Evening star., 1896-10-05
THE DELAYED ENDORSEMENT
Silver Men Pleased With Mr.. Steyenson's
Utterances.
Whit Might Have Been If the Vice
President Had Spoken Freely -
Before.

The speech delivered by Vice Presiden,
Stevenson before the National Association
OF Democratic Clubs in St. Louis Saturday
is the subject Of much comment in political
circles. 1t was no mere tribute to party
but hearty Endorsement of the silver issue
per Sc. 1t was what was to be expected OF
Mr.. Stevenson on that subject. He has al
ways leaned in that direction, and as a
greenbacker went much further some years
ago as to the fiat of the government thar
he now goes.
AT the same time the speech excites sur
prise. The first question asked Is, Why was
1t delayed so long? Mr.. Stevensons views
as to the Chicago platform have repeatedly
been solicited ever since the platform VAS
adopted. But he declined to give them.
His silence disturbed<the silver people to
such an extent that some of them expressed
a fear that he had gone over to the sound
money men. They are delighted now. They
look for good results from the speech in the
middle states. and in North Carolina and
Georgia. where Mr.. Stevenson has always
been popular. The past silence is forgiven
in the light of this cordial, if delayed, de-
liverance
Another line Of inquiry INDUCED in sug-
gests what might have been. What would
have been the effect of such a speech ii 1t
had been delivered year ago, or even six
months ago? How would 1t have affected
Mr.. Stevenson'S personal fortunes? Would
not the silver men have rallied to him and
made him their candidate? Could anybody
have beaten him for the nomination If he
haG at an earlier day, as he now has done
planted himself squarely on silver? That
was what many of his friends desired him
to do, and even urged him to do. The south
waited on him for months. But not a word,
one way or the other. would he utter. and
so the contemplated Stevenson movement
had to be abandoned.
Those who believe that Mr.. Stevens On
would have been nominated at Chicago in
the circumstances described point to the
conditions that Mr.. Bryan improved. Mr..
Bryan's speech, they hold, would not nave
secured him the nomination if the conven-
ton had not been at sea to the candidate.
AT the outset none of the aspirants was es-
pecialiy strong. Mr. Bland led, hut with a
support so ragged in-its line as to preclude
the possibility of his winning. Mr.. Teller
stood high in the estimation of the leaders,
but the rank and file of the delegates looked
aSkance at him. The smell of republican,
ism was too fresh and too strong on his
garments for them. Mr.. Mclean and Mr..
Blackburn had only a local following.
Things were chaotic; and SO when Mr.
Bryan took the platform and, in good voice
and with dramatic gesture, swept the mouse
with a pat and brilliant speech nobo ly
could further resist him. With the follow
ing that his speech had given him, he exc
cuted the Napoleonic maneuver and de-
feated the opposition in detail, Mr. Bland
going down last, and leaving Mr.. Bryan
master of the field
But, as is suggested now, suppose Mr.
Stevenson, with his personal popularity, had
been in the field as an advocate of free
coinage, with strength from the south and
the middle states such as he could nave
commanded impatiently awaiting the begin
ming of the balloting. Suppose that fol-
lowing had been well led. Would Mr..
Bryan's speech have ratified it as it did the
followings of the men whose candidates
had not inspired the convention with any
assurances of success? Would not the
speech have passed simply as brilliant ef-
fort, or at most have received second place
for Mr.. Bryan on the ticket with Mr..
Stevenson? -''