The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-06
POLITICAL ETHICS OF CLOTHES.
Bryan's Old Alpaca Coat and the
WOrkingman and Farmer.

Washington Special in New York Post.
There is a disposition among the shrewd-
city to sai h haia on the s shls
t tWaddle which is published in various
uiudIe Bryan in dress and manners dur
ing his visit to the East. In the minds Of
these managers there is such thing as
OVERRIDING the theatrical business, and they
close to the danger line. The alpaca
goat" which has figured so extensively in
the news dispatches, answered very we'll
Tor one or two publications, when the inn
mediate necessities of his situation would
excuse almost any kind of costume. But
Wnen TINS article of apparel became a
common staple of the political news of the
gay gay and was everywhere recognized a
began to dawn upon the minds even of
some of the more obtuse observers that
this; and affectation of humility is as
surely. fatal-after it is found out-as the
most naughty and overbearing demeanor
Experienced politicians do not have to go
Tar back IN their memories TO find illus
American people in this way. The very
man whom 1T is proposed to catch with the
one VINO has the keenest wit for discover
ing the difference between the sham and the
real 1t will probably never be known
how much of Horace Greeley's carelessness
or attire was due to simple absence of
mind or actual Indifference to appearances
put 1t Will be remembered that wheSl Mast
was carlcaturfng him a farmer in an
old white coat and rolled-up trousers, ma
cnlne Democrats everywhere declared that
tremendous force and win thousands of
votes for Greeley which would have gone
10 Grant otherwise. 1t will also be remem-
bered that the Greeley campaign was the
most tragically disastrous of any in the
history of American politics.
10 come down to smaller field, it is
Wen known to every New Highlander that
no Democrat in Boston had such influence
with the labor vote on purely personal
nad IN the day of his greatest activity; yet
Mr.. Prince scorned the demagogic trick of
appearing before a constituency of work
mgmen IN any less scrupulous costume
than that which he would have worn in
Ihe drawing room of a leading citizen of
Boston Other Democrats who tried TO
compete with him by resort to cheap arti-
fees discovered to their cost that there
was philosophy in his course. He had very
Wofkll1gman was entitled to as much con-
slderaL1on as any other citizen when his
vote Eas solicited and that it was a poor
compliment TO him to appear in his pres
ence on 4 public occasion in what every
oody must recognize as theatrical dis
guiSe.
Old campaigners here-especfalIy those
VINO have done most of their work in the
sophisticated East rather than in the South
ana SouthWeSt-draW attention to the fact
that the workingman himself makes a dis
function between the clothing in which he
cah appropriately DO his daily work and
that in which he is to meet strangers for
social intercourse; and that there is no one
more particular to get OIL his overaiIs oress
himself in clean linen and put on his best
coat and hat when he is off duty and GO
ing to show himself to the world al large
The gospel of propriety which he follows
himself he naturally expects to see OBJ
served by those who come into contact
with him, especially if a favor is desired by
the other party. He would not think of APP
pearing in a gathering at Mr.. Bryan own
home in anything but his best attire and
ne he very cry, promptly scents out and despises
the political quackery to which candidates
resort when they try to curry his good will
distinction which they pretend to desire TO
wipe out. 1t is probable that Mr.. Bryan
Will be warned from Washington before
many days to dress himself as any other
gentleman would at least on public occa-
stems, even though for the edification of his
immediate friends he may prefer to make
an exhibition of himself.