The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-21
THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION
Were They Favorable to Silver and Omi-
nous of the Growth of Socialism?
To the editor Of the Repnblican.

To the Editor of the Republican,:
Now that the results of the election are
becoming fully known, it seems a pertin-
ent query if all this display of red fire,
footing of horns and other demonstrations
Of JOY is not to say the least, out of all
proportions to the actual facts? Or is it
all because the enemy did not make
greater inroads? A victory consists OF
advantages gained not of reverses ex-
perienced. In an engagement of battle
the army sustaining the most losses cOuld
hardly claim victory. Thus, in the con-
test Just closed, it would appear that if
anybody has reason for rejoicing. it is
rather the assumed vanquished, the be-
levers of the cause that Mr.. Bryan pro-
claimed.
True, Mr. Mckinley will be president,
but will he be any more a defender of the
single gold standard than the present oc-
cupant of the White House? Indeed, not,
for all of his public utterances up TO the
date of his nomination prove quite to the
contrary, and thus what may be expected
of him under possible circumstances?
Again, in the outgoing lower branch Of
Congress, on a test vote last winter, silver
found but about 80 friends, or in other
words, an adverse majority of some 10,
while in that branch just chosen, accord
ing to the chairman of the National Re
publican Congressional committee, this
majority is reduced to less than so, while
in the upper branch silver appears to be
in the lead Surely, somewhat of a 'land-
slide" Further, we have it from Chair
man Hanna and such men as DIR. Glad
den, of Ohio, that what success the Re
Iorpalyr 11Ta n
promises of silver concessions Of one sort
or another And study Of the returns
reveals the fact that a change Of about
%, 900 votes, distributed among two or
three certain Western States, would have
made Bryan president-a slender thread
to support victory So, take it all in all,
there is little cause for dependency from
a silverite standpoint, and they only may
hope for another such a Landslide" for
the realization of their fondest desires.
Another striking feature of the result is
the startling discovery that the foreign
element, congested in our large cities, to
whom Mckinley is greatly indebted for
his success, are the bulwark of American
institutions rather than the native rural
population, as heretofore supposed. But
these commends to patriotism will likely
be short-lived, and we may expect the
tables to be turned at any time, for there
are evidences that ere long these praise
givers will be called upon and feel it their
duty to curse this foreign element for
furthering that to which they would
gladly accept free silver instead. Social
ism in practical form is new to Ameri-
can soil, but conditions favorable to its
growth are not liable to become less acute
under the incoming administration.
Trusts and their increasing destruction
of competitive methods in the distribution
and production OF life's needs logically
point to the necessity Of like methods be-
ing established by the common people for
the common good, for such rights and ae-
feasibility to life's necessaries and COM
forts, whether created directly by nature
or wrought by the hand of man, as all
at last have a moral right to expect, and
thus the degree of justice may exist be-
tween man and man that entities us to
the claim of human. -Four years ago in
this country this worldwide movement
had 10000 supporters, and this year
they number nearly 100000, and what
do the signs OF the times portend for the
future in this direction?
II. A. AUCKLAND.
South Hadley Falls, Nov. Is, 1896.