The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-10-21
NpOMIPOLITIC,AL NOTES.

| d = 7 . HlH7 y l.
RANDOM POLITICAL NOTES. 4
Therei Is scarcely an element In the pc.
lltlcal sltuatlon In the last days OF the
campaign that Is dlsoouraging 10 the
cause OF Mckinley, sound money and
protection. Reports from the states In
the middle west Indicate that they arc
no longer doubtful The fiat money
craze, although. BY reason OF II having
taken possession OF great party orgafi.
zation, had assumed large proportions.
has ceased to be formidable and hassuc-
cumbet In many quarteta TO the logic OF
the arguments for sound money, and the
common sense OF the people Is asserting
Itself. Bryan's stamping tour has been
unsuccessful and disappointing to the
national managers OF the silver party.
The vast crowds that have assembled TO
hear him have not been convinced that
his cause Is just or that he Is an ideal
candidate for the presidency. Aside
from among the blind partlsans and the
fanatical believers In the heresy forced
upon the Chicago conrentlon,the enthu.
slnsm for free silver has waned rlaterl.
ally. The sober second thought OF the
Intelligent patriotic classes Is favorable
to the preservation Of the credit and
honor of the country and Individual hon.
esty. Calm reasoning has convinced
many who We're at first fascinated with
the cheap money cry that II appeals mt
TO reason, but to prejndice AMI d!shones.
ty For much OF the reaction Mr.. Bryan
himself Is responsible. His attempts to
array class against class, labor against
capital, the poor against the rich, the,
laborer against his employer. have serv-
ed To disgust Intelligent, patriotic men
and has brought him few recruits In his
war upon social order and the monetary
systemof the country, which guarantees
to every person, In whatever walk OF life,
an honest dollar for his labor. NJ J,
In the man. as well as In his cause,
many have last confidence. They had ut
first, while under the spell OF the extraor-
binary clrcumstance which brought
about his nomination, regarded him as
man OF destiny. a wonderful creature
OF the hour,:a, great and magnetic leader
who was raised UP to carry the bannerof
the new. and strangely un-Democratlc
Democracy to n sweeping Victory, They
were resting under n sort '.of hypnotic
Influence that emanated from the con-
ventlon hall nj Chicago. They didn't
care anything about free silver Thou
sands Of them didn't even know what It
meant; to a large percentage OF Demo-
cratic voters II was a new question, be.
cause the Populistic heresy had never
before been written In the Democratic
creed; but they were under the spell OF
the elements that controlled the conven-
ton and were ready to accept anything
But as the campaign has progressed they
have had their eyes opened. Mr.. Bryan
is not the wonder they expected to find
him. Instead OF an extraordinary man
of destiny, his speeches have shown him
to be n very ordinary individual-gifted
with some powers OF. oratory. but intel-
lectually scarcely above the ordinary; q
man with one idea nnd that idea dam
gerous to the peace and prosperity Of the
country. =
The people have not heard from Mr..
Bryan the broad-minde q Intelligent dis
cussfons OF public questions they have a
right to expect from presidential can
didate,. but on the contrary they have
been treated to talks upon single ques-
ton In which assertions and catchy
phrases have taken the place OF argu-
ment, and appeals to class prejudice and
ignorance have been substituted for ap-
peals to reason and common sense. In
stead of dlgnlfied references TO those who
oppose him, such references as candl-
date for the highest Office on earth Is ex-
pected to make, Mr.. Bryan has applied
to them epithets and exhibited n spirit
OF Intolerance that has placed him In the
light of q petty politician and not that
OF great leader.
More and more the Democrats who
support the ticket merely flor the sake
Of party regularity" have. come to real
lie that Mr. Bryan Is not the Idol they
had hoped to find him. It Is beginning
to dawn upon them that young man,
whose only Eft Is oratory, and who new
err had a days business experience in his
life. who was u failure as a lawyer and
as journalist. and who at the very time
OF his nomintion had pending an appli-
| cation for position as advance agent
| for travelling show: who confesses that
he has only been n student Of the hobby
he Is advocating for six wears. Is scarce
| lywell enough equipped to Instruct the
people of the United Stotes In finances,
| aId'to be taken as an authority against
| the old, tried and experienced statesmen,
/ financlers and business men of the civil
tied world-acainst the testimony Of the
hissorysof nations, and the reasoning OF
scholars:
With very few exceptions. not DEM
ocrat or q Republican who has risen to
greatness, or whose ability is recognized
by the country, Is supporting Mr.. Bryan
in his campaign for 4 revolution OF our
| money system. The few men of national
reputation VINO are doing so, are either
| directly or personally Interested In the
success OF the free silver experiment, or
| they are men who do not cordially en-
dorse his platform but will vote for the
| candidate on the ground of party regu-
l2rity." We have many such In West
Virginia and because they are known so
| well the influence of their support Of
Bryan is materially weakened. All these
Influences have contributed TO the great
reaction which has taken place anu are
factors In the situation. There Is little
| doubt chat the victory 0t the Republican
cause on November will be SO over
| whelmlng that the cause Of population,
of disorder and all that is un-American
In the Chicago platform. Will never be
| heard of again.
Cheerful news comes from all parts OF
the state of West Virginia. In many
quarters and among many close polhi-
cal observers West Virginia has ceased
10 be regardedSas one Of the doubtful
states. AS in 1894, when the state gave
1900 Republican plurality, the Republi-
cans seem 10 have the advantage OF the
| superior organization. while their meet
inSs are more largely attended than ever
before. The greatest enthusiasm pre-
walls everywhere, and to assist In the