The record-union., 1896-11-08
AMERICAN LOYALTY TO FAIR
PLAY.

An Englishman writing in "Har-
pers Weekly" and who has observed
much, remarks upon the orderliness of
the meetings during the late heated
campaign. He says:
have been present at some of the
largest meetings in New York and Chi
cago, and have never yet heard a seri-
Gus interruption, or seen a man thrown
out, or a platform stormed, or a speaker
howled down, or, indeed, any of the
lively demonstrations which form the
humOr and excitement of an English
election. The behavior of the Yale bows
at one of Mr.. Bryan's meetings seems to
nave been pretty generally condemned
here. In England it would have been
regarded as one of the ordinary Incl
dents of campaign, and forgotten in a
couple Of days. Yet 1 am told that this
is a moment Of high party feeling and
unusual enthusiasm, and that not since
the war have there been such stirring
1mes. L went a few months ago to
near gentleman speak in the Madison
square Garden. tt was a hot night. and
over 2O,00O people were in the hall. Most
Of them laid aside their coats and vests
which 1 took to be a hopeful sign Of war
like preparations. There was a buzz of
excitement everywhere. The particular
gentleman who was going to speak had
10 make an important announcement
and nobody quite knew how he would
make it. He had, too, reputation for
oratory of the fiery popular brand. and
We were all looking forward to a. rous-
inc lf,,.r }, rTtI-.-
which made the plaster on the walls
shudder when he came in. The man
was to be envied who had to address
such an audience in such hall. We
settled ourselves as comfortably as
might be in our seats with the pleased
certainty of listening to something
worth hearing. IT turned out that we
were going to listen to nothing of the
kind The gentleman in question would
not speak to us, but he pulled out a
manuscript and began TO read it. / was
petrified with horror / expected every
moment to see this vast gathering arise
and howl him down. They had come for
fireworks, and he was giving them a
sermon / meditated upon his probable
fate; at the very least I supposed he
would be thrown into the Hudson. He
droned along In a dull even flow. and
the audience sat still and listened ana
wiped away the perspiration, and now
and then parts Of It got up and quietly
left the hall-to prepare the Instruments
of torture, as 1 thought I was as
founded at the patience of this perspir-
ing. disappointed mass, cheated out of
its evenings amusement. Perhaps they
were corking up their Indignation till
the serylce--I mean the speech-was
over. In which case / looked for a
sharp and satisfactory act of ven
geance. But no; when the speaker had
finished and the Great Betrayal was ac-
cornplished. that audience had actually
enough magnanimity in it to rise and
cheer the gentleman. He escaped an
touched. What would have happened
to him had he been addressing an Eng
lish audience 1 can only conjecture. 1t
is certain, however. that he would not
have met with such a cheerful, uncom-
planning reception. If an English audi
ence does not like a speaker, or the
manner of his speech, it tells him so al
once That saves a lot OF time, and
teaches a public man to respect his lis
teners.
We have quoted so extendedly because
of the value Of the recital of this OBJ
serving and critical Englishman II
conveys a lesson that perhaps not all
cur own people have thought upon fully.
1t is that we are, after all, a united peo-
r,Ie. and that there is something we love
better far than party, or experiment, or
self and that is our common country.
Outside of the attempt to howl down
Eourke Cochran in West Virginia and
Secretary Carlisle In Kentucky, the
assault upon Republican headquar-
tars In Central Indiana, the silly action
of the Yale students. and the rotten
eeging of Colonel Irish in Nebraska,
there has not been any disturbance or
,n+arr7,ntion worthy OF serious eonsid-
Grafton In the past, the most heated
eo,nnaien since the dark eve Of the war
of the rebellion.
Yx we have had not less than 2o.ooo