The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-07
MIR. BRYAN'S DEFEAT AND TRI-
UMpH

AS result OF this victory, the Republic
can newspapers, and those worse than
Republican newspapers which supported
the Palmer and Buckner ticket, have al-.
ready set up the cry that the Democratic
party is demolished, that its declaration
for free silver and for the liberties OF the
individual has wrecked it, Those re-
creant Democrats who followed the two
cheap soldiers of fortune, Palmer and
Buckner are talking about ''reorganiz-
ing the party i'll accordance with their
views and foi their own profit Their
argument is easy. Democracy i, defeated
this year, they say, therefore Democracy
must adopt n new creed; must adopt, in
short, the creed of the party which won.
Now the fact is that the results of this
election should encourage not dcpress,
the man who believes in the doctrines set
forth in the Chicago platform Our de-
feat has the qualities of victory.
Let us consider the facts dispassionate-
ly. Let us analyze causes and results
without partisanshp. Major Mckinley
seems to be elected, and nothing said or
written now will Interfere with his acces
sion to what Grover Cleveland has made
throne.
Accept the returns of last night rs cor
rect-though there is grave doubt of their
correctness. Mr.. Bryan gets 49, electo-
raj votes against McKinlcy's PSI But
in 1892 Cleveland got 217 electoral votes
to Harrisons l45. Cleveland beat Har-
rison by 1872 electoral votes, but nobody
thought the Republican patty was dead
and, unhappily, it seems very much
alive to-day. Mckinley may have beaten
Bryan by 20 electoral votes though prob
ably the figure will be reduced. Does
that mean the death of the ''New Demo-
cracy?' Is tia 'lnndslide?H Is it the end
of the effort in behalf of the common
people, for which Bryan, above all others,
stands:
Go back further In 1883 Benjamin
Harrison was elected President of the
United States In the electoral college
his majority was Gj-or within one or
two votes of Major McKinlcys apparent
majority this year. But in two years the
people rcpudated Harrison by electing I.
Congress hostile to him, and in four
years they turned him and his party out
of Office.
Out OF the record of the past the people
may draw encouragement for the pres
ent. Mr.. Bryan's defeat is not defeat for
his principles, perhaps not even pcrn,a-
nent defeat for himself. He and his par
tyaccepted II situation in June last which
seemed absolutely to compel defeat
Democracy had been discredited, demon.
allied, assassinated by Grover Cleveland.
TO put a ticket iii the field seemed ridicu-
lous. But with really Democratic plat
form, with frank and outspo<en rcpudia-
ton of Clevelandism, The party has made
inroads on Republican stronghold7 and
approached very near to victory
Against Mr.. Bryan this year every
agency of capitalism and cupility was ar
rayed. For his overthrow the most enor-
nous campaign fund known TIC American
politics was expended, while in his behal!
pennies were available where his foes had
dollars. Against him tile sinister agcn-
cies of corruption. coercion ana intimida-
tion wer9 cruelly,euployed Yet despite
all, ise his nihdeaIbetter showing at the
polls thanIIhpYis4l in 1877, aid as GOOD
as Cleveland ihiasss. n
The Democratic,p party las cry reason
to he proud OF the issue OF this, canpaign,
and every possible reason to adhere fol
the next four years to the principle.
which have made so screditable an out
come possible N ~ Jo'inu9i