Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-21
An HONEST OPINION.

| The New YORK journal OF Moh'"S WI
tained n fac smile OF SIS correspondence
with Henry George. the distinguished
writer lust after II started him on hlF
tour in the West as it, campaign corre-
sponGent. Wo have read Mr. George let
tors from Illinois. Indiana, ohio, Michi-
| gan, Wisconsin. and Minnesota. They
had the merit Of making the impression
! that. whether correct in their views OF
! not. they were written by man VINO
was an impartial observer. and was
trying 10 give the exact truth Of what
he saw. lie II not free-silver man.
and does not believe II win bring all the
prosperity that Is claimed FOR II. Tie has
always believed. since the two nomina-
tons were made. that Mckinley would
win. This was the first telegram 10 the
Journal:
Chicago September 18th.
Editor New York Journal:
In my opinion. confirmed By Maine, the
result is foregone. / believe. therefore, that
a convinced free-silvcr man would be bet
ter TO make the proposed trip for the
Journal than |. az candor is sometimes
usolessly painful TO friends. WIZ 80
ahead II you wish. and do my best TO
give exact truth as | see II. but both my
judgment and feeling are against this,
Would prefer to save my time and your
money by not beginning. Could stop
until to-morrow's committee meeting for
your private Information. though do not
think | could learn anything not public.
Otherwise. would start back. Advise me,
Victoria Hotel HENRY GEORGE.
Do .f,4F, el.ar
He IS a great favorite with the
working people. and spent the greater
part Of his time among them. varying
it by consultations with the leading poll
teal men Of each party in the States ne
visited. His letters have indicated as
they went along. very clearly, that he
had found good grounds for changing his
first opinion. On October 9Th he sent the
following telegram from Ohio:
Cleveland. o., october 9TH.
Editor New York Journal:
My belief IS that Bryan will be elected.
This is my carefully formed private AZ
well as public opinion. I congratulate
Journal on the good prospects
HENRY GEORGE.
On his return TO New York city he adj
dressed the following letter TO the Jour
nal:
October IS. 1896.
Editor New York Journal;
came back 10 New York over more
than a third OF the continent 70 register
my vote, and to hear Governor Altgeid
make in Cooper Union the speech in
which he set forth what, in my mind. IS
the most important OF the issues in this
campaign.
The question that greets me from the
lips Of every friend l have yet met. and
the question repeated In all have az yet
had opportunity TO glance at in the pile
Of letters / found awaiting me, IS:
what do you really think will be the
outcome OF the election"
Let me answer questioneTs and cores
pondents. one and all. through the me-
dunn Of the Journal. Ny personal opinion
differs from that which has already been
expressed in the letters that have recent
ly been telegraphed by me TO the Journal
from the places where they have been
written only in this:
I am somewhat more confident than my
letters to the Journal have shown that
Bryan will carry the States that have
been considered doubtful in the Central
West, and will be elected to the presl-
dency.
have no ability to see into the future.
and am liable 10 all the mistakes OF judg-
ment that beset man born Of woman. but
this IS my opinion as 20 what will be,
formed after five weeks Of as dillgent,
cautious. and dispassionate effort as /
am capable of TO discover the trend and
strength Of the tides Of political opinion
now running in that part Of the country.
This was not my first opinion-on the
contrary. il ~ first seemed TO me that
Mckinley. not Bryan. would carry the
Central West: but it Is the matured con-
viction with which / came back 10 New
York. And that the tide is daily setting
more strongly toward Bryan, l am con-
WINGED. HENRY GEORGE.
We give the above because It IL the
judgment Of the fairest and most observ-
ant man whom we have yet seen
sent 10 the debatable States; because
he did not believe either in free silver or
in the election Of its representative. and
because Of his superior facilities. through
his sympathy with the masses, for get
Irfr