The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-13
STRONGHOLD OF GOLD
has Been Assaulted by tfe, Advocates Of
Silver and is Now Weakening.
RAPID GROWTH of SILVER SENTIMENT
I'm the Eastern Statcs-Rfchard II.
b'and Expresses Ikis Surprise Mt
Finding SO Many silver Men fin
tho Eastern section-Free silver
Clubs ofPcnnsyIvaniaR Republicans

Hon; Richard p. Bland, who accom-
panied Mr.. Bryan from Chicago to New
ork. has been furnishing the New
iork journal with daily Impressions OF
hands of the people. In yesterdays
journal he expresses his surprise at the
remarkable growth of the silver senti-
ment in the East, manifested by the
unexampled enthusiasism OF the i'm
mense crowds that everywhere greeted
the Democratic. candidate. Mr.. Bland
saws:
1T Is no exaggeration to say that
along the whole route, In every large
city and small town and hamlet. and
In the little farming villages, the people
ilned the way and, with flags and ban
ners. were shouting and cheering for
the Democratic candidate. 1t was sup
posed at the commencement Of the trip
that the further East we travelled the
less demonstrative the people would be,
for we had understood in the West that
the cause of free silver was not as
strong In the East as in the Western
country.
But unless all the evidences are mis-
leading, the silver sentiment through
out Pennsylvania, In New Jersey, and
even In New York, is as intense as in
the Western States. 1t may be that the
people OF the East have not until quite
recently. caught the enthusiasm upon
the silver question. But undoubtedly 1t
Is strong IN the East, and there Is no
question. from all the indications on our
trip. that In many of the Eastern States
free silver will triumph in November
~ was told by leading Republicans
whom l saw along the route OF many
silver. clubs that have been organized
In PENNSYLVANIA among the Republi-
cans. There was one gentleman on the
train who occupies n high position in
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
The did not wish me to give his name for
obvious reasons). who told me that in
one of the shops of the company at
Harrisburg there were twenty-seven
Republicans whom he knew intended to
vote for Mr.. Bryan, but that there was
nothing said publicly about it.
This canvass is peculiar one, and
the coming election Is going to be sur
waited for party leaders to define to
them the issues and to make out the
mode of campaign. But now the people
are not waiting for the old time lead
ers. nor do they seem to care where
the leaders go.
THE people have thought the matter
out for themselves, and are carving
out their intended action. 1t is of little
consequence whether the leaders de-
clare for Mr.. Bryan Immediately or
not. so far as the result in the election
concerned. A Democrat now who
leaves his party, or who is unwilling to
give 1t his active support will find him
self Isolated: he will have no following
among the masses of Democracy. The
facts are known, and 1t cannot be OBJ
scured by the gold-bug press. that the
authorizing of the masses to see Mr..
BRYAN. from the time he left home until
his arrival in New York, has been one
continued. enthusiastic ovation.
~ do not intend to offer any criticisms
on the Republicans, or on Mckinley,
their candidate. ] heard Republicans
saw in nearly all the States we passed
through that never within their recol-
lection had any Republican candidate
received such an unqualified ""d over
whelming greeting as that ace ed Mr..
BRYAN.
I'm his trip through Pennsylvania the
Democratic candidate was received with
q dcSrec OF unbounded enthusiasm that,
although it is Republican State, could
not have been exceeded in the towns
and cities II Mr.. Mckinley had been the
recipient"