college, Athens, Ga.,
in 1818, holding the office one year. Returning
north in 1822, he began to preach in the First
Presbyterian church in Troy, N. Y., and held the
pastorate for a period of forty years. He was
elected a trustee of Middlebury college in 1824,
and in 1846 he declined an election to the presi-
dency. Williams college conferred upon him
thedegree of D.D. in 1824, and Middlebury college
gave him that of LL.D. in 1852. In 1863 he was
dismissed from his pastorate at his own request,
and by vote of his people was given a Life annviity
of one thousand dollars. His published writings
include mmierous sermons, addresses and dis-
courses, and the following volumes: "The Old
Ministry" (1839); "The Influence of Freedom
on Popvilar and National Education," "Letters
to John Hughes" (1851); "Episcopacy Exclu-
sive: a Review of Dr. Coifs Sermon and
Pamphlet" (1856), and "Four Sermons on the
Atonement." He died Aug. 8, 1871.
