The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-14

NCNlulty FOtSs. ss's ". -
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OF course there may be differences
as 10 the doubtfulness Of the States we
have put in the column OF the battle
ground. They are confidently claimed
by both sides. and it follows that We
must displease both by this estimate.
The fact remains, however, that most,
if not all, of them are doubtful-quite
enough so 10 furnish Mr.. Bryan with
the nineteen votes he needs, supposing
our figures given above to be CORE CT;
And another fact remains at least
from our point of view, which IS that,
without fusion between the Democrats
and Populists, Bryan cannot get those
nineteen votes. .,
1.-THE view of The Post is, that with
fusion, Bryan can safely count on 2o'
votes, but that without complete fusion
it will be out of the question tor him
to get the needed nineteen. With ;u
sion it comedies that he may. Now, l
have no doubt that fusion will be ef.
fected. You saw the opposition OF
Watson to fusion in Indiana, and that
fusion was effected any anyhow; IN
spite of his opposition. So it will te
everywhere. l have satisfactory rea
sons for believing this. The estimate
of The Post called forth quite a storm
of protest from the Republicans, but
it did not recede from it position at all.
1t replied to its critics as follows:
Those correspondents who are now
deluging us with criticism of the elec
ton figures given out by the Post
on Wednesday morning are reminded
that the most important of the estl-
mates in question were predicted upon
the consummation of q genuine, cor
dial, enthusiastic and thoroughly Or
ganized fusion between the Democrats
and Populists throughout the country.
Then, as to the States which we put
to Bryan's credit in the event of fu-
sion on the lines already indicated,
what reasonable fault can be found
with them?
Kentucky. "........'....'!o
Kansas. ......s....' '......'.'''1OO y
Nebraska. ...........'
INDIANA. ........s.sss'...
North Carolina. na....."...........'ll
IOtal.. ..'o'
Of course we understand that these
81 votes, added to the 14S above calcu-
lated, will run Bryan's strength up 10
2O5- within 10 OF election. OF course
we understand that seeing these hg-
ures in cold type is not nearly so en-
couraging as whooping and throwing
hats into the air and braying McKin-
ley into the White House by mere
force of clamor. But really this is not
our fault. The contest has to be de-
cided on November 8 next, not by stu.
pid vociferation, but by the ballots OF
an intelligent and patriotic people,
and we must, in forecasting that de-
cision, consider facts, reason, proba-
bility-not our personal prejudlces
and desires. We cannot elect McKin-
ley by getting together under an UNI
brella and resolving that Bryan is as
good as defeated at the present mo
ment. 1t is foolish to to blind our
selves to the existence of the earnest
millions who dwell beyond the Poto-
mac and the Alleghanies. These mil
lions are there and they must be taken
into account. We cannot dispose OF
them by making great hullabaloo
here on the Atlantic coast.
To- hof in,
of fusion between the Populists and
the Democrats everywhere, Bryan
may safely count upon 205 votes to
begin with, and we will stand to the
list of doubtful States from among
which Mckinley must get 81 votes,
while Bryan needs to get only 19, in
order 10 be elected.
twill not change anything to pooh
pooh, and splutter and get red in the
face, and heap savage and occasionally
idiotlc epithets on Bryan. If this
youthful person from Nebraska is to
be beaten at all, it must be done by
sensible, fair minded, and rational ap-
peals to the judgment and conscience
OF the American people.
'Itis easy TO see, said Major Barnes,
show an estimate of this kind put
forth and adhered to by an indepen-
dent paper like the Washington Post,
is calculated to disturb Republican
tranquility; especially when it leaves
Bryan only nineteen votes from the
goal, and with the strong chances he
has of carrying Illinois. Iowa. Califor-
MIA, Maryland and West Virginia.
No wonder the Republicans are pro-
testing against the figures put out by
The Post. but," significantly added
Major Barnes, "who gainsay them"
Don't Understand It.
UNION, S. c., Oct. 6.-The sessions
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