The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-09-18

result has been defeat. Success seems to
lie in silence. 1t is said to have had
much to do with General Grants popu-
larity and success.
TILDEN'S SAGACITY.
Greeley appears to have been another
victim of too much talk. His speeches
were the most eloquent ever made in q
political can ass in the history of the ma
ton They put him on lofty pedestal
of intellectually, but failed to push him
through Mt the polls. He received very
large popular vote, but very small cleo
toral vote.
Tilden was the most sagacious politi-
clan ever nominated for President. He
had been political manager himself in
all kinds of elections, and incidentally it
might be mentioned that he was the only
man nominated for the Presidency by
any party who enjoyed practical expert
ence except Martin Van Buren,. Mr.. Til
den said rs little as possible publicly, but
he frequently gave advice to his mana
gers, which never failed to strengthen
the Democratic lines and help the ticket.
In the campaign of 1880 neither candi-
date was seen or heard very much. Both
Garfield and Hancock were closely
watched by their managers, who feared
their candidates activity for different
reasons. Garfield was impulsiye and
Hancock was inexperienced. Yet, with
all the watching, Garfield took trip to
New York that was beset with dangers
narrowly missed.
HANCOCK'S SOUP.
Hancock, on the other hand, wrote Il
letter to n friend which caused so much
amusement over the country that it seri-
ously belittled the dignity of the candi-
date.
The letter began: 'Your favor received
just MS l was partaking of n hasty plate of
soup"
The mental picture of dignifed gen
eral of the army and Presidential candi-
date partaking of a "hasty plate of SOUP"
not to speak of the absurd suggestion
that plate of soup could be nasty, caused
yeritable roar of laughter to echo from
the Atlantic to the Pacific.
What might have happened if General
Hancock had not been regaling himself
with soup at the time of the receipt of the
letter is mere conjecture, but it is quite
certain that he would have received n
larger vote.
So they said after the election, she is
in the SOUP" from whence arose the ex-
preston.
Although the unfortunate incident that
defeated Blaine was unforeseen and not in
any sense his fault his managers blamed
themselves, nevertheless, for allowing
him to appear so. frequently in public,
and especially mathematical the stupid
ity of holding n reception upon the very
eve of the battle. Their candidate had
spoken in many places and his magnetism
had captured the country. He returned
TO New York with the golden apple vir-
tually within his grasp. Republicans
were Jubilant and Democrats were hope
less. Then came the luckless reception.
when the Rev. DR.. Burchard, with his
famous ALTERATION, turned the thunder
ing tide of opinion and changed the pol
icy, and perhaps the destiny-who can
say?-of the nation.
What may happen in this campaign no
man can say. Past experiences would
seem to indicate that the course being fol-
lowed by Mckinley is the course least cal
culated to cause trouble in the way of too
much talk or imprudent action, but it is
commended by the managers of Mr. Bryan.
and admitted by his opponents, that
many things seem to make an active cam
paign on his part the most advisable. He
himself is said to believe that he will net
all the votes in the country if he can Just
see all the voters. He puts great faith in
the power of oratory, and not without
good reason, but whether the speech that
is 'silver" or the silence that is "golden''
shall win in this campaign, only time,
which reveals all things, can tell-Wash-
ington Star.