The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-14
The People Are Cutting Loose
From Party Leaders.
VOTE THEIR CONVICTIONS
Silver Sentiment is Growing
Even in New York.
PENNSYLVANIA is ALSO IN LINE
The Hands of he Great Common Peo-
pie Stretched Out Eagerly To
Bryan as Their Hope and
Their Champion.

| Congressman Bland, who accom-
panied the Bryan party on its trip
East to the notification meeting in
Journal, says that the trip was one
continuous ovation for the Democratic
candidate for the Presidency, the OUT
pouring of the people being increased
by the size of the towns and cities
and the density Of the population of
the surrounding settlements.
1T is no exaggeration to say" Mr..
Bland goes on to say, that along the
whole route, in every large city and
small town and hamlet, and in the little
farming villages, the people lined the
way and with flags and banners, were
shouting and cheering for the Demo-
cratic candidate. 1t was supposed at
the commencement of the trip that
the further East we travelled the less
demonstratiye the people would be, for
we had understood in the West that
the cause of free silver was not as
strong in the East as in the Western
country.
"But unless all the evidences are mis-
leading, the silver sentiment through
out Pennsylvania, in New Jersey, and
even in New York, is as intense as in
the Western States. 1t may be that
the people of the East have not, until
quite recently, caught the enthusiasm
upon the silver question. But UNI
doubtedly it is strong in the East, and
there is no question, from all the in
dications on our trip, that in many
of the Eastern States free silver will
triumph in November.
II was told by leading Republicans
whom | saw along the route of many
silver clubs that have bern organized
| in Pennsylvania among the Republi-
cans There was one ggentleman on
| the train who occupies high posi-
ton in the Pennsylvania Railroad Conn
pany Che did not wish me to give his
name for obvious reasons), who told
| me that in one of the shops of the
company at Harrisburg there were
| twenty seven Republicans whom he
knew intended to vote for Mr.. Bryan,
| but that there was nothing said pub
| licly about it.
'sThis canvass is a peculiar one, and
| the coming election is going to be sur
prising. The people heretofore have
waited for party leaders to define to
| them the issues and to make out the
mode of campaign. But now the peo-
pie are not waiting for the old time
leaders, nor do they seem to care where
the leaders go.
1.-THE people have thought the matter
out for themselves, and are carving
| out their intended action. 1t is of
little consequence whether the leaders
| declare for Mr.. Bryan Immediately or
not, so far as the results in the cleo
| tions are concerned. A Democrat now
who leaves his party or who is UNI
| willing to give it his active support
will find himself isolated; he will have
no following among the masses of De-
| mocracy. The facts are known, and
| it cannot be obseured by the gold-bug
/ press, that the outpouring of the mas
ses to see Mr.. Bryan, from the time
| he left home until his arrival in New
| York. has been one continued, enthusi-
| astic ovation
81 do not intend to offer any criti-
| cisms on the Republicans, or to Nc
4 Kinley, their candidate. / heard Re-
publicans say in nearly all the States
we passed through that never within
their recollection had any Republican
candidate received such an unqualified
and overwhelming greeting as that ac-
| corded to Mr.. Bryan.
SIN his trip through Pennsylvania
| the Democratic candi Hate was received
with a degree of unbounded enthus-
iasm that, although it Is a Republican
State, could not have been exceeded in
the towns and cities if Mr.. Mckinley
! had been the recipient"