New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-10
THE CONTRAST.

THE CONTRAST.
The Boy Orator Of The Platte has AT last
reached his Nebraska home: has finished the
sncochmal,ing tour which he entered upon with
the self-coniident proclamation that he was about
to invade the cncmys territory and carry all pc-
fore him: has made his much-hcraded Labor
Day address at Chicago been received AZ his
home in Lincoln with demonstrations Of cnthus-
asm: has received and accepted the nomination
from the so-callcd Silver party. and. in order
that the continuity of his public appearances
might not suffer interruption. has issued the
singular document referred TO elsewhere as his
letter of acceptance. So the two months since
he carried the Chicago Convention off its feet
by his Boy ora.pry. and made himself the unex-
pccted nominee Of a great party for the highest
Ollie, in the gift Of the people, have ended. The
first stage of his campaign is finished. and 1t Is
announced that he will presently turn back on
his course and make another speechmaklng Jour
ney TO and through the encmy's country max
ing political speeches in this city in Connecticut
and perhaps in Maine and other New England
States
Well he needs to- He needs to in order to
correct if lie can. the Enthusiastically bad impress
sion he has left upon the m'rds OF the voters to
the memory of man has any candidate for high
office done his own cause 50 much injury by his
public appearances and utterances as the Boy
Orator has during the Two months in which he
has been so much in evidence before the Amer
can people There have been demagogues and
dcmagogues. No lack of them at any time since
the foundation of the Government. But never
, one whose monumental self-consciousnesS. COM
,f half his
led him into such a succession of blunders We
only repeat what the most intelligent or those
who are Interested in his success frankly admit
when we say that from the moment he entered
upon what he so boasilully proclaimed TO be an
invasion of the cncmy's country TO the end OF
it, concluding with his thin-witted letter OF ac-
ceptancc he has said and done nothing that has
not been to his own disadvantage. and the conse-
quent advantage of his opponents That his
Madison square Garden delivcrance, which was
advertised 10 BE- the greatest effort of his life
and came TO quick conclusion with the early
exodus of his audience. was most abject fail
IRE nobody has the assurance TO deny. That it
was seen 10 be a failure by his best friends was
evident enough when they stopped MIN short In
hi, proposed journey to Maine and calmly, but
deliberately turned him back on his tracks
mouth was open and he kept il in constant exer-
else until on Tuesday he fell into the arms OF his
home admirers At every step he weakened his
own cause and helped his opponents. Even then
he did not does nol now. understand H. He has
mistaken curiosity for admiration and tells his
friends that be has made Il trunphal march.
On the other hand. the opposing candidate has
been quite content with sitting on his own porch
receiving with quiet dignity. gentle courtesy and
undisiurbe,l composure delegations Of his fellow
citizens who have sought him at his home. not
to be- entertained with Boy oratory. but to cx-
press TO him their approval of the principles he
represents and the cause Of which he is the cx-
poncni He has been compelled by the condi-
tons surrounding him to respond TO these dem
onSralions in addresses. some Of which have
been properly brief and formal others more OK
tended and covering The issues involved in the
campaign. II has been y task of considerable
dcicacy and no little difficulty But the support
cr~ Of Mr. Mckinley have the satisfaction of
knowing that their candidate has not from the
very beginning of The campaign uttered a word
thai not helpful 10 his party and in n high
degree proDoiye of his success. At no time has
hc forgotten in the aSpcrit!es Of political contro-
vcrSy the properties and the amenities of pri-
vale life He has not failed 10 assert with UNI
mislakabe clearness and force his political con
viciions and those Of his party. but lac has in
varisbly united courtesy and kindness with sin
ccrity and the frank expression of fixed purpose.
He has said nothing that has not helped him
and bis party: nothing that has no, shown
clear comprehension OF the questions al issue
and his own attitude toward them: nothing that
did not elcvai, him in the estimation of his coun-
iryIncn ~ statesman and Il gentleman.
We need not characterize Mr. Bryan. except
TO say that his opponent is lot a demagogue nor
Il blackguard hut Il statesman and gentle
man. and that the contrast is obvious