Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-11-12
Mr.. Bryan's Defsat-and Triumph


those who have joined with that party
in pressing certain issues should con-
slider whether the adverse verdict OF
the people is conclusive.
On the face of the returns, at this
writing. Mr.. Bryan has carried twenty
three States, with 1S7 electoral votes.
Major Mckinley seems to have won in
twenty-one States, which give 257 elec-
toral votes. There is reason to doubt
the accuracy of the returns in some of
the Mckinley States, but little reason
to believe that the apparent result will
be changed. In all probability Mr..
Mckinley has been elected.
AS result of this victory. the Re-
publican newspapers. and those worse
than Republican newspapers which
supported the Palmer and Buckner
ticket, have already set up the cry that
the Democratic party is demolished,
that its declaration for free silver and
for the liberties of the individual has
wrecked it. Those recreant Demo
Gratis who followed the two cheap sol
diers of fortune, Palmer and Buckner,
are talking about ''reorganizing" the
party in accordance with their views
and for their own profit. Their argu-
ment is easy. Democracy is defeated
this year, they say, therefore Democ-
racy must adopt a new creed; must
adopt, in short, the creed of the party
which won.
Now the fact is that the results of
this election should encourage, not de-
press, the man who believes in the
doctrines set forth in the Chicago
platform. Our defeat has the quail
ties of victory.
Let Us consider the facts dispassion-
ately. Let US analyze causes and re-
suits without partisanship. Major
Mckinley seems to be elected, and
nothing said or written now will inter-
fere with his accession to what Grover
Cleveland has made throne.
Accept the returns last night as cor
rect-though there is grave doubt OF
their correctness. Mr.. Bryan gets 1S7
electoral votes against McKinley's 257.
But in 1892 Cleveland got 277 elector
al votes to Harrison's 145. Cleveland
beat Harrison by 1872 electoral votes.
but nobody thought the Republican
party was dead-and, unhappily, it
seems very much alive to-day. Nc
Kinley nay have beaten Bryan by 20
electoral votes-though probably the
figure will be reduced. Does that
mean the death of the New Democ-
racy?" Is it "landside?" Is it the
end of the effort in behalf of the COM
mon people. for which Bryan, above
all others, stands?
Go back further. In 1888 Benjamin
Harrison was elected President of the
United States. In the electoral Col
lege his majority was 65-or within
one or two votes of Major McKinley's
apparent majority this year. But in
two years the people repudiated Har-
rison by electing Congress hostile to
him, and in four years they turned
him and his party out of Office.
Out of the record of the past the
people may draw encouragement for
the present. Mr.. Bryan's defeat is
not defeat for his principles. perhaps
not even permanent defeat for himself
He and his party accepted situation
in June last which seemed absolutely
to compel defeat. Democracy had
been discredited, demoralized, assas-
sinated by Grover Cleveland. To put
a ticket in the field seemed ridiculous.
But with really Democratic platform,
with frank and outspoken reputation
of Clevelandism. the party has made
inroads on Republican strongholds and
GppEOdCuOu fCEy nCat " fAOeOty'
Against Mr.. Bryan this year every
agency of capitalism and cupidity was
arrayed. For his overthrow the most
enormous campaign fund known to
American politics was expended, while
in his behalf pennies were available
where his foes had dollars. Against
him the sinister agencies of corruption,
coercion and intimidation were cruelty
employed. Yet, despite all, he has
made a better showing at the polls
than Harrison in 1892, aud as good as
Cleveland in 1888.
The Democratic party has every
reason to be proud of the issue of this
campaign, and every possible reason
to adhere for the next four years to the
principles which have made so credit
able an outcome possible. York
Journal