Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-07


The loss. therefore. OF either Illinois
or Indiana would defeat Mckinley. The
loss OF Kentucky and Delaware would
defeat him. The loss OF Kentucky and
Maryland would defeat him. And II is a
significant fact that in these five States,
especially in Indiana, Illinois, Ken
lucky, and Maryland. the Republicans
are spending time. effort. and money
with a species OF desperation that argues
anything but confidence on their part.
The Herald airily assigns all five to Nc
Kinley. but does Mr. Hanna feel sure
about it, II he willing TO accept the
Herald's Canvass" and turn his ener-
giles elsewhere? We think not. IL Is I'M
possible 70 imagine. at this distance
from the scene Of the real struggle the
excitement. the ceaseless endeavor. the
overwhelming interest that prevail in the
Middle Western States. Those who read
the local newspapers, the county OF
gans. throughout Ohio, Indiana. and Hi
nois. realize that the people are aroused
to an extent unparalleled in the history
Of the country since 1851. They know
that men meet and discuss the issue in
every town, hamlet, and rural neighbor-
hood: that the streets OF the smaller
cities are crowded from sunrise to sunset
Wlfn speakers anu Nll'n At"N'tA"'"f N--N-N
the silver men have hired halls which
are kent omen continuously. and in which
argument and controversy never cease;
that the farmers pay for their own
music and demonstrations, and find their
enthusiasm only spurred by the poverty
OF the Democratic committees ana the
display OF wealth made by Mr.. Hanna.
We do not understand these things here
at the East They are outside OF our
experience. We sit calmly in our luxur-
ious homes. and do not even distantly
imagine the fervor, the. earnestness, the
furious uproar OF the agitation beyond
the Alleghanies. The situation exists,
however. as we have described II. The
battle RACES with gigantic tumult. Party
lines are broken down. Precedents go
for nothing. We have no past upon which
10 base an argument for to-day. what
we know is that the Mckinley managers
are not struggling like men who feel
confident of the result, but rather ike
warriors who know that the issue hangs
upon the merest chance. How, then,
and upon what grounds does the Hetald
base it's complacent appropriation OF IN
diana. Illinois, and Kentucky? Upon the
observations Of its bright young men
sent out from the metropolis? Great
Scott!
II seems TO us that the tone Of our
eastern contemporaries has undergone a
curious change within the past two
months. Then il was a tone OF ridicule.
Then we heard OF Little Willie and
the boy Orator" and so on. Now we
hear liar" thief" "conspirator," in
cendiary." and such things. Hardly
day passes but some great metropolitan
daily" tells us Of a Western State which
"slx weeks ago seemed doubtful, but is
now quite safe" There has been re-
vulsion Of feeling" etc. Yet, when we
look back over the files of those great
METROPOLITAN dailies we find that six
weeks ago they had claimed the states IN
question and pooh-poohed the bare idea
OF their being doubtful. Finally, to come
back to the Herald. We see this foaming
champion OF Mckinley, which at the out
set of the campaign predicted an over
whelming defeat for the "Popocrats'-
an uprising Of the common people against
their would-be betrayers-we see the
Herald electing Mckinley on an estimate
electing him by bare scratch. and de-
pending upon Indiana. Illinois, Maryland,
Kentucky. and Delaware TO make It's
forecast good
Certainly. the fight grows hotter ana
more perplexing every day.