The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-18
ARKANSAS MAINE AND THE
COUNTRY.

porarics were inclined TO take on very
soIemnlv when the returns from tho
Arkansas election last week were first
reported. And they were disposed to
argue therefrom that 1t was not unlikely
that a majority OF the millions OF voters
In the country would be found on the
sido Of reputation and dishcnor on
Novem Der nsxt. These contemporaries,
who, by reason OF their self-assumed
supremacy of intelligence over the run
of people are naturally doubtful OF the In
tellectual capacity of the average Ameri-
can citizen saw in the A rkansas election
the augury that the South would remain
solid and that few states could be counted
upon hopefully as certain to repudiste
the doctrine OF reputation and uphold
the honor and credit of the American
nation.
No American who has any faith in his
fellow citizen can believe that BILLY
BRYAN is going to be elected President
of the United States on any such plat
form OF national dishonor and individual
senility as that adopted at Chicago. One
has to conceive himself vast deal su-
perior to'bis fellow men to fear that
the result of the election on November 3
next will not demonstrate that the over
whelming sentiment of the country is
against repudiation, against dishonor,
against law and order, and against the
outrageous policy generally that the
trainers OF the Popocratic platform have
the audaoity to present to the suffragists
of this great Republic. Our Weakened
contemporaries may split hairs and array
Agures and talk about doubtful states all
they ch pose. There will be a landslide
just the same, and it will be in the right
direction. One may hold such q view not
in boastfulness but only because Of ones
confidence In the patriotism, honor and
common sense of ones fellow citizen.
For we all reason much alike after all,
providing we are commonly enlig htened
as to hard facts from which to reason
and on which to base judgment.
AS matter of fact we now know that
the Popocrstic plurality in Arkansas was
less than 10000 instead Of 5000 as at
first reported-the figures that gave our
wesk-kneed contemporaries the shuddors.
There In nothing to alarm in the cor
reoted figures II there may have been in
the figures first reported. The Republi-
oan vote in Arkansas was almost as not
able as it was In Maine. 1t was increased
about 40 per cent, while the increase of
the Democratic vote was only about 10
per cent. Ina word, the development Of
public sentiment against Bryan and re-
pudiation in Arkansas is almost as
marked as 1t Is in Maine. No cause can
stand against such a development. II 1t
10 to be found in Arkansas and Maine, 1t
is to 10 found In every state In the
Union with the possible exception of the
irconseqentisl silver mine states which
the silver trust owns. Such percentages
as those made In Arkansas as well as
Maine, Will not carry such states as Ar
kansas for protection and pound money,
but they will swing Kentucky and Mary
land, and .perhaps even Tennessee and
Nortn Carolina, into the line, and roll up
a tidal wave In the doubtful states Of IL
linois and Indiana. The cause OF BRYAN
and repudiation can't face these Arkan~
SIS figures without fiinching. any more
tnan they can the returns from Maine.
Because Of one as we'll as the other, good
citizens have reason to rejoice and feel
assured. Few Democratic states can
withstand the Arkansas percentages and
keep in the Democratic column.
Education is doing it's perfect work.
That is all the people need. There are six
weeks more left TO teach the people, and
there will be no let up OF work In this
direction. But with the aggressive pros
eoution OF this work assured, the srous-
ing OF the people to the tremendous dan
ger which threatene,if they are lukewarm
or permit themselves to be deluded, tho
determination made plain to not only de-
feat the silver conspiracy but to crush It
so that 1t will never show its head again,
there can he no doubt OF the result In
the mind of any citizen who has the sim
rle faith that his fellow citizens are as
intelligent, honest and patriotic as he is
himself.
The funny Journal Is at IL again, the