The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-06
UyD'Um BIRYAg ON NEW [E6GGlA6lDo
RlaGHOma1 GOmnd&tGGmam uJamo@oS
DesGpdbeS fh@ lmG5d@mtS
of Tho lR@GGmG UOU110
From The Now york journal,

/ Those
mis- ;s Ahe home Of Mr.. Sewall, ana
| +ha recention had more than ordinary
| significance Bath is a strong lie
n1Iblican town, in strong republican
| rountv in a strong Republican State,
| and vet II gave to Mr.. Bryan recep-
t;on that has no parallel in its history.
| Tha meetings in Bath and at Portland
evceeded in numbers and enthusiasm,
So Republicans said, anything hereto
fore known in Maine. They all compar-
ed the Bryan meetings with the Blaine
meetings. greatly to the advantage OF
the eloquent son of Nebraska. The
very fact that comparison was made
with the receptions given Names fa-
vorite great son by Republicans tells
at once the story of the success OF the
New England tour.
The natural question every one is in
terested in is: "Do these demonstra-
tions mean that Bryan will carry
all or some of the New England
States?" My answer is that the cor
diality of his reception, the sponta-
neous enthusiasm displayed in every
Eastern city and town, the voluntary
assurances of support from thousands
of lifelong Republicans, show that the
sentiment in at least three New Eng
land States is so strong for Bryan that
a majority of their voters favor his
election, and in the Others the silver
sentiment is so strong that the Repub-
leans are forced to spend more money
than ever before in their history to
keep them from leaving their old moor
ings.which they threaten to do. There
are but two things that stand in the
way of complete success of silver in
all the Eastern States. The people have
NOVELTY OF THE QUESTION.
not been studying the money question
very long, and the leaders they have
been accustomed to follow are seeking
to brighten them by the talk of 53-cent
dollars, and when that fails, as it does
more and more as the people learn the
truth, the employers seek by coercive
means to compel their employees to vote
for gold. This mill viii open next
Monday if Vermont goes Republican
by big majority was one of the meth
DDS employed by a manufacturing firm
to brighten the wage earmers into join
ing Mckinley clubs. The mill in ques-
ton was rushed with orders, and had
to open to supply the demand, after be-
ing idle for some months, but the OBJ
ject lesson was employed to swell the
ranks of the gold club. The past year
and more has been period of great
| depression in New England, as else
| where. Mills have been closed and
wage earners have rarely been able to
work on full time. Some mills re-
Gently started up, and, when owned
by gold advocates, it is stated that the
results in Vermont and Maine made
resumption possible. The hope is held
out to the unemployed that if McKin-
ley is elected there will be plenty of
work, but Bryan's election, they de-
clared, viii make permanent hard
times. Those who are regularly en-
| ployed, and have lost no time, are ex-
pected to vote for gold by coercion.
They are made afraid that the failure
to vote with their employer will bring
loss of position. s'You have no idea, "
said Democrat, ''the extent to which
coercion is APPLIED in elections. / know
dozens of them in one town who will
vote for Bryan, but they are afraid not
to wear Mckinley badges"
/ But in spite of all the influence that
the banks and the great corporations
can bring to bear, the laboring people
of New England are for free silver, and
the indications are that they will vote
their convictions. The labor organiza-
| tions are for him, and at many places
where he spoke the cry, "Hurrah for
the workingman's candidate" was loud
| ly cheered. No one could see the earn
estness and enthusiasm that character
lied these references to Bryan as the
candidate of the worlxingman without
seeing that heir hearts beat warmly
for the cause of which he is the chosen
exponent. I do not exaggerate when
/ say that no less than 1000 voters, for
mer Republicans, called personally to
assure Mr.. Bryan of their support
and he received more than a hundred
| such letters. Some of them were un.
signed, the writers stating that they
were in the employment of men who
would discharge them if they gave ex-
preston to their true sentiments.
BRYAN'S PERSONAL POPULARITY
There was a pathos in the enthusiasm
of some of the humber men who came
to see the "new Lincoln" as Mr. Bryan
is often called by old Republicans who
have left their party since Mark Han
ma has become it's best type. / recall
one man at New London, Conn. his
face darloened by exposure and his
hands hardened by toll, who stood al
most under the stand, ito catch the
drippings of the sanctuary" as he
doubtless felt it. He didn't move a
muscle, he didn't applaud, he drank in
the argument like a man quenches his
thirst. He appeared content to listen,
and when the speech had ended, follow
ed Mr.. Bryan to the depot. There was
q jam of people trying to shake the
hand of the Presidential candidate.
1t was long time before this old man
could get near enough to Mr.. Bryan
to be in reach of him. Then, instead
of grasping his hand, he reverently laid
his hand on his coat, saying: II just
merely want to touch the hem of your
| garment. I thank God have lived to
see this day" And he passed along
| quietly and with new light in his
eye. He had seen the man he believes
has been chosen to succeed Jefferson,
Jackson and Lincoln, and, with the
man in the Scripture, he felt that he
could now depart in peace. This old
man is type of many in New England
They feel that Mr.. Bryan will restore
the ancient landmarks which the fa-