The San Francisco call., 1896-08-10
BRYAN AND THE PEOPLE.

Mr.. Bryan is now journeying to New
York to be notified of his nomination and
naturally enough there is an "outpourin g
of the people" at every stopping point.
Nothing is more easy in this country than
to raise crowd" but crowds DO not in
dicate anything. No itinerant Office
seeker ever drew such crowds as General
Scott did when he was candidate for the
Presidency, but he carried only four
States. The people like to be amused,
and they like information, too, concerning
the affairs of the Nation, but the Ameri-
can voter is as cold as frog when he
goes to cast his ballot. Sentiment, ties of
personal friendship and even the bonds of
consanguinity are held as secondary to
the voters opinion. This.would not be SO
were voters not capable OF determining for
themselves the course to take. Hence it
is that any outpouring OF the people in
campaign times counts for little or moth
ing, except when they assemble to further
the cause of a particular party, and then
they do not turn out to be converted, but
to show their earnestness for the side they
have championed.
Il is true, nevertheless, that the people
are quick to see the difference between po-
litical quackery and logical argument, and
because they are it would be good practi-
cal politics for the Republican campaign
committee to pay the travelling expenses
of Mr.. Bryan, and bonus besides, to
keep him on the hustings. Between Lin
coin and Chicago he made very many
speeches, and no better campaign
work for the Republican ticket could be
done.
He made just two propositions the bur-
den OF every speech. One was the entire
independence of the United States in the
world of commerce, and the ability of this
country to do exactly as it likes in its
dealings with other commercial nations.
The other proposition was that advan-
tages would accrue TO labor if it would
assume hostile attitude toward its CO.
laborer, capital. on sectional lines. Mr..
Bryan could not advocate a theory oi
government that would arouse greater
opposition to his candidacy. and it is
well that the people turn out in crowds
to hear his gospel of brother against
brother and section against section, for
they would know what to expect should
he be elected.
Mr.. Bryan is particularly fond of asking
the crowds in highly dramatic fashion
lis not this country big enough to re.
monetize silver? Must we beg Europe to
first give US permission and then aid US in
opening our mints to silver?" For the
moment that kind of talk stirs the
patriotism of the people and sends g
whirlwind of enthusiasm through the
crowd, but before Mr.. Bryan is out oi
sight the current of thought changes.
The people see that the man is trying to
entice them into paths that lead to repr.
diation, sectionalism and dishonor, and
all for his own personal political advan.
tage. Hence we say that Mr.. Bryan should
be encouraged to remain upon the hust-
! ings until the close of the campaign, for
no one could persuade the people as well
as he can himself that his election would
be National calamity. The people dc
not want our foreign trade destroyed, mol
do they want this country thrown into
sectional strife, and the more they hear
Bryan explain his un-Americanism the
more determined they will be to defeat
his aim and purpose.