The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1896-08-20
THE FORCE BEHIND BRYAN.
Like the Invisible Force of the Tornado, /
Sweeps all Before 1t.

journey to this city, says OF the demon
srations which attended the candidate s
progress across half continent
ST call this touching as we'll as an
impressive spectacle. Nowhere about
it is the trail of the professional poll
tlcian. With every vote given fo1
Bryan i'll this election will go the heart
of the giver, AS | said before, the force
behind the man is so vast as to be in
calculable. You can estimate it no
more than you can the strength of the
buffet dealt by a western tornado. 1t
is elemental. No man, be he ever SO
great, can be more than the instrument
OF such a power. "
What is the force behind this candi-
date of the ''new" democracy, which
is, after all, the old democracy of the
days Of Thomas Jefferson ? What con-
viction has so taken hold of the minds
of the people that they sent to Chicago
from all parts of the country more than
800 delegates of such unity of purpose
and determination that neither threats,
nor entreaties, nor bribes could divert
them by one hairs breadth from the
course they had marked out for them
selves What sentiment in the heart
of the masses has lined the pathway of
this young Nebraskan through half a
score of states with cheering throngs,
and drawn from the throats of thon-
sands appeals that the blessing of God
might rest upon them ? What drew
1000 people into the streets of Chi
cago? What filled those two great
theatres at Pittsburg What purpose
stirs the 0,OOO people who have begged
for tickets to Madison Square Garden
tonight?
This campaign is unlike any tllat has
preceded it, unless it be that which
ended in the election ofLincoln. Day
by day the feeling spleatsR more widely
among the people that this is to be a
battle for Liberty, for the rescue from
the encroaehmeats of capitalism of the
ancient rights of free speech, of free
thought and free political action. Great
as is the currency issue, the need for
protection of individual liberty is sup
planting it as the prime issue of the
campaign. Not by those who from the
first have stood for Bryan and the
Chicago platform has this issue been
raised. 1t has been proffared boldly,
lnsolently by the classes, that in their
dread of the effect of free silver coinage
upon their unlawful gains have thought
to avert it by exercising upon the
masses of the voters the power Of
coercion which great wealth has given
them. Not from the friends and sup
porters of the democratic ticket has
proceeded the snarling chorus oi
malicious epithets directed at honorable
political opponents. No democratic
employer has threatened his men with
discharge unless they cast their votes
according to his will. "Obiect lessons
of a sort that bring penury to thou
sands of homes, taking the bread from
the mouths Of hungry children, have
not been employed in Bryans behalf,
We must look to the "better classes
for these Incidents in the evolution O
American liberty.
The masses of the people are no
towards. Recognizing the invas ION O
their rights by the forces of pluto ,cracy
they offer resistance. For ever v ma
whom coercion forces into su pport c
Mckinley score will assert tn cir mar
hood by rallying to Bryan The
recognize in the contrast bet ween til
elements surrounding the two cand
dates the line of divergence betwee
serfdom and liberty, and they kno
that unless the choice be wisely mad
this year four more years of r over wi
so entrench plutocracy that its owe
throw will be impossible. rlhe signif
cance of the unity of the millionair,
and the corporations in SUI 5port of NJ
Kinley is not lost upon the nation. III
people study the personne lof Mr.. Hal
mas New York and Cb ieago finan,
committees with shrew5 and deep-se
ing eyes. The farmer who sees Il
names of Armour and lllerton headir
the Chicago list remeT lbers how stead
ly the price Of his cat tie has deoreas,
since the trust organ .zed and CONTROL,
bythesemen became the only purchss
in the market, ~ Aey who note 4
name Of RockeSell or leading the NJ