The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-09-10
THE TREND OF THE CAMPAIGN

We believe that free silver is "A hcrcsy.
We believe further that great number
of the democratic party who were de-
ludcd into its advocacy are now fully
convinced that it is hcrcsy and that
they regret the course taken by the
Chicago democratic convention. We be-
leve but for their pride and loyalty TO
what they think is their party, they
would not hesitate TO draw out of it.
We believe that thousands of them have
concluded that as they have gotten their
foot into the trap they will 20 ahead os-
tensibly supporting Bryan until they
cast a ballot, and then we believe they
will cast ballot against Bryan and
Sewall electors.
The people are beginning TO understand
the whole thing as just such another
midsummer madness as possessed them
in the greenback party times. We know
that some Of them are quietly packing up
to desert the Bryan ship. They were at
first caught by the glitter of free money
in abundance, and this was emphasized
by Mr.. Bryan's sudden eruption of elo-
quence, but Mr.. Bryan has not kept up
to their expectations. He is becoming too
commonplace for the brilliancy of his
start. Many who at first were enthusi-
astic for him are astOnished that man
in his high position should so persistent
~ attempt to array one class of people
against another class. They have never
seen or heard of Il candidate for the
presidency doing this before, and they
are rather ashamed of it, Many old CON
servative democrats are beginning to re-
great the hurry that betrayed the con
vention into the imprudcncc of nominat-
ing such a young man with Il very doubt
full democratic record. Many of them
are admirers and worshippers of Joe
Bailey, and while they believe he is very
superior to Bryan they would not have
given their consent to his nomination for
the presidency for twenty years yet, and
they are beginning to resent the way so
young a man got the nomination. They
are beginning to regard it as 4 trick and
that the democratic party was trickcd
into nominating Bryan, and men who feel
tricked do not feel very good.
We believe that we are in this voicing
the opinions of thousands of men in Tex
as nominally supporting the Chicago
ticket. When the sentiment of people
begins to take this trend, we all know
that the result is inevitable Those of
IS who are sufficiently advanced in years
witnessed almost similar scenes when
Mr.. Buchanan was elected. There was
knownothng lodge in our native town
that had $50 members on its rolls, every
one of whom voted the knownothing
ticket in the state elections the previous
fall, but in three months prior to the ma,
tional election the next year there wer,
80 designations from this lodge, every one
of whom voted for Buchanan electors
History repeats itself. History will re
peat itself with a wonderful force in tn,
next few months. The same causes ar,
apparent now that We're apparent then
We are so confident of the trend of poli
tics that we do not hesitate to risk ouI
political sagacity and foresight by sayin.
that we have not the least fear of FIRE,
silver coinage ever taking place in this
country. We believe Bryan is alrcad!
beaten, the extent of his defeat is onl,
in doubt
AS far as the monetary questions agi
tating our people are concerned, they will
be adjusted in such way as to cnsur,
permanency to our currency, value t,
every dollar cXchangeable in all the mar
kets of the world, the circulation of gol,
and silver side by side on n basis fai
to silver and not oppressive in sustain
ing it to the government, restoration o
perfect confidence in the credit of tn
government and an opening up of all tn
boarded gold, that is now too timid [,
show itself, to every avenue of ontcrpris,
giving work, prosperity and happiness t,
free and undeceived people