New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-06
VIEWING OF THE MAJORITY.

In note published by Senator Carter. he
suggests that those who have the direction of
affairs will find it wise to do something ABOUT
silver, in view Of the large vote cast Tor MI.
BRYAN. 1t would be wise for Senator Garter
TO remember that the vote for Mckinney was
more than a million larger than the vote Tor
Bryan, that his plurality is the largest ever
given, unless, perhaps, in the far-on days De-
fore there were political parties in the modern
sense. and that Mr.. Mckinley has clear ma
torty of the popular vote, and, for the first
time in many years, very large majority. III
he does not understand the meaning OF this re-
suit. he must surely be unqualified In re-
markable degree for any position of RESPONSE
bility in political affairs.
Men who know much about politics. Mr.. Car
ter may we'll observe. never smash their heads
against the solid stone wall Of enormous adj
verse popular majOrities. They have sense
enough to understand that, although such ma
jorities may at times be overcome. through the
peculiar methods Of electing Presidents ana
members of the Senate In this country. yet In
the long run they are certain TO have an IRE
sistible influence. That influence Is exerted not
merely through the press, not merely through
the fear Of every active and prominent politi'
clan that he will set against himself body OF
people far too powerful to be resisted, but it
is largely due to the fact that the majority. II
for time thwarted in its DESIRES has strange
faculty of changing the opinions of multitndes
who are opposed to It, 1t Is tOlerably safe to
say that more than quarters Of the votes
actually cast for Mr.. Bryan at the recent cleo
ton were cast for him solely because he had
come to be the regular Democratic candidate
and without any regard whatever to the opn-
ions Of the voters respecting the question OF sill
YER coinage This great majority of the voters
who supported Mr. Bryan has been In large
measure converted already from the errone-
Gus opinions he has advocated. by the dis
covery that the support Of such opinions has
brought to their party the most tremendous
defeat Of modern times. That fact alone
sufiices to induce great bodies OF voters to re-
consider the opinions which the desire for
party regularity had induced them to accept.
Probably it is not too much to say that. II an
other ballot could be taken this week. consd-
erably more than half the Democratic voters OF
the country would cast their ballots against
Mr. Bryan and all that he represents. with
much indignant feeling that the party which
they have for many years held dear has been
utterly wrecked and brought to dishonOr by his
performances.
Nor il it in the least probable that any great
political party will ever again undertake TO set
itself deliberately against the Overwhelming
majority of the people In States having nearly
half the electoral votes. II there were the
slightest possibility Of overcoming the enor-
nous majOrities in States like New-YOrk Penn
sylvania, Massachusetts and Illinois and the
rest between the Atlantic and the Mississippi
River there might be. In the minds OF poti-
clans more daring than wise, some notion OF
appealing to Western and Southern prejudices
and interests. But this last campaign has IL
Illustrated in striking manner the exceed
ing weakness Of party which starts with a
practical certainty Of failure in States having
not only almost half the electoral votes, but
much more than half the popular vote. Mr..
Bryan's cause was from the first doomed to
disaster by the fact that In no large CONNER
| cal State in no State having extended infu-
ence outside Its own borders. could he hope TO
command even respectable support. AL
| though the men In the silver region do not yet
| comprehend 1t, the silver cause has been put
nearer its end once for all by the vote Of last
| Tuesday than It ever was before.